managing sickness and getting back on track
Sickness is such a normal part of early childhood, particularly in those children attending a childcare facility. It is hard enough having to manage the symptoms of the various illnesses that arise, without throwing in the common food aversion that can occur during and following periods of sickness.
So, what causes issues with food during periods of sickness?
Well, if we consider the information in the article about the importance of posture, I share with you that whilst eating feels like such an effortless task for us as adults, it is actually such a complex task for our little ones to learn and there are other bodily functions that take precedence. The most important of which is breathing! Our little one’s ability to effortlessly breathe during periods of sickness can be disrupted, particularly when suffering from a respiratory illness. If our little one has a blocked/congested nose, eating becomes even more difficult. Having a blocked nose, and certainly some illnesses such as COVID, can also disrupt our little one’s ability to taste – when we have distorted taste, not only does food become strange and often unpleasant to eat, but it can often change the way food tastes.
Another common issue that arises when our little ones are unwell is fatigue. As above, eating is a complex skill – it takes a lot of concentration on your little one’s part, and as such, when really tired (just like at dinner time!), eating becomes all the more difficult.
If your little one has a case of gastro, nausea will absolutely wreak havoc with their desire to eat, just like it does when you also have nausea or an upset tummy, and can do so for a period of time following the resolution of symptoms.
What do I do when my child is unwell and symptomatic?
My first piece of advice would be to assume there is no disruption to their appetite and preferences, until proven otherwise. So, essentially, keep doing what you are doing – given how fickle toddlers are, we don’t want to create unnecessary preferences, if we don’t need too. If, however, your little one really clearly has a disrupted appetite, or is preferring certain foods over others, lean into this and do what you can to get through. Fluid intake (breastmilk, formula, water, watered down juice) is more important than food intake, during periods of sickness. It is really important, like I would recommend even when well, to never force or overly encourage intake of food, if your little one is resistant – it is ok if they don’t want to eat.
What you choose to serve to your little one may vary depending on symptoms. If they have a tummy bug, they may want no food, or perhaps they may feel more inclined to eat bland foods like toast, biscuits, plain pasta etc. If your little one has a sore throat, they may prefer foods like yoghurt, soft porridge or Weetbix, smoothies, ripe fruit, soup, vegetable purees etc. Don’t stress too much about the nutritional content of the food you are serving whilst your little one is unwell, but things like smoothies, porridge/Weetbix, purees, yoghurts etc can be easily “boosted” to make them more nutrient dense – adding chia seeds, ground up nuts, fruit, veggies to smooties etc. You may also find that your little one is more open to food if away from the table such as sitting on your lap or having a picnic style meal on the floor. I would suggest offering food at regular intervals to provide ample opportunity as hunger may be variable whilst unwell.
How do I get back on track post sickness?
It’s really important to remember that, like any other skill, periods in which you don’t practice, often result in a regression in that skill. So, it can take a week or two for your little ones eating to return to normal. This can be longer after things like COVID, where taste can be disturbed for a more extended period of time. Gastro bugs can also cause longer term issues, like a secondary lactose intolerance, thus resulting in ongoing tummy symptoms, so worth being mindful of.
In saying this, many children will have no issues post sickness – once symptoms resolve, they are straight back into it. However, for those little ones that are more hesitant, these are some tips I have:
Focus on the basics of routine and mealtime routine
Don’t unnecessarily stretch your little one – aim for an increased/normal variety of foods, but start with those foods you feel your little one will take more easily too
Increase variety of food offered, but keep meals away from the table for a few days – this encourages a more normal diet, but keeps the meals super low pressure
Don’t be afraid to boost up the flavour if your little one has had COVID or a respiratory illness – less flavourful food may be less appealing
Keep overwhelm to a minimum – no more than 3-4 foods, in really small portion sizes
Make food fun – check out this resource for some ideas
Remain un-phased by lack of eating, or if your child eats – we don’t want your little one to feel any sort of pressure
Talk about the food from a sensory perspective – describe the colour, texture, whether its juicy etc.