Key Ingredients Babies Need for A Strong Immune System

Colds, flu, and stomach bugs are not fun for anyone, and they can happen regardless of how frequently we wash our hands, cover coughs, sneeze with tissues, and distance ourselves from our little ones. Knowing how to boost baby’s immune system naturally is a key factor in keeping your little one on the track of healthy and well-developed. 

In order to keep our babies healthy, it helps to be aware of baby food recipes and baby food ingredients that have been proven to help babies build a strong immune system. The best way to ensure that your baby is getting the right nutrients is to make homemade baby food. Baby immune support can come from a range of foods that contain important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, and this guide is here to help you begin with a few simple, easy-to-remember foods that can help.

Sweet Potato Baby Meals 

When it comes to the baby immune system, a key food to throw in the mix is the sweet potato– and luckily, it tastes great, too! Sweet potatoes are packed with beta carotene, a nutrient that our bodies convert into vitamin A. This is essential for a healthy and functioning immune system. The Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker is ideal for preparing sweet potato puree. Simply add the ingredients, and at the touch of a button the food maker will automatically steam and blend 3.5 cups of sweet potato puree!

Avocado Baby Recipes 

Baby’s immune system could always use a little avocado! This creamy fruit is a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K. These vitamins help build the cells of the immune system and increase immune response. The omega fatty acids in avocado also help the body better absorb immune-boosting nutrients. In terms of understanding and delivering the best baby vitamins for immune system support, always keep this powerful, green choice in mind.

Steaming and blending tip: Avocados do not need to be cooked. They can be tossed into a bowl just before blending the ingredients. We recommend pairing avocados with tomatoes, apples, pears, peaches, or bananas for a delicious meal. 

Broccoli & Cauliflower Baby Food Ideas 

When working on building your baby’s immune system, always keep the florets in mind! These vegetables are a great source of protein, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin K, and many minerals. Broccoli is high in calcium and iron and is a great source of fiber, making it a great choice for babies that are constipated.

Steaming and blending tip: Broccoli florets do not have a smooth puree, but the stems do. To make broccoli puree, use only the stems, peel completely, dice into small cubes, steam and puree. Baby immune support is easier than ever with tools that make mealtimes a breeze. Try our Glass One Step Food Maker to automatically steam and blend in one easy step. We recommend pairing broccoli or cauliflower with carrots, apples, pears, and lamb for a wholesome and nutritious meal.

Leafy Greens Homemade  Baby Food Recipes 

As we mentioned with avocados, baby’s immune system will always be a little– or a lot– better off with the inclusion of plenty of green goods. Leafy Greens consist of kale, spinach, and collard greens. These leafy greens are high in calcium and are very nutritious for babies. 

Steaming and blending tip: Wash the leaves of the kale and collards and remove stems. Cut into thin strips. Steam the greens for 15-20 minutes. Kale and collard greens have low water content and require additional liquid when pureeing. Spinach is simply washed, steamed for five minutes, and then pureed. Make sure your puree is smooth and consistent throughout with the Baby Brezza Glass One Step Food Maker. We recommend pairing leafy greens with yellow and orange vegetables, grains, and legumes for a healthy meal. 

Make sure to sterilize all the appliances you use to prepare and serve food to your baby in order to keep their environment as germ-free as possible. Try our One Step Sterilizer Dryer for a simple one-touch sterilization system for bottles, breast pumps, and feeding accessories. For more easy homemade baby food recipes, try the Baby Brezza Baby Food Maker Cookbook, packed with fun and creative baby recipe ideas for you to try with your little one.

When does baby’s immune system get stronger?
When your little one is fresh out into the world, they have almost no immune system whatsoever. It’s important for parents to realize that the baby immune system doesn’t start developing until around 2 or 3 months of age– and even then, it’s still in a very fragile state. Once your baby is ready to start eating solids and semisolids, you can learn how to boost their immune system naturally with all sorts of foods.

Do babies need to get sick to build immunity?
The short answer is yes, but getting your baby sick on purpose is not recommended, of course. Babies being exposed to germs slowly, in a non-threatening way, can help their immune systems learn to respond and defend the body naturally. However, a little (or a lot) of natural support always helps strengthen that process, too. Baby’s immune system is only going to get stronger with a healthy, nutrient-rich diet, and Baby Brezza is here to teach parents how to help that along.