Any tips on how to improve immunity for 4 yo and 19 and 3 month olds?

[Chiqita]

yet another winter season where all my children are constantly sick! My 4 yo is at school nursery and permanently has either sniffles or cough with a croup or flu or cold a couple of times a month. His sister who is 19 months old has been following his pattern and now the young baby who is 3 months has just came out of a chest infection with a course of antibiotics only to get another cold! I am in despair! Is there anything I can do to help them not to get sick so much? We already use children's vitamin supplement during the whole year. I try to dress them warmly (does not work for ds he takes it all off once he gets to nursery) does anyone habe any other tips? Would be so grateful for your advice! :) xx

Somebody more expert may be along with better advice, but in my experience this is just what it is like in the early days with children in various forms of childcare. They pick up all sorts and then spread it between them. If you're really unlucky you get it too!

I think if they are having a good balanced diet -with plenty fresh fruit and veg - there is no need for additional supplements and lack of clothing won't make them more likely to catch infections. You just have to battle through, safe in the knowledge that it will be doing their immune system good in the long-run.

And don't bleach everything within seconds of it being touched by them or someone else!

hand washing may help, at least the 4yo can learn to do it as a habit.

I really feel for you - I could have written exactly the same post when mine were that age!

It is hard and frustrating - I'm not sure there's much you can do other than what you're doing.Hang in there - it does get better as they get older,and I found my second was less frequently ill by school age than my first - possibly as she had been exposed to more earlier.

I'm assuming they're up to date with their routine immunisations which are an excellent way to boost immunity

I think there is some truth to the idea that it's just like this with your kids in the early years. However, I decided to try and do something about it this last winter (DCs 6,3 and 1). I gave the older two vitamins (chewy orange-flavour) every day from October to February. They still got some bugs but nowhere as many as the previous couple of years. Whether it was vitamins or not I'll never know, but I'm definitely doing it again next year!

The 4 year old might benefit from something like Spatone (the website says they can have it from 2) which is something I give mine when they are a little run down.

Also I give things like cod liver oil, malt extract and molasses-I use the last two instead of honey in things like porridge and rice pudding/hot milk etc but its quite a good source of vitamins. I also make garlic bread myself with chunks of cooked garlic in it and try to make lots of soups with leeks and onions (not popular even they will eat the soup no problem). DD's favourite is:

leeks,garlic and onions cooked quickly in butter.
add chunks of butternut squash (one whole)/carrot (two large)/sweet potato (one big one)
add broccoli, cauliflower and any other veg except mushrooms until pot half full

Top up with vegetable stock and leave until veg soft.
Blend.

Its really soft, velvety and sweet and packed full of veg that they can't taste

But generally a good diet, plenty of water and enough sleep are enough.

With my 2 kids I have always given then a good balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg and also a multi vitamin every other day..... Touch wood they very rarely pick up their friends sick bugs and colds, I believe this helped.... But who knows!!!!

Dentro you are talking rubbish.

Without antibiotics my child would have died.

Please anyone reading this take proper medical advice.

Vitamin D drops by Biocare. Swear by 'em.