Feeding sick children

Even if you have a healthy kitchen, breastfeed, and feed your child a healthy diet, she may still get sick. When a child is sick, it’s important to breastfeed more, not less. Do not give them soda or tea. For children over 6 months of age, you can also give them a special mixture that prevents dehydration. The mixture is called Oral Rehydration Solution or ORS.

Buy ORS sachets at the market. Your local market will usually have sachets of oral re-hydration solution for sale. If your market does not have ORS, your community healthcare volunteer or nurse should have them. You will mix the entire sachet with a soda bottle full of safe water. Do not try to save some of the mixture for later.

Breast milk and clean water are important to keep your child hydrated.

Be sure to give your child the right things when they have diarrhea to help them feel better quickly. Continue to breastfeed your child but do not give them soda or tea.

Hints for feeding and sick children:

• Seek medical care for all sick children.

• Continue to breastfeed children when they are sick.

• Give extra foods.

• Make sure foods are soft and easy to swallow.

• Feed with a lot of patience and feed preferred, nutritious foods.

What not to feed baby

It is important that your child eats a lot of different foods to be healthy, but there are some foods that are not healthy or safe for young children:

Children under 12 months ALL infants and young children

Animal Milk Honey

Sweetened beverages like sodas or bottled / canned juices

Junk foods like candies, cakes, crisps and chips