Best Way to Keep Yourself and Your Children as Healthy as Possible

Although we can count on professional health care to help us get through specific ailments, and on the government and local authorities to provide a high standard of public health, it’s up to us as individuals to keep ourselves and our children as healthy as possible. We can help ourselves do this by keeping up high standards of hygiene in our homes, by eating and drinking sensibly and by looking after ourselves both physically and mentally – and with any luck, our children will learn their standards from us.

Resistance to infection

In the early days, breast milk will give your child some protection against a variety of bacterial, viral and fungal infections – for instance, a breastfed baby has less gastro­enteritis and tooth decay, fewer respiratory infections and isn’t as likely to develop allergic disorders as a bottlefed baby. But whether you breastfeed or bottlefeed, your baby can fight infection better if he’s well nourished.

At home – Resistance to infection is lowered by ill health, emotional stress, poor living conditions and living in the same environment as a heavy smoker. Smoking may be limited in public places today, but there is no limit on smoking at home which is where children spend most of their time. Smoke coming directly from a cigarette is more irritating to the nose, throat and eyes than exhaled smoke, but both sorts can make a child more susceptible to chest infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, as well as to upper respiratory infections. Babies of under a year old whose parents smoke are twice as likely to develop a serious chest infection as babies of non-smokers.

At school – When your child starts playgroup or school, he’ll meet many infections he may not have encountered before. However healthy he is, he’s bound to pick up some of them from other children. Researchers estimate that children get between six and nine upper respiratory infections a year in their first few years at school. One good thing is that a child gradually becomes more resistant to viral infections. In a sense, the infections seem to act as a form of immunization.

Smoking is bad for you and your children

If you really can’t give up smoking, then at least follow these guidelines to minimize the harmful effect on your children:

• Keep a window open if you smoke when a child is in the room.
• Put out a lit cigarette if you’re not actually smoking it.
• Never smoke if your child is in the car with you.
• Remember that children learn by example. If you smoke to relieve stress, it might be better to look at more constructive and healthier ways of dealing with your feelings.