Children, especially newborns and young children, will not have a mature immune system, which makes them more prone to infections. So comparing a child's immune system vs. adults, it is still in the development stage and becomes fully developed by the age of 7 or 8 years. Falling ill once in a while is quite natural, and there is not much cause for concern. But if your child falls sick frequently and has had more than a fair share of infections, it has something to do with the child's immune system. Here are a few signs that show your child has weak immunity.

Symptoms of a Weak Immune System

• Falling sick frequently: Recurring illnesses like flu and cold are some of the common signs of weak immunity. Ear infections and gastro-intenstinal infections are often seen mostly in newborns. It is one of the tell-tale symptoms of a weak immune system in toddlers and young children alike. When you see these, it signals that it is a child with a weak immune system. 
• Delayed healing: Another sign that indicates poor child immune system development is that even small wounds take long to heal. The immune system plays a huge role in the healing of wounds, and if scrapes and cuts take longer to heal, the child has low immunity. 
• Does not gain weight: During a child's development, weight gain is given importance as being underweight can lead to many issues. When there is poor growth in height and weight, it is a red flag as it points to low immunity. 
• Nutritional deficiencies: If a child has a weak immune system, it can cause nutritional deficiencies. The symptoms of it are low attention span, hair and skin changes, brittle nails, and easy bruising. 
• Fussy eating: Children prefer to have certain types of food, which can lead to poor nutrition. Picky eaters are more likely to have a weak immune system as they dont get enough nutrients to boost their immunity. 

If your child has these signs, then it is an indication of a poor immune system. It is important to understand the reason for it and fix the problem before it becomes a major headache.

How to Increase Immunity in Children Naturally

Be it newborn or toddler immune system development, it is important to keep it ready to prevent infections. But how do you do that? Follow these tips to increase immunity naturally. 

• Give them a nutritious diet: A healthy diet plays an important role in boosting the child’s immunity. Serve foods to increase immunity in children naturally and keep them away from packaged and processed food. Give them at least five servings of fruits and vegetables. Treats like cookies and cakes should be only occasional and not frequent. 
• Sleep: Another important factor after diet that can help strengthen the immune system is sleep. Children who sleep well are less prone to illness than those who don’t. That is because lack of sleep reduces the killer cells' quantity and quality, making them less capable of dealing with infections. Full immune system development age is 7 to 8 years, and children between 3 and 12 need at least 12 hours of sleep for that to happen. 
• Gut health: Good gut health is essential for a healthy immune system. So include prebiotics and probiotics to boost the healthy bacterial count. 

Getting sick is a part of growing up, but keep an eye on the severity and frequency to help in the proper development of the child.