What To Feed A Toddler With A Cold? 25 Easy Cook Foods

It’s important to know what to feed a toddler with a cold.

When children get sick your first instinct is to get them better as soon as possible, but it’s important you get the correct balance of food to help.

There are many foods to avoid during cough and cold and in this article, we’ll reveal the best and most revitalising foods you can give a toddler and to what to feed a sick toddler who won’t eat.

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What To Feed A Toddler With A Cold

Being a parent can sometimes be hard, especially if you are new one.

You try your best to get it right, follow the guidelines but your toddler still gets sick.

It’s no fun for you or you toddler who has to battle with a drippy nose, constant cough, tummy pains and even a fever.

But rest assure there is still plenty you can do to help and diet is the first line of defence.

Listed below you’ll see what to feed a toddler with a cold and hopefully have them back to their normal selves fast!

Here are common questions some parents ask:

• What to feed a toddler with a cold?
• Foods to avoid during cough and cold?
• What to feed a sick toddler who won’t eat?
• Food for toddlers during cold and cough?
• Apple during cold for babies?
• Banana during cold for babies?
• Indian food for toddlers during cold and cough?
• What to feed a sick toddler who wont eat?
• Best food for congested toddler?

In this all-inclusive article, we will answer them all to ensure your toddler gets better fast!

Remember there are many fads out there.

The most effective way to combat a toddler cold and illness are to create wholesome small meals that are easy to digest and are proven to assist the body’s own immune system.

What To Feed A Sick Toddler Who Won’t Eat

Water Rice Soup

This is a well-known home remedy across the globe and is well documented for treating colds and coughs.

This helps to boss the immune system.

Vegetable Soup

This remedy is good as soups can easily be absorbed by the body.

Smartly, you can add other robust ingredients in the soup that help with colds and mix it all together to create a longer-lasting relief.

Chicken soup

Still as good as vegetable soup with the added bonus of it helping to soothe a sore throat (when taken warm) and suppresses the inflammation.

Apple & Carrot soup

This soup medley is rich in antioxidants which help to balance your child’s immune system.

Tomato Soup

This is a great remedy for colds as it is packed full of vitamin C.

Stewed apple (apple sauce)

This is a remarkably popular cold remedy as it is easily digestible and most toddlers are already accustom to the taste.

Mashed White Potatoes

Great food during cough and cold’s as most toddlers are used to the taste and it is very filling.

Sweet potatoes

These are full of immune raising nutrients that contribute to the bodybuilding more white blood cells.

Broccoli

A very high pick for reducing cold and cough symptoms in toddlers.

It holds antioxidants that fight disease and stimulates your toddlers immune system.

Tumeric and pepper power

These natural antibiotics work well together to get rid of cough and infection in the throat.

Ginger tea

This is a great home remedy for colds and congestions including sore throats in toddlers.

It can be given in small doses and you’ll see very quick results.

Green Tea

This is a well known cold remedy in Asia as green tea contains antioxidants that boost the immune system.

Barley Water

This is popular remedy for colds and coughs.

Make sure to let your baby drink this in small doses and ensure they don’t have an allergy to gluten.

Pomegranate Juice

This is a special fruit that helps to fight the symptoms of a cold.

Also, the juice is naturally tasty so it very easy on the palate.

*Try to add garlic into soups or meals as much as possible Garlic has antiviral properties that help prevent colds and decrease the duration of them.

Other Cold Busting Fruits:

• Oranges
• Kiwi
• Papaya
• Mango
• Amla
• Watermelon
• Berries (including strawberry, blueberries, cranberries, etc.)

Other Cold Busting Fruits:

• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Turnips
• Bell peppers
• Green peas

Foods To Avoid During Cough And Cold

• Avoid citrus fruits – This is especially the case if your child is suffering from a sore throat.

• Avoid milk. If your baby is on any antibiotics this could react with the mediation.

• Sweetened drinks or carbonated drinks like soda. This will not provide the body with much sustenance.

• Tamarind – this spice can make a sore throat worse.

• Yoghurt – This may thinking the phlegm built up in your chest and make a cough worse.

• Sweets – These work to lower your immune system and may cause inflammation and stomach pains.

• Spicy and oily foods. These can irate toddlers though and are harder to digest when your child has a lower immune system.

(note Avoid honey and salt for babies one year and under.)

Apple During Cold For Babies

There have been many myths in the past about not giving fruits to children when they have a cold, but fortunate these myths have been proved wrong.

Apples are rich in antioxidants and are a great way to prevent a cold from happening in the first place.

Eating apples helping boost the immune system but can be sometimes difficult for your little one to eat.

Furthermore apples are very gentle on the stomach and when you are struggling to feed a toddler and are constantly thinking “what to feed a toddler with a cold” it’s a good idea to try something they are used to.

Try to juice or mash it down into a few spoons full.

Banana During Cold For Babies

Scientifically it has been proved that fruits with vitamin C helped to protect against cold and coughs in children.

Bananas are no exception and provide a good source of fibre and are high in nutrients..

It is important to note that giving your child bananas to eat excessively can cause a build-up of mucus, which may make a cough worse.

As always moderation before, during and after a cold is recommended

Indian Food For Toddlers During Cold And Cough

Some research has been done on Indian food for toddlers during cold and cough as they can provide light relief.

While extreme spicy foods can be harmful to your toddler when they have a cold or a cough some variety of Indian foods can be beneficial.

Remember it’s always advisable to rule out any fried, oily and fatty foods.

These will not have a positive effect on your toddler’s health.

Instead, try to focus on Indian dishes that promote rice, lentils, garlic, and gingers.

These easy to digest and immune-boosting ingredients will certainly help your toddlers cold.

Examples of Indian dishes to try are:

• Dahi Bhaat (no salt)

• Dhokla

• Daal Baati Churma

• Daali Thoy

• Kashmiri Pulao

There may be other types of Indian food for toddlers during cold and cough, but we wouldn’t recommend them.

What To Feed A Sick Toddler Who Wont Eat?

If your sick toddler won’t’ eat, then you need to try to find alternative ways to get the food in them.

Try soups or stews as they are easier to digest them bigger foods.

Also you can try to mix in wholesome immune-boosting foods into ready-made meals that they are used to.

For example sprinkling turmeric over porridge or adding ginger to their sippy cup.

If they are above 1 years of age you can add honey to their cereal and try to juice fresh apples as an alternative to box juice

Best Food For Congested Toddler

The best foods for a congested toddler are foods that are light and easy to ingest.

Warm liquids like chicken soup and vegetable soup work perfectly.

They can eas congestion and other symptoms that a cold and flu carry.

The hot liquids will think mucus and make it easier for you toddler to breathe.

You can also try green or ginger tea as an alternative as long as it is warm.

Foods that are high in Vitamin C should also be mentioned here as they help to fight off the symptoms of a cold.

Fruits like papaya and cantaloupe work well.

You can also try bell peppers and sweet potato if your child will eat them.

According to a study by the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, honey can alleviate a cough caused by congestion in toddlers.

Honey will also clear and soothe sore throats. Remember to never give honey to a child younger than one because it has been linked to infant botulism,

Try to avoid refined sugars for your sick toddler when they are congested.

BE sure to look out for refined sugars in everyday children’s food like cereal and crackers.

What To Feed A Toddler With A Cold – Things To Remember:

• Try to adjust your toddlers meal to suit their appetite. It’s more important that they eat something then nothing at all

• Give them plenty of fluids and try to mix in healthy alternatives where possible (i.e.sprinkling turmeric into a fresh apple juice)

• Try to server foods with high water content like soup and broths or applesauce.

• Stuffed up sinuses can reduce appetite. Increase your toddler’s appetite by gentle unblocking their sinuses. You can try nose drops (saline, saltwater at 1 – 2 drop ratios) or a natural steam remedy to free up their airways.

Learning what to feed a toddler with a cold isn’t always easier as you may come across conflicting information.

Try to avoid foods that aren’t natural-based or take too much time to process.

Remember to take care of yourself if you are learning how to wean a toddler who loves to nurse as well!

Here’s a quick video on What To Feed A Toddler With A Cold?

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