Immune System Development

Breast milk is best for your baby

Breast milk is best for babies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. At around six months of age (but not before 4 months), infants should receive nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

Abbott Singapore fully recognises breast milk’s primacy, value and superiority and supports exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the WHO.

The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. The HPB recommends that infants start on age-appropriate complementary foods at around 6 months, whilst continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. If no longer breastfeeding, toddlers can switch to full cream milk after 12 months. This should be complemented by a good variety of solid foods from the four main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and alternatives). For more information on the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, please visit www.healthhub.sg/earlynutrition.

Your child's immune defense is an intricate system that includes certain cells, tissues, and organs. With about 70% residing in the intestinal tract, your immune system works like a door to protect the body from bacteria, viruses and other foreign "invaders" - called antigens - that can cause illness.

Certain nutrients can support your child's immune system by helping maintain a healthy intestinal tract and promoting development of the cells and antibodies that fight antigens. A well-balanced diet is essential for a healthy immune defense system.

Know Your Nutrients

The first step to a healthy immune system

Nucleotides – Essential for normal cell function and replication
Prebiotics – Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) & Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) is food to support the growth of probiotics
Zinc and Vitamin A, C and E – Help to protect cells from free radicals that may have escaped the natural processes of the infant's body system

Immune-boosting tips

Feeding time – Breast milk is the best for babies. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and should be continued for as long as possible. If you choose to transition to a follow on (after 6 months) or growing up milk (when your child is over 1 year of age), choose a formula that contains all the above mentioned nutrients to supplement your child’s diet
Give it a shot – Check with your child’s doctor to make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date
Nourish his diet – While missing certain vitamins and minerals may weaken immune response, diets rich in nucleotides (lean meat and mushrooms), prebiotics (nuts, beans, and whole grains), and probiotics (yogurt) can help strengthen it
Breathe easy – Avoid exposure to immune weakening cigarette smoke and toxic substances (household cleaners, fertilizers, and pesticides)
Get physical – Exercise isn’t just good for physical and mental development, it will get his immunity in shape, too
De-stress – Stress affects your body’s ability to respond to infection, so create a calm environment to boost your child’s immune system and plenty of rest to help the immune system stay at its peak