How to Feed a Sick Child

We have all heard the phrase "Feed a fever, starve a cold" or vice versa, but what most us of don't know is that this motto dates back to the 1500s and unfortunately doesn't have much medical merit. When kids get any kind of viral illness, typically they lose their appetite, and getting them to eat can be a challenge. Depending on your child's symptoms, there are different ways to help fill their tummy so that they can feel better faster. Read on to learn how to feed a sick child.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Keep these pointers in mind if the symptom is a stuffy nose. When your child has a cold and can't breathe well (especially true for babies), it's much more difficult for him to eat or drink. And since the nose is connected to the back of the mouth, mucus inevitably migrates into your child's throat. Not only is this not appetizing, but can sometimes cause gagging or vomiting. To increase the odds that your child will eat (or at least drink) try these tips: Wait. Don't offer your child anything to eat or drink right after she wakes up. Give the accumulated mucus a chance to clear itself out before trying to get anything in. Elevate. Prop up your child's head to help the drainage situation. Moisturize. Run a cool-mist humidifier if your child's bedroom to help loosen things up a bit. If your child is old enough, sitting in a steamy bathroom or taking a shower can help as well. Remove. Most children can't blow their nose effectively until they're at least two or three. For a baby or toddler, try clearing the way with saline nasal drops and bulb syringe.

2. Tackle vomiting. Getting a child with a stomach flu to keep anything down can be a challenge, but don't give up. Your mission is to sneak in drinks (and then food) without causing an uprising. Give small amounts of liquid frequently--even just a tsp. or two every five or 10 minutes. If your child is exceptionally thirsty and wants to gulp an entire glass, try to slow her down by offering her a frozen pop, Jell-o or encourage her to drink with a spoon. Additionally, allow your child's stomach time to settle down after throwing up before offering anything to eat or drink.

3. Know what to do in the case of diarrhea. Typically, your child will regain his appetite before his intestinal issues have resolved, but there's no reason to limit his diet when he wants to eat. There is also no reason to be alarmed if diarrhea causes food to move through the intestinal tract more quickly than usual. Anything your child eats stands a good chance of escaping relatively undigested out the other end. There are certain foods that an help diarrhea by bulking things up and slowing them down, including bananas, rice, apples and toast. It's fine to serve these foods, but pediatricians also recommend that you offer your child her usual diet along with plenty of fluids. Avoid high-fat and high-sugar foods, also limit fruit, fruit juice and bran. Lastly, children with diarrhea usually lose important mineral-containing fluids, so they should drink a pediatric electrolyte solution that's specifically designed to replace water and salt. These products include Pedialyte, Infalyte, ReVital and LiquiLytes, which can be extremely helpful for moderate to severe diarrhea.

Tips & Warnings

• Chicken soup not only tastes good when you're sick, it may actually be good for you. Scientists who have tested this generations-old remedy found that it can help reduce both inflammation and congestion.