When baby is sick, it’s important that you continue to feed him to ensure he gets enough nutrients to help him get well. But how much should you give him? Are there foods you should avoid?
Constipation
Breastfed babies are hardly ever constipated, although they may not have a bowel motion for several days or up to a week. Even then, their poo will usually be soft.
Many babies go red in the face and strain when doing a normal poo. This is not a sign of constipation unless the poo is also hard, dry and crumbly, or like pellets, and the bowel movement seems to cause him pain and discomfort.
If your breastfed baby is constipated, it’s possible he isn’t getting enough breast milk, and you might need to feed him more often.
It may also be that the solids he’s eating are not right for him. Introduce the correct solid food for the age of your baby. Be aware that excessive use of legumes (peas, lentils and so on) and high fibre cereals are not appropriate for young babies.
What to do
- Breastfeed baby more often
- Do not increase your baby’s fibre intake by giving him more wholegrain cereals and fruit, vegetables and water as this approach may NOT be suitable for an infant with constipation. Follow the usual advice regarding introduction of solids for infants less than a year old.
- A gentle tummy massage or a warm bath may help your baby’s muscles to relax, so that he can poo as normal.
Diarrhoea and Vomiting
Most babies have occasional loose stools. Breastfed babies have looser stools than formula-fed babies.
Diarrhoea is when your baby frequently passes unformed watery stools. If this happens, contact baby’s doctor for advice, especially if baby has passed 6 or more such stools in the past 24 hours, or if he has vomited three times or more in the past 24 hours.
When your baby is suffering from diarrhoea/vomiting, the need for fluids is three times greater than usual.
What to do
- Frequent breastfeeding is required to prevent dehydration and provide nutrients required for recovery from infections.
- Oral rehydration fluids may be needed to replace the electrolytes lost during diarrhoea or vomiting. But speak to baby’s doctor before giving this to your baby.
- Even though your baby’s appetite may be reduced during illness, continue to feed him to ensure he gets the right amount of nutrients, and to enhance recovery.
- If your baby is not vomiting, continue to feed your child, but you may have to give your baby smaller amounts than usual. Encourage your baby to eat soft, varied, appetising and favourite foods that will not further upset the stomach.
- After illness, give food to your baby more often than usual as he needs greater nutrient intake to make up for losses during illness.
- Extra food is needed until the child has regained any weight lost, and is growing well again.
Fever and Flu
Most fevers are harmless and caused by mild infection. Regardless, you should tell your baby’s doctor about any fever that is higher than 38 degrees Celsius.
When your baby has a fever, the need for fluids is three times greater than usual.
What to do
- Frequent breastfeeding is required to prevent dehydration and provide the nutrients required for recovery from infections.
- Even though your baby’s appetite may be reduced during illness, continue to feed him to ensure he gets the right amount of nutrients, and to enhance recovery.
- Offer baby food if he has the appetite.
- After illness, give food to your baby more often than usual as he needs greater nutrient intake to make up for losses during illness and allow for catch-up growth.
- Extra food is needed until the child has regained any weight lost, and is growing well again.
For further information on infant and child nutrition, please refer to
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA (2013) Malaysian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents. Putrajaya: Technical Working Group on Nutritional Guidelines (for National Coordinating Committee on Food and Nutrition).
- NUTRITION SOCIETY OF MALAYSIA (2011) Baby’s First Bites. Petaling Jaya: Mother’s Smart Choice.
