After Your Toddler’s Stomach Flu: The Best Foods After Vomiting & Diarrhea
- Bland Foods. After a stomach bug, bland is best. ...
- Soft Foods. Soft foods are usually the easiest ones for sick toddlers to tolerate. ...
- Easy-To-Digest Foods. Okay, chances are your toddler isn’t exactly craving beef vindaloo right now— maybe ever! ...
- Dairy-Free Options. ...
- Small Meals & Snacks. ...
- Hydrating Foods. ...
What is the best food to feed a toddler?
“I usually recommend starting with any single ingredient vegetable or fruit puree—avocado, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots or peas are all good choices. The AAP even recommends starting with pureed meat, as it is a good source of iron,” says Dr. Agnese.
What foods should you avoid when sick?
These include:
- Refined Sugar and Sweets Too much sugar is not good for anyone, especially for babies and toddlers. ...
- Dry Fruits and Nuts Your child may find it hard to chew or swallow dry fruits and nuts if he has a cold or cough. ...
- Spicy and Oily Foods
How do I Feed my child when they are sick?
Think:
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Mango
- Oranges/clementines
- Pomegranate
- Kiwi
- Strawberries
What is the best food to eat when sick?
These are some of the best things to eat after being sick:
- Ginger biscuits
- Crackers
- Toast
- Cereal
- Chilled fruit
- Banana
- Yoghurt
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Rice
What should I feed my toddler after vomiting bug?
Children who are vomiting should keep taking small sips of clear fluid, such as water or clear broth. Fruit juice and fizzy drinks should be avoided until they're feeling better. If they're not dehydrated and haven't lost their appetite, it's fine for your child to eat solid foods as normal.
How do I settle my toddler's stomach after vomiting?
How is vomiting treated at home?Stomach rest. Keep your child from eating or drinking for 30 to 60 minutes after vomiting. ... Replacing fluids. Dehydration can be a problem when your child is vomiting. ... Solid food. If your child is hungry and asking for food, try giving small amounts of a bland food. ... Medicines.
What can my child eat after a stomach virus?
Your doctor may recommend that you give your child bland foods for the first 24 hours. Bland foods include bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, saltine crackers and unsweetened cereals. If your child does well with these foods, you can add other foods over the next 48 hours.
How long should a toddler wait to eat after throwing up?
Do not give your child ANYTHING to eat or drink for 30-60 minutes after vomiting. Your child will not become dehydrated by waiting, in fact giving their bellies time to rest and then offering small amounts of clear liquids is the best way to ensure adequate hydration.
Can I give milk to my toddler with vomiting?
As your child begins to take liquids, gradually increase the amount. If they still vomit, wait 30 to 60 minutes and start again. Do not force your child to drink or wake them up to drink if they are sleeping. Do not give any kind of milk or yogurt drinks until the vomiting has stopped for 8 hours.
How long does childhood sickness bug last?
In adults and children: diarrhoea usually stops within 5 to 7 days. vomiting usually stops in 1 or 2 days.
How do you reintroduce food after a stomach bug?
The goal is to reintroduce bland foods that are easy for your stomach to digest. The most recommended foods to eat after the stomach flu, food poisoning or a regular stomach ache are part of what's known as the BRAT diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.
How can you tell if a toddler is dehydrated?
How can I tell if my child is dehydrated?Dry tongue and dry lips.No tears when crying.Fewer than six wet diapers per day (for infants), and no wet diapers or urination for eight hours (in toddlers).Sunken soft spot on infant's head.Sunken eyes.Dry and wrinkled skin.Deep, rapid breathing.More items...•
What should I eat after a sickness bug?
Foods to eat include clear broths, crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas, rice and chicken. Avoid certain foods until you feel better. These foods include dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, processed foods, and fatty, spicy or highly seasoned foods. Be cautious with medications.
Why did my toddler throw up out of nowhere?
Vomiting could also be caused by reflux in babies, a toddler's aversion to certain smells or foods, motion sickness, food allergies, food poisoning, urinary tract infection, appendicitis or other less common conditions. “It's also really common for a child to cough so hard that they throw up,” Dr. Basu says.
How do you soothe a vomiting child?
Give your child a special solution like Pedialyte, clear soups, water, or juice mixed with water. Start with a few teaspoons every 5 minutes.
What to give a child to stop vomiting?
For the first twenty-four hours or so of any illness that causes vomiting, keep your child off solid foods, and encourage her to suck or drink small amounts of electrolyte solution (ask your pediatrician which one), clear fluids such as water, sugar water (1/2 teaspoon [2.5 ml] sugar in 4 ounces [120 ml] of water), ...
What is the best food for a toddler who is sick?
3. Chicken Soup.
What to give a toddler with a stomach bug?
Hold off giving them solid foods or plain water, which they might not tolerate if they have a stomach bug. Here are some foods you can offer a sick toddler: 1. The BRAT Diet. Banana, rice, apple sauce, and toast (BRAT) are great foods that can help your child when she is sick.
How to get your child to eat?
Slowly Introduce Solids. When your child feels a little bit better, slowly introduce solid food back into her diet. Offer her light and bland foods such as crackers and soup which she can take. It's okay if she only wants one type of food. It is important to let her begin to eat to get some energy during recovery.
How to help a toddler who is sick?
1. Keep Toddler Hydrated. It is important to remember that drinking plenty of fluids when a child is ill will help prevent dehydration, especially if she has fever, vomiting or diarrhea. The body also needs water to fight infection.
What foods can help with illness?
Fruits that are rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, including oranges and citrus fruits, support immune function. Vegetables like carrots contain beta-carotene, which their body converts to vitamin A and helps support their battle against viruses and bacteria.
What is the best diet for an upset stomach?
At the same time, these contain nutrients that can stay down even with an upset stomach. 2. The CRAM Diet. Similarly, CRAM diet, which is the acronym for cereal, rice, applesauce and milk, is a short term dietary treatment for diarrhea and gastroenteritis.
Why do toddlers have little appetites?
These little ones usually have little appetite, especially when they have a bellyache, a fever, or a sore throat. These symptoms are not only hard on the toddler, but on you too. As a parent, there must be something more that you can do other than following the doctor's orders to make your child feel better.
What to eat after stomach bug?
In the past, experts suggested eating bland foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce and toast after a stomach bug. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children go back to their normal diets after they're hydrated. Think: slow and steady.
How to get rid of stomach bug in toddler?
You don’t want the rest of the family to pick up the stomach bug! Clean vomit and diarrhea immediately with a solution of 5 to 25 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water. In addition, clean and disinfect any areas your child has touched including beds, toys and bathrooms.
What to drink when a baby is vomiting?
When my poor baby is hurling over the toilet, I always have a fresh, cold glass of water waiting for him or her during every vomiting episode. Other tolerable drinks include ginger ale and tart lemon sodas.
How long does it take for a toddler to regain appetite?
Think: slow and steady. Although your child can enjoy a variety of food from his or her regular repertoire, it’s important to be patient. It may take a day or two to regain a full appetite. Offer small portions and wait five to 10 minutes after your child finishes before asking how his or her tummy feels.
How to help a toddler who is vomiting?
For the first 24 hours your child is actively vomiting, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to focus on hydration and offer clear fluids such as water, ice pops and gelatin. Liquid s help prevent dehydration, and are less likely than solid foods to stimulate further vomiting. Monitor.
What to do if your child is dehydrated?
If you’re concerned your child may be dehydrated, call your pediatrician immediately or visit your local emergency room. Encourage rest and relaxation. Children usually exhibit a lack of energy when they are sick with a stomach bug.
Can you feed a child with stomach bug?
But there are better ways to help feed a child who is in the midst of a stomach bug. And once the unpleasant symptoms subside, certain foods can help ease your child back to their pre-stomach bug eating habits.
What to do when a toddler is vomiting?
Clear Broth. The biggest concern when any child develops diarrhea or vomiting is to prevent dehydration. Clear broth is very helpful to restore the fluid and electrolyte balance and it calms down the irritated stomach. Encourage your toddler to sip the chicken soup in small quantities. 2.
How long after vomiting can you feed a toddler?
Contact the pediatrician immediately if any of the following is present: If the vomiting does not get better within a day or twenty four hours.
What to do if your child vomits blood?
Take your child to the hospital immediately if the vomit contains significant amount of blood or coffee ground material. A little amount of blood in vomit can be ignored as it can be due to excessive retching or a small cut in the mouth or even nose bleed but if there is a lot of it, urgent medical advice is needed.
What are the signs of dehydration in a toddler?
These include decreased urine output, lethargy, dry lips, excessive crying without tears or darker colored urine.
What foods can help with diarrhea?
Foods with a high fiber content increase the stool bulk and can aggravate diarrhea. The best thing to give them is toast, cereal without adding milk or noodles and pasta.
Why does my baby's stomach hurt when he vomits?
If the skin or eyes look yellow or jaundiced and there is any swelling or pain on the right side of upper abdomen, the vomiting can be due to hepatitis and in these cases the child appears very lethargic and tired. This required immediate evaluation.
Can you give a toddler rice?
You can give them rice, bread, cereal, fruit, vegetables, lean meat and yogurt but do not give them any fried or spicy stuff. It is ok if your toddler eats very little for a couple of days, just make sure to keep them hydrated and give lots of liquids.
How long can you feed a baby to stop starving?
Kids wont starve. Can feed them for 48 hours with water and squash
Should a room be hot if a child is sick?
Air the rooms and no room should be hot if a child or a adult are sick.
What to eat after stomach flu?
While many still stick to the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) after the stomach flu, doctors now recommend reducing sugar intake and implementing small amounts of the child’s regular diet.
How long does the stomach flu last in children?
Typically the stomach flu lasts 24-48 hours in children, but some children have symptoms for up to 10 days. If your child suffers from symptoms past 48 hours, contact a medical professional as they are at risk for dehydration.
What happens when a child gets sick?
When your child gets sick with a stomach bug, life gets derailed. All of a sudden, schedules get rearranged, work gets missed, laundry piles up, survival mode kicks in, and all of your focus is directed to comforting and taking care of your little one (and making sure that siblings and YOU don’t get sick too).
How often should I give my child fluids?
What I recommend is giving small amounts of fluid every 15-20 minutes or so, which gives the lining of the gut time to absorb it (and doesn’t over-fill your child’s queezy stomach).
How to keep kids hydrated?
The bottom line is to make sure that your kids stay hydrated and nourished with a variety of foods that they want to eat, don’t rely on the BRAT diet, and make sure that you’re keeping up with hand-washing (to prevent the spread of illness!). If you’re concerned that your child’s illness is prolonged, or they are showing any signs of a more serious health problem (dehydration, blood in their stool, etc.) contact their health care provider right away for further guidance.
Why do you have to let your child have a peanut butter sandwich?
But, when your child is sick–because nutrition and hydration are so paramount–the Division of Responsibility can take a back seat until they’re well. This means, if they would prefer a peanut butter sandwich to the casserole that was served for dinner, let them have the sandwich.
Can you feed a baby on demand?
For babies under the age of one who are breastfeeding, continue to feed on demand, and for formula-fed babies, continue to feed formula (and prepare as per usual–not diluted). For breastfed babies over the age of one, you can also feed on demand during sickness.
Can kids eat spaghetti?
Great! They feel like soup or spaghetti–let them have it! The truth is, children can eat a variety of foods that they would normally eat when they’re sick. Try offering smaller amounts (so that they don’t get overwhelmed and turned off), and focus on maximizing nutrition when they DO have an appetite.
Can a child eat a brat diet?
But the point is, it’s not necessary (or recommended) to limit your child to only BRAT diet foods. It’s better to let your child eat whatever nutritious foods they want to or will eat.
