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Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Baby's Immune System

Baby's Immune System

5 Ways to Give Baby's and Toddler's Immune System a Boost

By Donna Smith

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  • 3-6 months: As babies get older, their sleep habits begin to change. From 3 to 6 months, babies begin to sleep longer stretches during the night (six to eight hours) and spend more awake time during the day. A 3-month-old may sleep up to 11 hours a night with several interruptions for changing, feeding and comfort. At this age, baby may have two to three naps (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours each).
  • 6-12 months: A child between 6 and 12 months old will usually sleep between 11 and 12 hours per day plus two naps of one to two hours each.
  • Up to 2 years old: Less than 2 years old, your child will sleep from 11 to 13 hours with two naps (1 to 2 hours each).
  • Ages 2-3 years old: From the ages of 2 to 3 years old, your child will sleep from 10 to 12 hours with one nap of two hours.
    • 4. Breastfeeding

    The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding through the first year of life, and for good reason.

    "Breastfeeding is the best way to boost a baby's immune system," Dr. Cole says. "Breast milk contains many substances that help a baby's immune system to develop and help to protect a baby against serious infections. Mothers should try to breastfeed as long as possible. Formulas offer good options for mothers who cannot breastfeed but do not provide all of the same protective factors found in breast milk."

    Bridget DeWitt, a mother of three from Wisconsin, breastfed her son for only three months. Her second child was breastfed for 13 months, and she is currently still nursing her 15-month-old daughter. "I have noticed that my breastfed girls get sick much less," she says. "I also nursed them through illness of my own and prevented them from getting what was going around the house. Breastfeeding is by far the best immunity to give your baby and toddler. From our experience with both sides, I believe nursing a baby keeps them healthier even after they are finished. Our son also has many food allergies, whereas, our daughters do not. It was unfortunate that our son was in and out of the NICU and I could not nurse him longer."


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