What should be done to strengthen the immune system of babies? What are the foods that strengthen the immune system in babies? How does breast milk affect the baby’s immune system…These are the questions that mothers with babies all over the world have been wondering the most in recent days. We have researched the answers for you.
There are many scientific articles about the infant immune system. Based on the academic articles prepared by scientists who answer questions such as how to strengthen the immune system of babies or how to understand that the baby’s immune system is weak ,we opened the topic of Immune System in Babies. The details are as follows…
First, let’s explain what the immune system means and which branch of science deals with this subject:
What Does Immune System Mean?
The immune system, also known as the immune system, has been on the agenda a lot lately. So, what does the immune system mean and what can we do to strengthen the baby’s immune system?
Which Doctor Treats Immune System Diseases /What is Immunology?
Many of us ask the question of which doctor to see for the immune system. If you want to see a doctor about the immune system, you need to see an immunologist.
What is Immunology?
The cells, tissues and molecules that provide defense against infections are called the immune system. Immunology is the branch of science that studies this system. Immunologists study the immune system’s response to pathogens.
Immune System in Babies
The immune system in babies develops rapidly. Immediately after birth, it is very difficult for the baby to get used to a completely different world full of pathogens. But it has an immune system booster, breast milk, to protect it in a very powerful way. Many studies have shown that breast milk is not just food, it has a content that strengthens the baby’s immune system and prepares it for the outside world. You can find detailed information about breast milk in our article on the benefits of breast milk. So, why does the baby’s immunity fall, how to understand that the baby’s immune system is weakened and what can be done to strengthen the immune system…
1.Why Does Babies’ Immunity Decline?
First of all , it is necessary to have the necessary test data to distinguish between babies with a weak immune system .However, sometimes different reasons can weaken the baby’s immune system. Factors such as allergies, malnutrition, sleep deprivation can cause the immune system to weaken in babies.
2.How to recognize a weakened immune system?
Immunity is the process by which the body perceives substances (antigens) that are different from itself as foreign and takes action to destroy them. Immunology is the branch of science that studies the mechanisms in the immune system. The immune response consists of two parts: cellular type and humoral type.
If this system, which defends the individual against millions of microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) in the environment, is disrupted, the findings that may occur may give us some clues.
*the following symptoms are not specific to babies!
Signs of a Weak Immune System
- experiencing more than 8 infections in one year
- having more than 2 serious sinus infections in a year
- getting pneumonia more than 2 times in a year
- lagging behind in growth
- recurrent soft tissue abscesses
- fungal infection of the mouth or skin in children over one year of age
- the need for intravenous antibiotics to treat infections
- no improvement despite antibiotic use for more than two months
- presence of a family history of primary immunodeficiency
3.Reasons Why Babies Have Weak Immune Systems
Immunodeficiency diseases can be caused by genetic predisposition, environmental factors, chromosomal abnormalities, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies or infections. Inadequate breast milk intake is also often a factor.
How to Strengthen the Immune System in Babies?
Breastfeeding is very important to strengthen the baby’s immunity . However, there are multiple factors such as the care of the baby, vaccinations, the mother’s diet, living conditions and genetic factors. Let’s talk about immune boosters, the effect of breast milk on infant immunity, and the importance of vaccines…
1.Substances that Strengthen the Immune System
In order to strengthen the immune system, it is necessary to consult a physician and follow the diet he or she prescribes. However, from a very general point of view, we can say that the following substances have a positive effect on the immune system:
- probiotics and prebiotics
- synbiotics
- trace elements (zinc, selenium, iron, copper)
- omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids
- nucleotides (arginine, glutamine, branched-chain amino acids)
- vitamins2
2. The Effect of Breast Milk on Baby’s Immunity
The question of whether breast milk protects the baby from diseases is also frequently asked. It is known that breast milk is very effective for the baby’s nutrition and immune system. But what is in breast milk that makes it so effective?
Breast Milk and Immune System
Research shows that there is a strong relationship between the immune system and nutrition. In other words, it has become clear that the goal of good nutrition should not only be to meet protein and energy requirements, but also to increase disease resistance with these nutrients. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are the most emphasized among these, are abundant in breast milk. Breast milk, which is very rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, strengthens the immune system of babies and protects them. Moreover, not only the breastfeeding baby but also the breastfeeding mother is protected. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is important for building a strong immune system.
Uz. Dr. Aygün Atacanlı, Immune System and Immune System, hospital.etu.edu.com.tr, 2015.
Benefit from the Power of Breast Milk!
Lansinoh is constantly developing new products to help mothers breastfeed their babies for longer and to ensure that the baby gets the maximum benefit from breast milk. Discover the power of different auxiliary products such as breastfeeding pillowsthat support the mother in a comfortable position while breastfeeding , breast pumps that allow breast milk to be expressed and then delivered to the baby even when mother and baby are separated.
3.Immune System and Vaccination
Many parents question the necessity of vaccinating their baby. Vaccine refusal has become a common health phenomenon all over the world. So what is a vaccine, how does it affect the baby’s immune system and what is the purpose of vaccination in infants?
The purpose of vaccination is to create long-term memory in the immune system. Thus, microorganisms with reduced vitality or disease-causing effect and the toxins secreted by them, which are given to the body with vaccines, create memory in the immune system and make the body prepared against these frequently encountered factors, in other words, protect individuals against these diseases.
What Can We Do to Strengthen Babies’ Immune Systems?
Now, let’s summarize what we have learned:
- Breastfeeding for the first six months,
- To protect against vaccine-preventable diseases,
- Keeping babies who have switched to solid food away from refined foods by increasing their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables,
- Supporting nutrition with pro and prebiotics,
- To introduce them to the outside world in a less sterile environment…
ASAL, G.T., TEZCAN, F.İ. (2007). Evaluation of Immunity Acquired through Vaccination and Specific Antibody Response. Turkey Clinics Journal of Pediatric Sciences. Ankara, 3(11): 5-7.