what to feed toddler with flu

Full Answer

What can I give my toddler for the stomach flu?

Liquids are an essential aspect of your toddler’s diet during the stomach flu 1 2. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can cause your toddler to become dehydrated, Baby Center warns 2. Give your child increased liquids, such as water, sports drinks and child-oriented electrolyte-infused beverages.

What can I give my Sick toddler for a fever?

Getting plenty of fluids (even via tiny sips throughout the day) is also important and is especially restorative if your sick toddler has a fever, cold, flu or lung infection. Serve foods with a high water content, like chicken soup or broths, applesauce or small pieces of ripe cantaloupe or watermelon.

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.

How long can you follow a stomach flu diet for toddlers?

Follow this diet for no more than one to three days, the organization advises. Talk to your pediatrician about his recommendations for a stomach flu diet 1 2. Liquids are an essential aspect of your toddler’s diet during the stomach flu 1 2.

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.

What to feed a sick toddler who won t eat?

The “BRAT diet” advises feeding bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast for stomach ailments. These foods contain simple carbohydrates that provide energy and are easy to digest.

What foods cure the flu fast?

The best foods for fighting the fluBroth. Broth is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and it helps prevent dehydration. ... Chicken soup. ... Ice pops. ... Fruits and veggies with vitamin C. ... Leafy greens. ... Fruit or vegetable juice. ... Herbal tea. ... Garlic.More items...•

What do you feed a sick toddler with a fever?

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.

How long can a toddler go without eating?

Humans can usually go a month without food but will not be able to drink water for three to four days.

Is it OK if toddler doesn't eat when sick?

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.

Are bananas good for flu?

Bananas. Bananas are a great food to eat when you're sick. They're soft and bland but rich in nutrients and fast-acting carbs. The potassium in bananas can help replenish your electrolyte stores as well, since potassium is one of the key electrolytes your body needs ( 34 , 35 ).

Is boiled egg good for flu?

Eggs contain protein and it is essential to gain some strength and energy at a time like this. In fact, eggs are also filled with vitamins B6 and B12 that help in boosting immunity. So, boiled eggs are a good choice of food during a fever.

Can you eat eggs when you have the flu?

Even when you aren't sick, you need protein to keep your body strong. Your body uses it to build strength and keep what you already have. Lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, eggs, nuts, and seeds are good sources.

Can we give egg to toddler during fever?

Egg Whites The white portion in the egg is the protein that nourishes the yolk. Its viscous property can absorb the heat from the surrounding. The same property can be used to treat baby fever.

Should I let sick toddler sleep all day?

Sleeping While Sick Don't beat yourself up instead get her feeling better faster. Sleeping is perhaps the best medicine for your little one. Their body needs sleep, and lots of it, to heal and fight off infection. Most of the time they will take care of this themselves by sleeping longer and more frequently.

Can toddlers drink milk with a fever?

Children need to drink more when they have a fever – water, breastmilk, milk, formula, Pedialyte, water, juice, herbal teas, or soup broths are Page 2 fine. You can give your child either Acetaminophen (Tylenol or Tempra) or Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) to make them more comfortable.

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 stuffy nose?

Water, juice, yogurt, electrolyte solutions, and chicken soup are all fine choices to keep him hydrated. Warm liquids may even help to unclog a stuffy nose. 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.

How to help a toddler breathe?

Help him breathe easier at night. When your toddler goes to sleep, put a cool-mist humidifier in his room. The moisture from the vapor helps relieve his stuffy nose.

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.

Is it safe to give a toddler tamiflu?

But a drug called oseltamivir ( Tamiflu) works against the flu virus, and it's safe to give to toddlers. There are a few drawbacks, though. For one thing, it's only effective if you use it in the first 2 days after your child gets the flu.

What Should I Feed My Child After Vomiting

After it has been 4-6 hours since the last time your little one upchucked and they are keeping down fluids, you can start trying to feed them these recommended foods:

How Long Does The Stomach Viral Flu Last In A Child

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.

Recovery

It’s never easy seeing your little one suffer, but remember to take care of yourself too by sanitizing everything. You won’t be much good if you catch the virus too. I’ve made that mistake before and it’s not pretty.

Let her set the rest rules

No need to banish your sick toddler to bed, even if you know that’s where you’d want to go if you were feeling yucky. Just keep a close eye on her and follow her cues. Little kids are good at picking up on their body’s signals, slowing down when they’re really sick.

Doctor her diet

If anyone tells you to “starve a cold, feed a fever,” don’t listen. Childhood illnesses call for a nutritious diet — just adjust your tot’s meals to suit her appetite. If she’s willing to eat (don’t force it), give her whatever nutritious foods she’s hungry for. Pancakes for supper? Fine.

Help the medicine go down

Whether the pediatrician recommends acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil and the like) to bring down a fever, or prescribes antibiotics to beat a nasty bug, you’ll want to make medicine-taking as pleasant as possible for your sick toddler. Usually that means doing what you can to mask an unpleasant taste.

Counter congestion

Most toddlers (and even preschoolers) haven’t mastered the skill of nose-blowing, so they suffer with stuffed-up sinuses.

Read all about it

It helps kids to understand that feeling rotten is part of life. If your child is up to it, isn’t contagious and has been fever-free for 24 hours, a trip to the library will yield a few books about ailing characters she can relate to.

Keep it light

Laughter is the best medicine — and that’s particularly true for toddlers and preschoolers, who can often tolerate discomfort best if they have a distraction.

Pour on the TLC

There’s no better medicine than your undivided attention. If possible, adjust your schedule as much as you can to accommodate your little patient’s need for plenty of hugs and kisses, and offer them in double doses (that’s one Rx that kids can’t get enough of).

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.

How to know if your toddler has the stomach flu?

Symptoms. Most of the treatment for the stomach flu in toddlers is designed to minimize symptoms of the illness, according to Kids Health 1 2. The most common symptoms include an upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue. If your child develops blood or mucus in his stools, call your doctor immediately.

How long does a fever last with the stomach flu?

Symptoms can come on suddenly and last for up to three days, but they might also disappear within a day. A fever is not common with the stomach flu; call the pediatrician if your child runs a fever with a stomach flu 1 2.

Is stomach flu contagious in toddlers?

Gastroenteritis is a viral infection of the intestinal tract. The infection typically causes symptoms in toddlers for one to two days and is highly contagious. One of the best treatments for toddler stomach flu is to modify the diet 1 2.

Can you give a toddler soda with stomach flu?

Liquids are an essential aspect of your toddler’s diet during the stomach flu 1. Stay away from excessive amounts of fruit juice and do not give your child soda; both contain large amounts of sugar, which can worsen diarrhea.

Can you introduce bland foods to a toddler?

Kids Health recommends eliminating all solid foods from the toddler's diet while she is vomiting 1. Once the vomiting stops, you can introduce bland foods in small quantities. Introducing foods too early can cause the stomach to become upset and perpetuate vomiting.

Can you give a toddler ice pops?

You can also use ice pops to help maintain the proper amount of liquid in your child’s diet. Stay away from excessive amounts of fruit juice and do not give your child soda; both contain large amounts of sugar, which can worsen diarrhea. Liquids are an essential aspect of your toddler’s diet during the stomach flu 1.

Best food for toddler with upset stomach

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

What to feed a kid with a sore throat or cough

Kids with a sore throat are going to like the same thing that adults with a sore throat like. Think about what would be most soothing.

What to give a toddler with a fever

If your child has a high temperature, your child’s pediatrician may advise you to give them a fever reducer like acetaminophen (Tylenol).

How to keep your toddler from getting sick (and help them recover from illness)

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!

Other things to do when your toddler is sick

There are many ways to help a sick toddler that don’t involve feeding them.