what to feed toddler with the flu

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 can I give my Baby for the flu?

They can help your baby feel better by making symptoms milder, and they can also help prevent serious complications, like pneumonia. The antiviral drug oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) is approved for treating flu in babies as young as 2 weeks, and the CDC recommends it for preventing flu in children as young as 3 months.

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.

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 do you feed a toddler with a fever and no appetite?

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.

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...•

What should I feed my toddler with a cold?

Steer clear of rich, fried, greasy foods and lean toward simple starches such as rice and noodles as these are easy on the stomach. Try bananas, rice, applesauce or toast if they are a bit queasy. If you can get in some vegetables – go for it, but focus more on getting them nourished!

How long can a toddler go without eating when sick?

Not eating is a good thing. If you force them to, they could lose it all over again. Don't give them solid foods for about eight hours once they've started vomiting. Clear liquids only.

What can I give my sick toddler who won t eat?

Hydration Tips for Sick Toddlers Who Aren't EatingWatered down 100% juice with ice cubes.A popsicle.Yogurt.Smoothie.Fruit (especially watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries)Milk.Warm herbal tea (100% caffeine free) with a tsp of honey (over 1 years old)Warm broth.

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 serious is the flu in toddlers?

Flu illness is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, millions of children get sick with seasonal flu; thousands of children are hospitalized, and some children die from flu. Children commonly need medical care because of flu, especially children younger than 5 years old.

How long does flu last in kids?

Most healthy people recover from the flu without any serious problems. Fever and muscle aches usually last only 2 to 4 days, but cough and tiredness can continue for 1 to 2 weeks or more.

What food is good for a coughing toddler?

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.

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.

Which fruit is best for cough?

These would be a surprise for you, but pineapple is a potent cough aid. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple that has anti-inflammatory and mucolytic (break down of mucus) properties. These two characteristics of bromelain make pineapple an excellent food to help relieve a cough.

What should toddlers eat when they have 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 can I increase my baby's appetite after a fever?

20 suggestions for boosting a healthy appetite in your little one1) Compulsory breakfast. ... 2) Offer water 30 minutes before meal time. ... 3) Feed every two hours. ... 4) Snacks are meals. ... 5) Peanut is not just any nut. ... 6) Don't make milk a meal. ... 7) Offer favourite foods. ... 8) Offer small bites.More items...

Can we give milk to toddler with fever?

Myth #1: Don't give milk to a child with a fever, the milk will curdle (or some other variant). Truth: As long as your child is not vomiting, milk is a perfectly acceptable fluid to give your febrile child.

How do you hydrate a child that won't drink?

If your child refuses water or oral rehydration fluids, try diluted apple juice. You can also give your child their usual milk. Do not give drinks that are high in sugar (e.g. flat lemonade or sports drinks), because they can make dehydration worse.

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.

How can I prevent my baby or toddler from getting the flu?

Preventive measures include getting the flu vaccine, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding others who are infected.

How is flu in babies and toddlers treated?

But because the flu can be so dangerous for children younger than 2 years old, they are often treated with antiviral drugs.

What is the flu and is it dangerous in babies and young children?

The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by an influenza virus. The flu can be dangerous – even deadly – for babies. Young children – especially those under age 2 – are at risk for serious complications if they get the flu. Each year about 20,000 people, most of them children younger than 5 years old, are hospitalized with flu complications such as pneumonia.

What are infant and toddler flu symptoms vs. cold symptoms?

Both the common cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses, but they're caused by different viruses. The flu usually makes kids ( and adults) feel much more miserable than a cold does. A baby or young child with a cold typically has:

How does flu spread?

If your child is near someone with the flu who is coughing or sneezing, he may breathe in infected droplets through his mouth or nose. People with the flu are generally contagious for a day or two before symptoms begin and for five to seven days after. Children may be contagious for longer.

Are there home remedies that help babies and toddlers with the flu?

Whether or not the doctor prescribes medication, you can help your child recover from the flu and stay comfortable with these remedies:

How long does the flu last in babies and toddlers?

Your child should start feeling better in a week or two. The fever will break first, and then her appetite should return. But this is just an estimate – some kids (and adults) have a cough that hangs on for two weeks or longer.

What to take for a sick toddler?

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. Even prescription drugs in the kid-friendliest flavors can have an after-taste to some tots.

What to do when your toddler is sick?

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. For sore throats, a frozen fruit-juice bar can soothe the scratchiness.

How to help a toddler who is lethargic?

If she seems too lethargic to do much more than snooze and listen to a few songs or stories, stick to slower-paced activities. Just make sure your child is fever-free before you take her out near other people. (Going for walks or playing outside in your backyard is fine).

What to do if your toddler's nose is red?

Offering your tot tissues with lotion in them can also help soothe the chapped skin.

What to do if your child is throwing up?

If she’s throwing up a lot or has persistent diarrhea, call the doctor. It’s likely the pediatrician will advise you to give her an oral rehydration solution , like Pedialyte. If your child goes without eating or drinking anything for 24 hours, that’s another sign to call.

Is laughter good for toddlers?

Laughter is the best medicine — and that’s particularly true for toddlers and preschoolers, who can often tolera te discom fort best if they have a distraction. Sure, you can cue up a movie (and you may need to at some point so that you can take a break), but simple activities that don’t require a ton of energy and that you can do with your child pack the most palliative punch.

Can toddlers have sinuses?

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

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 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 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!

What to take for sickness season?

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

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 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 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 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.