what to feed sick toddler with flu

• Yogurt. It's smart to give your kids some kind of probiotic on a regular basis, especially during cold and flu season.
• Sweet Potatoes. These bright orange spuds are loaded with vitamin A, a key immune system nutrient that helps keep tissue in the mouth, intestines, and respiratory tract healthy.
• Beef & Pork. Meat is naturally high in protein, a critical component of the immune system. ...
• Chicken Soup. Your grandma was right: There's something about chicken soup (even the store-bought kind!) that makes you feel better when you're sick.
• Warm Drink. Got a miserable, sniffly kid? In research, people with symptoms of colds and flu who sipped on a hot drink said it immediately eased their runny nose, cough, ...

Full Answer

What to feed a sick toddler?

What to Feed Sick Toddler. 1 1. The BRAT Diet. Banana, rice, apple sauce, and toast (BRAT) are great foods that can help your child when she is sick. This acronym is easy to ... 2 2. The CRAM Diet. 3 3. Chicken Soup. 4 4. Fruits and Vegetables. 5 5. Other Foods You Can Feed a Sick Toddler.

What to eat when you have the flu?

Still, it’s all about eating the right foods for your condition. Consider eating the following foods when you have the flu. 1. Broth. Whether you prefer chicken, beef, or vegetable, broth is one of the best things you can eat when you have the flu.

What should I do if my child has the flu?

When your child has the flu, you'll want to keep him comfortable. Make sure he rests. Your toddler will be more tired than usual. Try to get him to take naps during the day, plus a long sleep at night. Get him to drink up. Water, juice, yogurt, electrolyte solutions, and chicken soup are all fine choices to keep him hydrated.

What can I give my 5 year old for a cold?

5 Foods to Fight Kids' Colds & Flu 1 Yogurt. 2 Sweet Potatoes. 3 Beef & Pork. 4 Chicken Soup. 5 Warm Drink.

What to feed toddlers when they are sick?

Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are the foods that make up the BRAT diet. These foods are easy to digest and have a better likelihood of staying down than many other foods when a child is sick. Similarly, CRAM is a diet that consists of cereal, rice, applesauce, and milk.

What do you do when your sick toddler won't eat?

Sick Toddler Won't Eat or DrinkDon't force them to eat.Stick to safe foods.Offer easy to digest foods.Offer smaller portions.Listen to your child.Try probiotic foods.Don't wait to get help.

What can you give a toddler for a cold and flu?

However, there are steps you can take to help your child feel better while their immune system battles the virus.Offer plenty of fluids. ... Clear up stuffed nasal passages. ... Loosen the cough. ... Promote rest. ... Know what to give and when. ... See your child's doctor. ... Surviving cold and flu season.

Should a sick toddler not eat?

It's normal for a child who's under the weather to lose her appetite — along with her sunny disposition. And it's not always a bad thing. For instance, if her tummy is ailing her, an eating slowdown will give her stomach and intestines a chance to recover, especially if she's been vomiting.

Should I let sick toddler sleep all day?

You're best to let them sleep as much as they need to if your schedule allows. Also while kids are sick, they may wake up more frequently. This is usually due to discomfort from a congested head, tummy ache, etc.

How can I tell if my toddler is dehydrated?

These are some signs of dehydration to watch for in children: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...•

How can I get rid of my toddlers flu fast?

How to Take Care of Your Sick ToddlerMake sure he rests. Your toddler will be more tired than usual. ... Get him to drink up. Water, juice, yogurt, electrolyte solutions, and chicken soup are all fine choices to keep him hydrated. ... Bring down the fever. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. ... Try something sweet.

How long does a flu last in toddlers?

How long does the flu last in kids? If your baby or toddler comes down with the flu, symptoms usually last about a week but can linger for up to two weeks. The associated cough can sometimes last up to four weeks.

How can I treat my toddler's flu at home?

Fighting Kids' Cold & Flu Symptoms: Fever ReliefAs with colds, let your child get plenty of fluids and rest.Keep the room temperature cool (between 70° and 74° F).Dress your child in lightweight pajamas.Encourage your child to drink extra fluids, popsicles, and gelatin to stay hydrated.More items...•

How do I keep my toddler hydrated when sick?

If your child is sick to their stomach or dehydrated, give small sips of ORS, breast milk or formula (if tolerated) every 5 to 10 minutes. Start by giving babies 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of liquid. For toddlers and children, give 1 tablespoonful or 3 teaspoons (30 mL). Gradually work up to drinking more.

What can I feed my toddler with a cough?

Serve Easy-to-Swallow Foods Toddlers and babies who eat solids may prefer soft, smooth foods. Try ice cream, ice pops, flavored gelatin, pudding, yogurt, or applesauce. If they prefer warmer foods, try chicken broth or freshly made pudding. Babies 6 months and younger should stick with breast milk or baby formula.

What should I buy if my toddler has a cold?

Make sure you have these cold and flu essentials at home to monitor your child's health and help provide relief:A working thermometer. ... Saline spray and nasal bulb syringe or aspirator. ... Fever-reducing medications. ... Sore throat remedies. ... Hand soap and cleaning products.

How do you treat a cold in a toddler naturally?

Natural Ways to Treat Your Baby's ColdSkip the Cold Medicine. 1/13. Babies get sick a lot. ... Give Plenty of Fluids. 2/13. This thins mucus, and that can help with a stuffy nose. ... Suction Out the Snot. 3/13. ... Use Saline Drops. 4/13. ... Serve Chicken Soup. 5/13. ... Run a Humidifier. 6/13. ... Create a Steam Room. 7/13. ... Clear Out the Smoke. 8/13.More items...•

What can I give my 2 year old for cough and runny nose?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers these tips for relieving cough and cold symptoms in infants and children:A cool mist humidifier makes breathing easier by decreasing congestion in nasal passages. ... Saline nose drops or sprays keep nasal passages moist and help avoid stuffiness.More items...•

Is there cold medicine for 2 year olds?

Don't use over-the-counter medicines, except for fever reducers and pain relievers, to treat coughs and colds in children younger than 6 years old. Also, consider avoiding use of these medicines for children younger than 12 years old.

What is the best food for a toddler who is sick?

3. Chicken Soup.

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 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.

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 feed toddlers recovering from illness?

When your child is recovering from an illness, you can expect for their appetite to still be off for several more days, and that’s fine! Usually bland foods are more appealing to them during this time, but know that you don’t have to ONLY offer the standard bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT). ...

What to take for sickness season?

Your starting lineup for this sickness season is: hand washing, good hygiene, probiotics, and elderberry!

What to give a toddler who doesn't want water?

It’s a lot to ask of them to consume large amounts of water, especially if their tummies are upset, so small sips throughout the day are key. And when they really don’t want water, it’s okay to find something else they will drink. Even if it’s a milkshake to soothe their sore throat! A simple vanilla milkshake can be a great option, because they’ll love the ‘treat’ and you can sneak in a little nutrition boost (that they won’t notice) with a scoop of yogurt or vanilla Nutrikid Shake. Keep reading for my go-to vanilla milkshake recipe further down in this post!

Can elderberry help with colds?

It won’t prevent them from getting sick like probiotics can, but research does support it shortening the duration of their symptoms, so you don’t need to give it to them daily unless they start showing signs of a cold. Try this elderberry gummy or this syrup.

Can kids drink tea with vitamin C?

Spilling the Tea on Vitamin C. The truth is that your child really does not need to take a Vitamin C supplement, because it’s really easy to get 100% of the Vitamin C they need from food. Toddlers get enough Vitamin C from any ONE of the items on this list: 2 strawberries. ½ small orange. 2 strips red bell pepper. 2 tbsp broccoli.

Do probiotics help kids?

Probiotics will help support your child’s immune system, which can ultimately keep them from getting sick. I use Culturelle Kids (amazon affiliate link*) because the strain and dosage has been researched and proven to help keep kids from getting sick. If you want to learn more about probiotics for kids, see this post.

Does dairy increase mucus?

Dairy may thicken mucus, and it’s okay if you choose to avoid it. But research has shown that dairy actually does not increase mucus production. (Balfour-Lynn IM. Milk, mucus and myths. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2019;104:91)

What to do when your child has a stomach flu?

When your child has a stomach flu or an upset stomach, it’s best to stick to bland foods and plenty of fluids.

How to help a sick kid?

The number one thing to help a sick kid is hydration! Push fluids in any way you can since most illness cause fluid to be released from the body (think diarrhea, vomiting, mucus production, and sweating from a fever).

What is the best way to rehydrate a toddler?

Ice pops. Popsicles are a good way to rehydrate your toddler, plus they feel like a treat! Pedialyte makes freeze pops that have electrolytes as well. You can usually find them by the electrolyte drinks in the pharmacy or grocery store.

How to help a toddler stay healthy?

The best thing you can do to help your toddler stay healthy is frequent hand washing. This is the number one way to stay healthy!

How to help a child with dehydration?

Again, encourage your child to drink extra fluids to prevent dehydration. Offer frequent sips of cold liquids to help their tummies rest. Clear fluids, like plain water, electrolyte drinks, popsicles, and fruit juices can all help prevent dehydration.

What is the best drink for a stomach bug?

Ginger ale. Great for a stomach bug, ginger ale that is made with real ginger can help settle a tummy. If your child does not like the carbonation, stir the bubbles out with a spoon.

How to help a swollen stomach?

Offer plenty of small meals through the day. Avoid fatty foods and foods that are heavily processed as that may upset their stomach again.

What are some good foods for kids to eat?

Sweet Potatoes. These bright orange spuds are loaded with vitamin A, a key immune system nutrient that helps keep tissue in the mouth, intestines, and respiratory tract healthy. Just a half cup of cooked sweet potatoes has double the A that kids need every day.

What is the best food for the immune system?

Meat is naturally high in protein, a critical component of the immune system. Beef and pork especially are also some of the richest food sources of zinc, a mineral used by the body to make T-cells, which play a starring role in immunity. Other good sources of zinc are cashews, chickpeas, and kidney beans.

Is yogurt good for kids?

Yogurt. It's smart to give your kids some kind of probiotic on a regular basis, especially during cold and flu season. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help strengthen the immune system by populating the GI tract and crowding out the bad bugs that can cause illness.

What to give a toddler with a fever?

Bring down the fever. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Ask your doctor's office what the correct dosage is for your toddler's weight and how often to give it. Never give your child aspirin because it's linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye's syndrome.

How to take care of a sick toddler?

Make sure he rests. Your toddler will be more tired than usual. Try to get him to take naps during the day, plus a long sleep at night. Get him to drink up.

How to help a toddler with a bad cough?

Try something sweet. If he's is older than 1 year of ageg and has a bad cough, 1/2 teaspoon of honey can help. Steer clear of over-the-counter cough medicine. It's not safe for toddlers.

How to help a toddler with a clogged nose?

Use nasal spray. You don't need to get an over-the-counter drug to help your toddler breathe easier when he's got a clogged nose. Instead, buy a saline spray, which is just salt water. If you spray once or twice in each nostril, it should help to open the airways. Help him breathe easier at night.

Why does my toddler have a runny nose?

Runny nose. If it's the flu, on the other hand, your toddler may have things like: Sudden high temperature that persists despite fever reducer medication. Feel much more tired than usual, sleep more, and do a lot less activity. Sore throat.

Is it safe to give a child a cold medicine?

A Drug to Treat the Flu? Steer clear of over-the-counter cold and flu medicine -- they aren't safe for children under age 4. The flu is caused by a virus, so antibiotics, which fight bacteria, won't do any good. But a drug called oseltamivir ( Tamiflu) works against the flu virus, and it's safe to give to toddlers.

Can you make your baby more comfortable?

There's a lot you can do to make your little one more comfy while his body fights it off. And most important of all, there's a vaccine that can keep him from getting sick in the first place.

What happens when a child gets the flu?

The flu comes on suddenly. You will likely notice that your child seems perfectly fine and healthy and then all of a sudden develops a fever, fatigue, body aches, and other symptoms of the flu such as sore throat and cough.

How to keep a child from getting dehydrated?

If your child is vomiting or having diarrhea, it's important to be sure he or she doesn't get dehydrated. Once the vomiting stops, the best way to maintain hydration and replace lost electrolytes is to give the child small sips of Pedialyte. 4  Space these sips out; give one every five to 10 minutes so you can be sure your child is able to keep the fluids down.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

1 . The flu comes on suddenly.

What temperature should a child be at?

When it comes to a child with a fever, there are two situations when you should call the doctor immediately: 1 An infant up to 3 months whose rectal temperature is above 100.3 degrees or below 97 degrees: Babies this young cannot regulate their temperatures well, so you shouldn't wait to call the doctor. 2 A child between ages 3 months and 6 months with a rectal temperature of over 101 degrees: Although these older babies can regulate their body temperature better than when they were younger, a temperature over 101 degrees is still a serious concern.

What temperature should an infant be at 3 months?

An infant up to 3 months whose rectal temperature is above 100.3 degrees or below 97 degrees: Babies this young cannot regulate their temperatures well, so you shouldn't wait to call the doctor.

What happens if a child has a high fever but is active?

If your child has a high fever but is active and behaving pretty normally, you needn't be as concerned as you should be if, despite having only a low fever, your child seems unhappy and doesn't want to play.

Should sick children stay in bed?

But there's no need to make sick children stay in bed all day if they feel like getting up. Kids are pretty good about not pushing themselves too hard when they don't feel well. As noted earlier, you can usually feel confident basing your treatment on your child's behavior.

What fruits can you eat to help with the flu?

Consider snacking on vitamin C–rich fruits while you have the flu. Some fruits high in vitamin C include strawberries, tomatoes, and citrus fruits. 6. Leafy greens . Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens can also help boost your immune system when you have the flu.

How long does it take to get over the flu?

While the worst of the symptoms may be gone after five days, it can take one to two weeks to get over the flu entirely. Your recovery may take even longer if you develop a secondary infection from the flu.

How to boost immune system?

Consider combining leafy greens with fruit in a smoothie, or eat them raw with a drizzle of lemon and olive oil. It’s best to eat these immune-boosting foods throughout the duration of your illness.

How to get your child to sleep?

Encourage them to rest by creating an environment with minimal stimulation. Even though it may be tempting to put them in front of the television, watching too much TV may have a negative effect on their sleep.

When should I eat broccoli?

Consider eating broccoli when your appetite returns toward the middle or end of the flu. You can also eat broccoli soup; just remember to check the sodium content.

Can you take garlic supplements with the flu?

of garlic supplements in adults with the flu found enhanced immunity and reduced symptom severity. You don’t necessarily have to take supplements, though. Eating raw garlic may also be beneficial. Due to the immune-enhancing effects, consider eating garlic at the first signs of the flu.

Can you eat when you have the flu?

When you or a loved one has the flu, the last thing you may feel like doing is eating. It’s certainly okay to eat a little less with the flu, as you likely have a reduced appetite. Still, you’ll need to eat small amounts of the right foods to provide you with energy and nutrients while you recover.