For many of us, it’s approaching that time of year again… the time when we make the transition from the warm summer/autumn temperatures to the chill of winter. Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year when our little ones may be more prone to the inevitable colds and sniffles that are part and parcel of the season!
When your baby has a cold, you may find that it has rather an impact on his feeding. Some babies go off their food altogether whereas others – due to congestion – may just have difficulty in eating.
We often hear from parents who become quite concerned when their little ones refuse to eat because of a cold.
But it’s important to remember that the priority when baby has a cold is to ensure he’s getting enough fluids.
Milk should, in general, provide all the nutrition your baby needs to sustain him through the sniffles – but another option (and one we resort to frequently when our little ones are under the weather) is to offer a nice chicken broth!
The benefits of chicken broth
Many people write off the remedy of offering chicken broth to soothe a cold as an old wives’ tale.
Well, maybe it WAS old wives who passed on the idea – but they were quite right to do so!
A well made chicken broth is nutritious, restorative and easy to feed to baby. It’s also highly digestible.
You can learn more about WHY chicken broth is beneficial to your baby – and exactly how to make it – here on our page about Feeding a Baby With a Cold.
Congestion
Congestion is another issue that has an impact on feeding. It can linger even after the main symptoms of the cold have disappeared, leaving baby fretful and uncomfortable.
But did you know that baby’s congestion can be influenced by his diet – and that certain foods may improve the situation, whilst others may make the problem worse?
Whilst we can’t promise a miracle cure for your little one’s stuffy nose, taking a look at his diet and cutting out foods that may be contributing to the condition is certainly worth a try.
On our Baby Congestion page, we have a list of the types of foods you should be avoiding – and those you should be offering in abundance!
Improve baby’s immunity
One last thing we strongly recommend when it comes to dealing with colds and sniffles is to take a proactive approach and do your very best to naturally boost your baby’s defences against all those germs that tend to be floating around at this time of year.
There are many foods that are known and loved for their ability to build up the body’s immunity to infection – and they are foods that can be readily incorporated into your little one’s diet.
Find out more here – The Best Foods to Boost Baby’s Immune System.
Does YOUR little one have a favourite food that he finds soothing when he’s under the weather?
Gemma
Tuesday 23rd of November 2010
my 11 month old suddenly develops a sweet tooth when hes full of a cold, yoghurts, various puddings etc and he has lots of fluids and milk