Prepare for daycare: how to strengthen your toddler’s immune system

Key Points

• Remember, toddlers’ immune systems are still developing.
• Vaccinations help to protect them from contagious diseases.
• Making sure they’re eating plenty of fruit and vegetables will help to support their immune system.

Sending your toddler off to daycare can be an emotional milestone filled with excitement and apprehension. To add to this, daycare centres are often hotspots for germs, so as a parent or carer, you want to ensure your child’s immune system is well-prepared. 

In this article, we look at how you can support your toddler’s immune system and avoid those coughs and colds as much as possible, with expert advice from pharmacist Soumya Pandya.

How to improve the immune system in kids in preparation for daycare

Vaccinations: “One step in preparing your toddler for daycare is ensuring they are fully vaccinated,” shares Soumya. Vaccinations play a crucial role in protecting children from various contagious diseases they may encounter in a daycare setting. These vaccines are designed to boost the immune system’s ability to recognise and fight off harmful pathogens.

Personal hygiene: Teaching young children about proper hygiene habits from an early age is crucial. Habits like washing hands, blowing their nose into a tissue and throwing it away, and coughing into the elbow, to help them to avoid the spread of germs.

Diet: Just as it is for an adult, maintaining a well-balanced diet is essential for your toddler’s immune system. Make sure their meals include plenty of fruits and vegetables, and consider limiting processed foods, added sugars, and unhealthy fats. As Soumya shares, “That’s not to say kids can never eat the above mentioned, but all in moderation and not part of their daily food consumption.”

Quality sleep: “Make sure the kiddies have lots of rest and lots of sleep,” says Soumya. A good night’s sleep is essential to support a healthy immune system, so it’s important to prioritise a consistent and healthy sleep routine for your toddler – aiming for between 11 and 14 hours a day (including naps).

Staying active: Toddlers are mostly naturally active through their spontaneous play and activities – it’s essential for their overall health and wellbeing. Soumya recommends aiming for at least one hour of physical activity daily, doing something they enjoy. 

How important is it for toddlers to be fully vaccinated before they begin daycare?

Vaccinations protect children against serious diseases that could lead to complications. Especially before their immune system is fully developed, it’s important children are protected. 

Vaccinations can also help protect other vulnerable members of the community, including pregnant women, older people and immuno-compromised people. 

Children’s immune systems don’t fully develop until seven or eight and may need additional support

At what age is a child’s immune system fully developed? 

“A child’s immune system isn’t fully developed until they reach around seven or eight years old,” says Soumya. 

This means that toddlers and younger children have immune systems that are still developing and may need additional support in defending against infections.

Daycare: the ultimate immunity challenge 

Daycare settings expose children to a variety of germs and viruses. “New toys, new friends, new teachers, new activities and even the cleanest of clean daycares will still experience some form of cross-contamination,” says Soumya. “Toddlers are typically unaware when it comes to picking up germs, and their immune systems are still developing, making them more vulnerable.”

It’s important to teach toddlers good hygiene habits to prepare them for daycare

Do’s and don’ts for parents to keep in mind

To support your toddler’s immune system and minimise the risks associated with daycare, consider the following do’s and don’ts:

Do:

• Maintain vaccination schedules.
• Teach them good hygiene habits.
• Give them a well-balanced diet.

Don’t:

• Send your child to daycare while unwell.
• Give them lots and lots of supplements and immune boosters unless you have to. Soumya shares, “They aren’t all bad – just speak to your healthcare professional if you think this is something that is needed.”

Prepare for daycare

If you have any specific concerns or require personalised guidance, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare professional. Prioritising your toddler’s immune health can help to give them the confidence to thrive in the daycare environment while minimising the risk of infections.

Related:

• What is the best fruit for gut health?
• 15 foods that may help support your immune system
• Kids and naps – what’s normal?

Soumya Pandya is a Registered Pharmacist who is passionate about finding innovative ways to allow easy and safe access to healthcare for all Australians. Soumya’s goal is to help people better their health journey through education and tools that allow the individual to take a holistic approach to their health. 

Reviewed by Healthylife health experts October 2023