It can be frightening for parents when their baby gets an upset stomach. Precautions must be taken to prevent dehydration, as babies can become dehydrated more quickly and easily than adults. Because of a baby's immature digestive system, not all foods used to treat nausea and diarrhea in adults are appropriate. Try to feed a sick baby little by little instead of a lot all at once.
The Importance of Liquids
If a baby is under 6 months old, he should only be fed breast milk or formula. Before you feed more solid foods to your baby, it's best to start with liquids after a stomach upset. Beverages that are specifically formulated with electrolytes help replace fluids lost because of vomiting or diarrhea. If you're breast-feeding your baby, continue to do so when his stomach is upset because breast milk has electrolytes and fluids that will benefit his dehydrated body. Seek the advice of a doctor for recommendations on electrolyte-enhanced beverages and other fluids that are right for your baby's condition. Avoid beverages with a large amount of sugar such as apple juice and cherry juice.
Once a pediatrician advises you that your baby is ready to have solid foods again, start slowly with bland foods. Cereals that are fortified with vitamins and minerals are recommended. Barley, rice and oatmeal tend to be light on the stomach. Mix them with infant formula or breast milk before feeding them to your sick baby. Start by mixing a single tablespoon of cereal with three tablespoons of infant formula or breast milk. If your baby is able to keep that down without showing further signs of illness, feed her more.
Fruits and Vegetables
Carlo Di Lorenzo, M.D., the professor of clinical pediatrics at Ohio State University, recommends fruits and vegetables as a part of a healthy diet when a baby is sick, as long as she is at least 6 months old. Their many nutrients will help her body heal. Bananas, raspberries, white grapes, strawberries, and pineapples are fruits that should not cause gas or make the stomach upset worse. Snap peas, Lima beans, sweet peas, potatoes and sweet potatoes are appropriate vegetable options.
The University of Michigan Health System recommends making a yogurt smoothie for babies. Blend 1/2 cup plain yogurt with 1/2 cup 100-percent fruit juice. If you don't have a blender, pour both ingredients into a covered container and shake well until blended. Fortified soy yogurt and almond milk yogurt are also nutritious choices. Recommended juices for the smoothie include orange juice and grape juice. You may opt to dilute the juice with water before mixing it into the smoothie. Consult a physician for advice before feeding your sick baby any solid foods.
Articles For Your Diet
- Wolters Kluwer Up to Date: Nausea and Vomiting in Infants and Children
- American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor: Vomiting and Diarrhea
- University of Michigan Health System: Feeding Your Baby and Toddler
- Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: Health Effects of Energy Drinks
- Parenting: Foods (and Drinks) That Soothe Sick Kids
- March of Dimes: Feeding Your Baby
- National Institutes of Health Medline Plus: Babies and Diarrhea
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