Five Ways to Support Your Toddler when They Start Daycare
It’s a big milestone for you and your child to send them off to their first daycare. This is a day filled with anxiety and excitement, pride and concern. We know as parents that this transition is more than simply handing our children over to a caregiver. This means that they are stepping into a new world filled with socializing, education, and germ exposure.
Children love to explore, play, and share in daycare centers. Let’s face it, daycares are prime germ-sharing areas. In the first few months of care, it’s common for toddlers to return home with colds, flus, fever, and runny or stuffy noses. As much as we’d like to protect them from all bugs, we can’t. Germs are a part of everyday life. Some illnesses are good for our children’s immune systems.
You can help your child’s immune system strengthen and support it during this crucial time. Your child will have fewer days off school, enjoy more playtime, and be healthier if you help their body recover from infections and stay healthy.
This post will explore five ways that you can support your toddlers’ immune system when they start their daycare journey. These strategies are supported by science and recommended by pediatricians. They’re also practical to fit into your busy schedule. Let’s get started!
1. Feed them a Nourishing, Immune-boosting Diet
Nutrition is the foundation of a healthy immune response. Well-fed bodies can produce powerful immune responses that fight pathogens and repair damaged cells. They also regulate inflammation. A diet deficient in nutrients can weaken the body’s defences and leave your toddler more susceptible to infection.
The Gut-Immune Connection
Did you know that about 70% of your immune system is located in the gut? The gut lining is a barrier against harmful pathogens, and it communicates with immune cells constantly to coordinate a response. It is important to feed your toddler foods that promote a healthy microbiome.
What Should Your Toddler Be Eating?
By focusing on a range of whole foods, from the five food categories, you will get the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants needed to maintain immune health. Here’s a guide on the nutrition superheroes you should include:
- Fruits & Vegetables These colorful food items are rich in vitamins A, C, and E as well as antioxidants such as flavonoids, which neutralize free radicals. All of these foods are excellent options: berries, citrus fruits, and carrots. Include different textures and colors throughout the day.
- Whole Grains Oats, brown rice, whole wheat, and quinoa provide fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. These grains also regulate blood sugar levels and provide energy to toddlers.
- Protein: The amino acids in protein are necessary to build immune cells and antibodies. Include sources such as eggs, poultry, fish, and beans.
- Healthy fats: The Omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseeds (like salmon), chia seeds, nuts, and oily seafood like salmon reduce inflammation and support cell membranes. Avoid trans and processed fats.
- Dairy Alternatives: Calcium, vitamin D, and fortified plant-milks from milk, yogurt, or fortified plant-milks promote bone health and immune system function.
How to Deal with Picky Toddlers
It can be difficult to feed toddlers. You may find that they refuse certain textures and flavors, have phases where they only eat one kind of food, or are disinterested in eating. Here are a few ways to promote a healthy eating habit without stress.
- Continue to offer variety, but without any pressure. It may take 10 to 15 exposures before a child will accept a new food.
- Eat fruits and vegetables yourself to show how healthy eating can be.
- Involve toddlers in the food preparation or shopping for new foods.
- Colorful and fun meals can be created by cutting fruit and vegetables into shapes or creating a rainbow-colored plate.
- Sneak nutrition into your diet by adding fruits and vegetables to smoothies, oatmeal, or sauces.
2. Take Probiotics for Gut Health
Probiotics are essential for building a strong immune system in toddlers. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that the gut. They help to crowd out harmful pathogens and improve digestion.
Why Consider Probiotics?
Even the healthiest of diets may not provide enough probiotics. They can be exposed to many different bacteria at daycare, which can disrupt their delicate intestinal balance.
Studies have shown that supplementing young children with probiotics can:
- Reduce the frequency and duration of respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections
- Reduce tummy problems and support digestion
- How to restore gut balance following antibiotics
Selecting the Right Probiotic
Not all probiotics have the same benefits. You should look for probiotics that are specifically designed for infants and children, and contain strains like Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium Infantis wh, which have been thoroughly studied for their safety and effectiveness.
Some probiotics also contain vitamin D. This is a vital immune-supporting nutrient that young children are often deficient in.
Use Probiotics
- Probiotics are available in powdered or sachet forms that can easily be mixed with yogurt, milk, or purees.
- Please follow the dosage instructions.
- Consult your pediatrician before starting, particularly if your child suffers from a medical condition.
3. Get Outside and Move Your Body
Exercise is not only good for your muscles and coordination, but it’s also great for your immune system. Movement increases circulation and allows immune cells to move freely through the body. It also helps remove toxins via the lymphatic system.
The Power of Nature
The immune system is strengthened by spending time outside, breathing in fresh air, and enjoying the sunshine. The Japanese practice of Shinrinyoku (forest bathing) has been shown to reduce stress hormones and improve mood. It also increases immune cell activity. Even if your toddler’s forest bathing is a walk in the park every day, that connection to nature can be beneficial.
How to Integrate Movement and Nature
- Include walking or cycling to the daycare in your daily routine.
- Regularly visit local parks, playgrounds, or nature reserves.
- Plan outdoor playdates with your family or nature walks.
- Encourage your children to be active at home by playing ball, dancing, or jumping.
- Limit the time spent on screens so that children have more opportunities to move.
4. Teach and Reinforce Hand-washing Habits
Hand washing is one of the easiest and most effective methods to prevent the spread of illness.
Toddlers tend to touch everything, then put their hands in their mouths. Teaching them how to wash their hands is important.
Why hand-washing is important
Hand washing with soap and warm water removes germs and reduces the risk of infection. This includes colds, stomach bugs, and the flu. Most daycare centers have strict hygiene rules, but making sure to reinforce the habit at home will build consistency.
Teaching Tips
- Sing a song while washing your hands, use colorful soap, or set a timer.
- Demonstrate proper technique – scrub front and back, under nails, and between fingers for at least 20 seconds.
- Hand-washing should be done before eating, after playing outside, and after coughing or sniffling.
- Handwashing is a good habit to reward.
Do not forget other hygiene habits.
Encourage your child to:
- Use an elbow or tissue to cover coughs and sneezes
- Share cups and utensils only with those you are sharing them with
- Keep toys and surfaces clean
5. Prioritize Quality Sleep with a Consistent Bedtime Routine
Sleep is essential for a healthy immune system. Toddlers who get enough sleep produce cytokines, proteins that regulate immune responses and help fight infection. Insufficient or poor sleep can lower immunity and increase susceptibility to illnesses.
How Much Sleep Does Your Toddler Need?
In general, toddlers need 11-14 hours per 24 hours. This includes naps. A consistent bedtime routine is essential for toddlers who struggle to settle down, particularly during times of transition, such as starting daycare.
Build a sleep-friendly routine.e
- Establish a consistent wake-up time and bedtime: It helps to regulate your toddler’s internal clock.
- Relax with soothing activities: A bath, quiet stories, and gentle lullabies can help you get ready for bed.
- Create an environment conducive to sleep: A cool room, with dark and quiet lighting, and comfortable bedding, will help you enjoy restful nights.
- Limit screen time before bedtime: Blue lights can disrupt melatonin and interfere with falling asleep.
- Attend to basic needs. Make sure your toddler is comfortable, has eaten a healthy snack, and has used the toilet.
The Payoff
Sleeping well is good for your toddler. They are happier and more resilient. Early sleep habits can also lay the foundations for a healthy lifelong rest.
Keep Your Toddler Healthy with These Bonus Tips
- Keep up-to-date with vaccinations. Vaccines are essential for protecting children against many illnesses.
- Manage Stress: Transitions, such as starting daycare, can be stressful both for parents and toddlers. Predictable routines and comfort are key.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep mucous tissues moist. This will help them block pathogens better.
- Inform your daycare about your child’s illness: Communicate with the daycare about any illnesses and share information regarding their health history.
Conclusion
It can be an emotional rollercoaster, and yes, there are germs. It’s important to know that some illnesses are unavoidable. What matters most is whether your toddler is ready for these challenges.
You can give your child’s immunity a boost by focusing on nutrition, probiotics, and movement. These habits are not only beneficial for daycare, but also build resilience and a healthy life.
Remember that parenting is not a sprint, but a marathon. Your toddler may come home one day with a cold, and the next with an abundance of energy. Celebrate your victories, learn from difficult days, and continue to show up with love and consistency. Your child’s and your family’s health will thank you.
