When will my child stop getting sick at the daycare?

Their immune system is fully developed and along with timely vaccinations, it is ready to combat most of the illnesses typically, by the time they reach the age of 7.

How to Strengthen Child’s Immune System Naturally

Q: Why does my child fall sick often when in preschool?

When at a preschool, children share food, space, and air. They get exposed to similar pathogens at one time or another while sharing. And that is the reason behind children catching illness easily. Additionally, toddlers have underdeveloped immunity, and it takes time for them to ward off infections.

Why does my child fall sick often when in preschool or Daycare?

t’s common for parents to notice frequent colds, coughs, or mild fevers when their child starts preschool or daycare. This happens because young children are suddenly exposed to new germs, viruses, and bacteria in a shared environment. In preschool settings, children interact closely, share toys, learning materials, food, and indoor air, making it easier for common infections to spread.

At this age, a child’s immune system is still developing. Unlike adults, toddlers have not yet built strong immune memory against everyday pathogens. As a result, they may fall sick more often during the first few months of preschool.

However, there is a positive side. Each time your child is exposed to a new virus or infection, their immune system learns to recognise and fight it better in the future. This process helps build long-term immunity. Research also suggests that children who attend daycare or preschool earlier may gradually develop stronger immune responses compared to those who start later, as their bodies adapt to common childhood infections over time.

While frequent minor illnesses can feel overwhelming, they are often a normal part of strengthening your child’s immune system.

What Should I Do to Help My Child Fall Sick Less in Preschool?

As a parent, you must accept the harsh reality that you cannot shield your child from every illness they encounter, whether they attend preschool or stay at home. This being said, there are a few simple ways in which you could boost your child’s natural immunity and ward off common and seasonal illnesses and keep them healthy.

Make sure they eat healthy and stay hydrated:

A healthy diet is one way to boost your child’s immunity. A balanced plate consisting of a carbohydrate, a protein, a fiber and a probiotic source should provide the necessary macro and micro-nutrients necessary for a healthy immune system. A calcium source and healthy fats are equally important.

Along with a nutritious diet, staying hydrated plays a key role in supporting the immune system. Since our blood is 90% water, it is very crucial for proper circulation of immunity cells throughout the body. As they spend a lot of their time in physical activity, young children tend to get dehydrated easily . Therefore, it is of utmost importance to keep them hydrated all the time.

Involve them in physical activity:

Physical activity plays a very crucial role in keeping your child healthy. Going for a walk or playing in the playground not only improves blood circulation but also helps in increased immunity. According to a study, spending time outdoors in nature exposes children to a wide range of microbes and friendly bacteria. This help in strengthening their immune system, making them more resilient to common illnesses.

Timely immunization:

While the immune system of your young one is still developing, vaccines help in aiding the disease fighting capacity. Childhood immunizations help to train the immune system to recognize and combat serious illnesses like meningitis, influenza and rotavirus. As a parent, timely vaccinating your young one is one of the major steps that you can take towards the health of your young one.

Encouraging simple precautions:

It is also of equal importance to practice and promote good hygiene practices to increase immunity in children. As a parent we need to instill a sense of practicing simple yet effective ways to dodge infections. Encourage your little ones to wash their hands, cover their mouth while coughing or sneezing, avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose with unwashed hands. Wearing masks in crowded spaces, using a hand sanitizer could help them stay healthy.