Six ways to boost your child's immunity

Ever spare a thought for your child's immune system? There it is, fighting off bugs and germs and generally keeping your little one healthy, yet we rarely give it a second thought. Here are health-boosting tips that will help you make a difference.

Get her socialising Taking your child to playgroup or nursery school may help her build a stronger immune system, according to a study of more than 1,200 children. Although your child is more likely to pick up germs if she socialises (she will probably go down with more coughs and colds to begin with), this exposure actually strengthens her immunity, so by age five she'll have better defences than those children who haven't regularly attended daycare. Taking her to a playgroup or nursery is not just good for your baby's health-making friends will also boost confidence and well being (hers and yours).

Shun smoke By keeping your little one away from smoky environments you're protecting her from toxins that are extremely harmful to her developing organs; passive smoking in childhood has been linked to an increased risk of childhood cancers, asthma and other respiratory illnesses, cardiac problems and cot death, to name but a few. The thing you (and your partner) can do for the health of your child is quit smoking altogether.

Make friends with your greengrocer Once your baby is eating solids, you can help her develop a taste for healthy foods. The nutritional content of fruit and vegetables simply can't be beaten: they're the best sources of infection-fighting antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibre and enzymes, which will protect cells from damage. Aim to give at least five portions (a portion is around a handful) of different fruits and vegetables every day, and include lots of colours to ensure she gets the widest variety of nutrients. Giving raw fruit or vegetables will give her an extra boost from those powerful antioxidants.

Carry on breastfeeding One of the very best things you can do to boost (and protect) your baby's health is breast-freed, preferably exclusively, for the first six months of her life. Breast-milk has all the nutrients your baby needs to thrive, as well as valuable antibodies to help ward off infections and diseases, from tummy upsets to leukaemia, from childhood diabetes to ear infections. Research also shows it can protect against allergic conditions such as asthma and eczema. Even if you breastfeed only for the first few days, you're still be giving your baby a healthy start.

Get her immunised Immunisation works by giving your baby a tiny dose of a virus so her body produces antibodies. This means if she comes into contact with the virus again, she'll have the antibodies to fight it off. The protection vaccinations give your child far outweighs the potential but rare risk of serious side-effects. If you're unsure whether your baby is up to date with her jabs (which take place between the ages of two months and four years), contact your doctor.

Don't be too sweet Sugary foods damage your child's teeth and weaken the immune system. Sugar attacks the cells that help her body fight off infection. One study found that children who drank more than two cans of sugar drinks a day had 40 per cent less effective white blood cells than those who didn't drink them. This meant they were ill more frequently and were more vulnerable to viruses and infections. Throw out sugary cereals, biscuits and drinks. Give fruit to satisfy your child's sweet cravings and keep sugary stuff for occasional treats.