Taking charge of your child’s health is a challenge that numerous parents struggle with, resulting in year-round exhaustion, most notably for first-time parents. Fortunately, this hurdle can be simplified with a few steps, allowing you to get increased quality time with your young dependants. Below are six tips that will be worth your while.

Introduce Play Time

Physical activity is an integral part of children’s health, allowing you to eliminate any risk of obesity and related illnesses like diabetes. Encourage your children to have some much-needed playtime outdoors, with activities such as riding bikes, running and ball games being great exercises for kids of all ages. One hour of play will often be enough to get your kids in ideal shape, helping them eliminate the above-stated lifestyle diseases.

Have Regular Medical Checkups

Keeping track of your child’s health will also be essential, with regular checkups being important when your children show any signs of illness. Fortunately, getting access to qualified practitioners will not be a problem, with 75% of urgent care clinics equipped with family practice professionals. In case of any urgency, you can also get the care you deserve, with 47% of hospitals having an emergency medicine specialist on rotation ready when your child gets sick. Your children’s vaccinations should also be updated, increasing their immunity against common health hazards.

Practitioners also recommend keeping kids at home when they get ill, preventing secondary infections due to close interaction with other kids. Lastly, plenty of rest and fluid allows for quick recovery, allowing your child to get back to their routine as soon as possible.

Stick to a Healthy Diet

Your child’s diet also matters, with junk food likely to cause inflammation that could result in other health issues. The US alone reports an estimated $300 billion worth of bakery products sold within a year, which translates to over 2% of the country’s GDP. With this high amount of processed food on the market, it is no wonder lifestyle problems such as obesity are on the rise. Make it a point to introduce healthy snacks to your children’s meals, with fruits and veggies being the best alternatives to store-bought sweets. But even with this, occasional junk food should also be allowed, limiting the risk of uncontrolled cravings later on in life.

Use Safe and Gentle Cleaners

Keeping your home in top condition with kids running around will often be an impossible task, with clutter likely to accumulate in minutes. According to a study by the Census, such conditions are ideal for pest infestation, with 2.9 million people reporting sightings of rodents and roaches in their homes. While you may be tempted to bring in heavy-duty cleaners and disinfectants for your cleanups, these often kill even the good bacteria that keep you healthy, putting your children in harm’s way. Water and soap will be enough for your cleaning, with simple steps such as storing unwanted items allowing you to stay clear of any infestations.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is not just an essential part of an adult’s life but is also a crucial part of your child’s health. Enough rest can improve your child’s emotional, mental, and physical health. Sleep duration will depend on your child’s age, with infants and older children benefiting from 12-16 hours of shut-eye. If you have teenagers, the ideal sleeping time will range from 8 to 10 hours. Having scheduled sleeping times will be suitable in helping you, and your kids stick to the recommended time of rest, allowing them to get the most out of their sleep.

Spend Quality Time Together

While the above tips generally focus on the physical health of your young ones, spending quality time together will also be a needed part of improving your children’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Set some time apart for holidays, walks to the playground, and a few minutes where you can plan and prepare your meals together. Children’s self-esteem often improves when you are willing to pay attention to them, boosting their confidence when they get to the outside world.

Whether you are a new parent or have years of experience in taking care of your children, the above tips will allow you to be more engaged in your child’s life, boosting their overall health. With this in mind, remember to prioritize your eating habits, physical activities, and emotional interaction.