what to feed your toddler with the 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 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 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 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 Feed my child when they have an 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 can I give my sick toddlers that 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.

What do you feed a toddler who doesn't feel well?

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 do I get my 2 year old to eat when sick?

7 Tips for Feeding Sick ToddlersDon'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.

How long does the flu last for toddlers?

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.

Should I let sick toddler sleep all day?

Sick children get very tired and need plenty of rest. Encourage your child to doze off when they need to, perhaps with a story read by you or on a mobile device or CD. Never fall asleep with a sick baby on the sofa with you, even if you're both exhausted.

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...•

Is Sprite good for fever?

TREATING THE FLU Drink at least 2 liters each day of liquids such as non-diet 7-UP, Sprite, Gatorade, ginger ale, broth, tea with sugar (yes, soda pop is OK with a cold or flu). For runny nose and stuffy nose, try a decongestant like 12-Hour Sudafed (available without a prescription).

Which fruit is good for cold and cough?

Citrus fruits Fill your diet with plenty of vitamin C rich foods, such as oranges, grapefruit, or use lemons and limes when cooking at home. Other VIT C rich foods include strawberries, tomatoes and broccoli.

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.

How can I get rid of my toddlers flu fast?

Encourage your child to breathe in moist, warm water vapors from a shower or bath to loosen mucus. Avoid giving cough and cold medications to kids. Learn why these medications are not recommended for young children. For children over 6 months old, give your child plenty of warm fluids.

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...•

When should I be concerned about my toddler flu?

Your child should be taken in for medical care if he has the following symptoms: Fever that does not respond to fluids, rest and fever-reducing medications. Extreme fatigue. Inconsolable irritability.

How can I help my sick 2 year old?

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.

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 do you do when your sick toddler won't drink?

Offer your child liquids in new, fun ways. Put a drink in a cup they don't usually use. Give them a straw. Pour some juice in a bowl and have them eat with a spoon.

What can my toddler eat with a sore throat?

How to Care For Your ChildGive them soft, easy-to-swallow foods, like applesauce, mashed potatoes, hot cereal, or eggs. ... Give them lots of liquids, like water, Pedialyte®, diluted apple juice, or popsicles. ... To soothe a sore throat, for children:More items...

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 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 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 keep a tot from getting moldy?

Run a cool-mist humidifier (aka vaporizer) in the room where your tot spends most of her time. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on keeping its filter clean to prevent mold and bacteria growth.

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.