Kids Cuisine

My 14-month-old daughter, Ava, will not turn down any food—except pureed spinach, but I don’t blame her because I tried it and it was gross. So, one day two weeks ago when she didn’t even drink her milk or eat her Goldfish snack my wife and I knew something was up. Our suspicious were confirmed when Ava had one of her most messiest diapers and then another one and then another one. We called our friends to see if their kids were under the weather, who all said that indeed their little one had the stomach flu—and we should call our pediatrician to be on the safe side.

That’s a key point to remember—if you ever have concerns on how your child is feeling physically, don’t give it a second thought to contact your doctor for consultation at anytime of the day or evening (even if it’s 2:00 a.m.).

We called the doctor’s office, and they, too, explained that the stomach flu is in high gear. They said there’s not much to do other than try to keep her as comfortable as possible until the bug works it way out (”call back if it gets worse”). However, they pointed out that it’s important that we keep her hydrated. They first recommended Pedialyte juice and Jello, but Ava would not drink or eat it—I tried it and I didn’t like the taste.

While Gatorade is not generally recommended for infants due to its high level of sugars and sodium (15 g and 111 mg, respectively, per 8 oz. serving), the doctor recommended us to give it to her in a very diluted format if she won’t take to Pedialyte. Let me tell you—I made a pitcher of Glacier Freeze and gave her about 2 ounces of the blue juice with almost 6 ounces of additional water in a sippy cup or bottle. It didn’t taste like much to me, but Ava drank it all in no time flat.

In addition to the Gatorade, my wife picked up chamomile tea in granular form called “Herbatka ruminakowa” at a Polish market. To make it you pour 1 tablespoon of the granule in a bottle and I added 8 ounces of water to a sippy cup or bottle. You can either first warm it up or just use warm/room temperature tap water. It’s mild tasting. Heck, I even drink chamomile tea when my stomach’s upset.

The doctor also recommended we discontinue feeding her her normal diet of milk (no dairy of any kind for that matter) and other solid foods. Milk and other dairy (like cheese) only contribute to causing more diarrhea, and solid foods with a lot of different flavors could upset her stomach. So, bland foods were recommended.

I peeled and chopped five large carrots, put them in a small pot with enough water to cover them and added a 1/2 cup of sugar. I cooked the mixture until the carrots were soft and mashable. They were a bit sweet, but the taste was overall bland. Ava didn’t mind the carrots (the texture was a bit course; you could puree it) and was able to eat it in small amounts.

Cooked white rice was helpful, too, as were Saltines (I know the crackers don’t have much nutritional value, but it was important to get something into her system).

The Original Farina was liked, cooked with water and just a pinch of salt. I followed the manufacturer’s recommended serving suggestions.

The doctor also suggested we not give her any children’s Tylenol, because the medicine could further upset her stomach.

Within about three to five days Ava’s normal appetite started to return, and within a week she was back to her normal self (oh, during the first three to five days, she didn’t sleep very well, either).

While these are only tips on how to make your baby feel a little more comfortable when the flu bug comes knocking unexpectedly, your baby may like other things and dislike what Ava liked.

But, remember, you should always first consult with your doctor.