There’s a reason that children are lovingly referred to as human petri dishes by scientists: according to the University of Utah’s health department, they get up to seven or eight colds each year. While parents might feel hopeless in preventing illness, there are some steps they can take to boost their child’s immune system.

• Enjoy the great outdoors- Bacteria that are potentially good for your child are everywhere in nature: in the dirt, on plants, and even in the air. Encourage your child to spend time outdoors whenever possible and when they are indoors, open the windows to let them get some fresh air.
• Eat nutritious food- Essential bacteria are found within a limited variety of foods and help boost immune function. To help your child get their daily dose, fill their plate with nutritious food, such as vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds, and spices.
• Pump up the probiotics- If you’ve got a picky eater on your hands, their systems may be depleted of probiotics. You can help your child get the essentials by adding a probiotic supplement to their daily routine.
• Look after your own microbiome- Our children inherit our own microbiome, so you and your partner should take steps before and during pregnancy to keep yours in tip-top condition.
• Practice good oral health- Our mouths are home to more than 700 species of bacteria! Regular brushing twice a day is essential in keeping your mouth bacteria in check.

These simple actions can help look after your child’s microbiome. Keep in mind, even if your child has a history of colds or tummy problems that have wiped out a lot of their good bacteria, children are very resilient, and their gut microbiome can be restored nice and quickly!