Feeding infants is complicated enough, but it becomes even more complicated when the baby is born with a disease or contracts an illness soon after birth.  Eating and sleeping are the two primary jobs of an infant, and it is a parent’s job to oversee that these jobs are accomplished.  When an illness is present, this oversight becomes extremely difficult.  Pediatricians and specialists can be extremely helpful in these situations, but parents can often find additional tips through reading and research on their own.  Consider these helpful hints for helping a sick infant get the nutrition they need.

Feeding a Sick Infant Tip #1:  Provide a sick-friendly environment.  Most of the time, the illnesses that babies encounter during the first few months of life are mild viruses.  These illnesses, while not life threatening, can make it very difficult for a baby to eat because of the congestion that accompanies the illness.  Keeping a dehumidifier running in the baby’s room is an extremely effective way to minimize congestion.  For infants that are struggling with a stuffy nose or cough, parents can hold the infant while he or she is sleeping to minimize congestion as well.  Diminishing congestion as much as possible can help to make it easier on an infant to eat.

Feeding a Sick Infant Tip #2:  Keep the infant from getting dehydrated.  One of the biggest concerns with sick infants is the ease with which they can get dehydrated.  If a baby is sick and having difficulty eating, parents should feed the baby small amount of formula or breast milk more frequently than the normal feeding schedule.  Keeping an infant’s fever down with infant dosages of pain reliever can make an infant feel better so that the baby wants to eat.

Feeding a Sick Infant Tip #3:  Make it easy for the infant to eat.  The parental instinct kicks in during times like this.  Parents should do whatever it takes to help their baby get enough formula or breast milk to avoid dehydration.  Whether that involves elevating the infant’s head during a feeding, suctioning mucus out of their nose so that they can breathe more easily, or feeding them many times throughout the night, it is important to help a baby get the nutrition they need even when they are sick.

Feeding a Sick Infant Tip #4:  Seek help from medical professionals.  Babies born with illnesses such as a cleft palate or Down’s Syndrome will have difficulty eating after they are born.  Pediatric specialists who understand these illnesses need to be consulted so that parents know how to best help their infants receive the nutrition they need.

You may also find interesting:

  1. Proper Feeding And Nutrition During Infants First Week Of Life
  2. Comparing Breast Milk And Formula For Feeding Infants
  3. Nutrition Tips for Breastfeeding Mothers
  4. Health And Safety For Infants General Tips
  5. Feeding An Infant To Sleep Through The Night

Filed under: Feeding & Nutrition For Infants

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