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Children's health

What can help to boost a childs immune system?

10 replies

nobodysfool · 05/10/2008 19:12

DS-3 years- has had cold after cold since starting nursery.
I know it's quite normal but they are really running him down.
He eats lots of fruit so i'm sure he is getting lots of vitamins but is there anything else i can give him?
I'm sure i heard of a natural remedy suitable but i can't remember its name.
Many thanks.

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BigBadMousey · 05/10/2008 21:35

If mine are coming down with a cold or I suspect they might catch one soon I give them extra vitamin C or multi vits. It seems to lessen the severity of the cold a fair bit (even though they do eat lots of fruit anyway). The other thing that helps mine a lot is making sure they get lots of fresh air and lots of sleep at night (so trips outdoors - in the pushchair if they are too run down to walk and vapour rub and warm baths etc to help them sleep)

I think they just have to go through that constant cold etc phase when they start nursery - he'll soon stop catching every cold going.

A lot of the supposed immune system boosters are not suitable for DCs from what I can tell - might be worth asking your local pharmacist.

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nobodysfool · 05/10/2008 21:42

thanks for your reply bbm.
Will try and find some multi vits suitable for him.
He usually sleeps really well 12-13 hours every night untill he gets a cold then that all goes out the window!
Hope he gets past the stage where he is getting every cold going soon

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Sidge · 05/10/2008 21:49

You could try echinacea drops.

Our consultant paediatrician says not to worry too much though as all those awful colds and coughs will give them a fantastic immune system! I found as well that as my girls got older they got less colds, it seemed like they had millions when they first started nursery.

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KerryMumblesEvilCurses · 05/10/2008 21:50

This reply has been deleted

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BigBadMousey · 05/10/2008 21:53

Same as my DD1 then. I'm sure it is the initial cold keeping her awake that makes her more prone to getting more colds .

We do vapour rub, elevating bed, opening a window to air the bedroom during the day, steam at night. I think it is all trial and error as to what works best for your DC though to help them sleep at night - by the time you have worked out what suits him best you'll probably find his immune system has sorted itself!

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nobodysfool · 06/10/2008 09:41

Thanks everyone will get some echinecea drops today.
Your all stars!

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beeper · 06/10/2008 15:35

I suggest 'radically' cutting down on the amount of sugar that your child consumes. Eating 100mg of sugar reduces the immune system by up to 50%. Sugar also takes nutrients to process it, so not only is it reducing your childs capacity to fight off bugs it is also robbing your child of vitamins.

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namechangefersure · 06/10/2008 15:54

Zinc
and don't bother with the 10mg vitamin c it's a waste of money
something stronger

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Bucharest · 06/10/2008 16:00

actimel as well....

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nobodysfool · 06/10/2008 19:09

He doesn't eat sweets so his sugar intake is very low anyway unless you count the sugar in fruit.
I wish he would have actimel but he is at the "don't want to try anything new stage-STILL!"
Is there a vit C that can go into water as that is all he will drink.