It’s a challenging moment for any parent or carer when their little one falls ill, especially when that sick toddler/young child refuses to eat anything. The situation becomes even more concerning if your child has a sore throat or a stomach bug, making it uncomfortable to swallow or keep anything down. However, ensuring your sick kid gets the right nutrition is important to aid their recovery. In this blog post, I will explore the best foods and strategies to feed a sick toddler with a lack of appetite and provide important tips for managing their health during this tough time.
1. Plenty of Fluids – The Most Important Thing
When a sick toddler doesn’t want to eat solid foods, the most important thing is to ensure they stay hydrated. A stomach bug or flu season can quickly lead to dehydration, which can be especially harmful to young children. Offer clear fluids like plain water, diluted sugar-free squash and ice pops/ice lollies. If you’re really concerned that they aren’t ingesting enough fluids, consider giving them oral rehydration solutions.
These not only help maintain hydration but can also soothe a sore throat and provide relief from high fever. Always make sure you have checked with your pharmacist that whatever you offer your child is suitable for their age, and check the dosage on the packaging carefully. Avoid offering hard lozenges such as Strepsils to toddlers and young children, as they could easily choke on these.
If a toddler or young child is still being breastfed, it’s a good idea to offer them breast milk more often than usual while they’re unwell. Breastfeeding helps boost their immune system, and antibodies are passed to them through breastmilk, helping them to fight off illnesses.
2. The BRAT Diet – A Good Idea for an Upset Stomach
The BRAT diet, consisting of bananas, plain rice, applesauce, and toast, is a great way to introduce gentle, bland foods to a sick toddler. These foods are easy to digest and can provide essential nutrients even when your child has a low appetite. You can also add oatmeal to the list for added variety. Even if your child eats nothing but these foods for the duration of their illness, together with lots of fluids, the BRAT diet will help to aid a speedy recovery.
In the event of a vomiting bug, it’s usually best not to offer any solid foods until the child has stopped vomiting. If the vomiting lasts for more than a few hours or even a couple of days, they can be offered very small portions of plain, easy-to-digest food in between the bouts of vomiting, together with plenty of fluids. If you are ever concerned about how long your child has been vomiting for, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice.
3. Citrus Fruits and Vitamin C
While it’s better to try and avoid too many sugary drinks, introducing small portions of fresh citrus fruits/juices can be a good idea. Citrus fruits like oranges contain vitamin C, which can boost your child’s immune system while they’re unwell. Offer orange juice diluted with water or provide slices of fresh fruit to encourage a balanced intake of nutrients. Adding a drop of boiling water into a cold drink can warm it enough to be comforting for an unwell child (just remember to always make sure the water you add is boiling rather than using warm water from the tap which may contain nasty bacteria).
4. Chicken Soup – A Time-Tested Remedy
Chicken soup has been a go-to comfort food for sick children (and adults!) for generations. It’s gentle on the stomach, provides hydration and nutrition, and can help ease symptoms of a sore throat and high temperature. Make sure to serve it warm, but not too hot (that goes for everything you’re offering to sick kids, in fact), and avoid adding fatty foods to the soup. Fatty foods take longer to move through the digestive system, which can make nausea worse.
5. Avoid Sugary and Dairy Products
During a bout of illness (particularly stomach bugs) it’s important to try and steer clear of sugary drinks and dairy products. Sugary drinks can exacerbate symptoms, while dairy products may be harder to digest and can make an upset stomach even worse. Stick to plain, simple foods and drinks if possible, but if your child really won’t drink anything other than fizzy drinks/pop while they’re ill, try offering them flat lemonade (ideally a low-sugar or sugar-free variety!).
The most important thing is to get fluids into them one way or another. You could also try herbal tea such as ginger or lemon, with a bit of honey and fresh ginger grated into it. Honey and lemon are great for sore throats. My kids love this when they’re unwell (and like to have it sometimes even when they are well).
6. Gradually Offer a Variety of Foods
While your sick toddler may refuse a lot of the foods they normally eat, it’s a good idea to offer more of a variety of nutritious foods once they start feeling better. Small amounts of easy-to-digest, healthy warm meals can help aid their recovery and build up their strength and immunity again after a bout of illness.
7. Signs of Dehydration – Seek Medical Advice
Keep a close eye on signs of dehydration, including dry mouth, sunken eyes, dark urine, or weight loss. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult your healthcare provider immediately. They may recommend an electrolyte solution to help restore the child’s fluid and electrolyte balance.
While most bugs and illnesses in childhood aren’t serious and can be recovered from relatively quickly, occasionally children can deteriorate quickly having previously seemed to be doing fine. Never hesitate to immediately seek medical advice if you notice a significant change in your child’s health or demeanour when they’re ill. In the UK, call 111, or dial 999 if you feel your child requires urgent medical assistance.
Conclusion
When dealing with a sick toddler who doesn’t want to eat, maintaining hydration is the best way to support their recovery. I have covered the ideal drinks to offer, but really as long as they are drinking plenty of something throughout the day, that’s the most important thing.
Children won’t come to any harm if they’re only eating a small range of bland food they feel able to stomach while they’re unwell, as long they are drinking enough fluids. It’s best not to try not to get upset or concerned if they reject a lot of the food they are offered during bouts of illness. Let them eat what they have the appetite for (without overloading on sugary foods). After the worst of the illness has passed, starting to offer a variety of gentle, nutritious foods again is important for their overall health and continued recovery.
In most cases, with plenty of rest and proper care, sick toddlers and young children will soon be back to enjoying their favourite foods and being their lively selves again. However, it is essential to seek medical advice if you’re ever seriously concerned about your child’s condition or if they show signs of severe dehydration.
Links and Resources
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting
https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/publication/caring-for-your-child-with-gastroenteritis
Other posts from Enjoy Every Minute you might find useful:
https://enjoyeveryminute.co.uk/2024/05/18/is-it-a-good-idea-to-let-my-sick-child-sleep-with-me/