Changes in temperature, wind, cold, starting nursery or daycare…
👉 There are a thousand and one reasons why a baby might catch a cold, gastroenteritis, or a minor virus.
And despite all our efforts, it always ends up happening:
👉 baby gets sick.
Faced with this, one can quickly feel helpless.
Baby is tired, grumpy… and on top of that, he eats less.
And that's often where the questions arise:
👉 Should I insist?
👉 Should I adjust my diet?
🧠 When baby is sick, their appetite changes
Just like for us, when baby isn't feeling well:
- his appetite decreases
- he refuses certain foods
- He eats less, or almost nothing
👉 And that's totally normal.
His body is busy with:
- defend themselves
- to recover
- fight against the virus
👉 Eating takes a back seat.
And let's ask ourselves the question:
👉 do you feel hungry when you are sick?
💛 The first instinct: don't force it
This is probably the most important point.
👉 There's no need to force baby to eat.
This could:
- create stress
- generate rejection
- complicate meals
👉 The goal is not to “maintain the pace”…
👉 but to adapt.
🍼 Hydration is key
When baby is sick, the top priority is:
👉 avoid dehydration
You can choose to prioritize:
- breast milk or infant milk
- water
- water-rich preparations
👉 Even if the baby eats little, if he drinks, that's already very good.
🍽️ Adapting baby's diet
Even if your appetite decreases, you can adjust your meals to make them more accessible.
👉 Bet on what's familiar
This is not the time to try out new recipes.
👉 Proposal:
- his favorite dishes
- foods he recognizes
- textures that he masters
👉 The “comfort” aspect is essential.
👉 Divide your meals
Rather than offering a large meal:
👉 offers several small catches throughout the day.
This allows the baby to:
- conserve energy
- eat at your own pace
- not to tire oneself
Specific meals depending on the baby's condition
Each illness has its own specific characteristics. You can slightly adjust the foods offered.
🤍 In case of digestive problems (gastroenteritis, diarrhea…)
Favor starchy foods:
- white rice
- pasta
- potatoes
- banana
- cooked apples
👉 Simple, digestible and reassuring foods.
Here is a selection of recipes/snacks to make when baby has these problems:
🤧 In case of a cold
A blocked nose can bother a baby a lot.
👉 Before the meal:
- cleans his nose
- install it comfortably
Afterwards :
👉 offers foods he likes
👉 and prioritizes pleasure
Find your baby's favorite meal in our recipe list.
🌡️ In case of fever
The priority remains:
👉 hydration
You can suggest:
- compotes
- soups
- water-rich preparations
👉 The goal: to support your body without tiring it.
Here is a selection of recipes/snacks to make when baby has this problem:
⚠️ When to seek medical advice?
While a decrease in appetite is normal, certain signs should raise concern:
- baby is very tired
- severe vomiting
- total refusal to drink
- dehydration
- general condition worrying
👉 In this case, consult your doctor.
🌿 In summary
When baby is sick:
👉 He eats less
👉 He has less energy
👉 He needs gentleness
The goal is not to maintain a “perfect” diet
👉 but to adapt to it.
Of course, these guidelines apply to a healthy baby who is following their growth curve correctly.
