You’ve probably heard that children who attend daycare get sick more frequently, but according to Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality healthcare, there is a silver lining to sniffles and colds.
“Exposing your child to more children at a young age helps your child develop better immunity,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health.
“A baby’s immune system is immature at birth. Your baby does have some natural immunity, thanks to antibodies they were exposed to in utero. Breastfed babies benefit from antibodies in their mother’s milk as well. However, when a baby is exposed to bacteria and viruses in the environment, its immune system begins to strengthen. Yes, these pathogens can sometimes make your baby sick, but they also stimulate the production of natural antibodies, allowing them to fight off infections more effectively in the future. That means that children exposed to more germs at a young age will have stronger immune systems by the time they start school.”
