Food that's kind to stomachs that have been violently ill?

[hunkermunker]

DS1 still being sick - he's managed toast and rice cakes today, but was horribly sick after a tiny bit of plain yoghurt this evening (I know, possibly not the right thing, but he was desperate for it and wouldn't eat any more toast).

He's had gastroenteritis since Thursday (bad nappies), but only been sick since Friday evening, since when he's barely eaten anything. He didn't have much spare flesh on him to start with and he looks painfully thin now.

He's seen the dr twice so far and we'll take him again tomorrow, but I just wondered if anyone had any suggestions for food that's good for toddlers to eat after they've been so unwell?

Or, more importantly, what to avoid to ensure the sick fountains he's been producing recently don't occur again!

[WideWebWitch]

I've seen BRAT recommended here: Banana, Rice, Apple, Toast. Poor love.

[FrannyandZooey]

I think I have heard "BRAN" as an nymonic or whatever that word is. Bananas, rice, apples, erm....oh it was BRAT! Toast, that was it :(

I would go very easy and not worry about the weight loss until he is absolutely better. Then, anything nutritious and calorific like avocado, nut butters, full fat dairy produce, beans etc.

[Frizbetheexpansionset]

The one thing my mum used to be able to get me to eat when I'd been really ill was cheese on toast, not a lot of it, as cheese can be quite heavy, but it worked for me.......

[hunkermunker]

Oh, of course! BRAT - had heard that. Thank you.

Wondered about potato, but couldn't decide if it was because I wanted to eat it that I thought it'd be good for DS1

The tabs on his size 4+ nappies cross over at the front now - there used to be a good two inches between them

[DumbledoresGirl]

Potato is fine but don't add butter or milk to make mashed potato!

Jelly is good.

Plain pasta/rice.

Boiled egg.

Cereal without milk.

Don't give any milk product until he has not been sick or had diarrhoea for three days and even then water it down.

[saadia]

I wouldn't give cheese. Plain carbs, as everyone else has said, boiled carrots, white bread toast.

I think you should avoid fruit juice but can give squash.

You don't say how old he is, but if he's not too young, some remedies that I use for dodgy stomach are:

some chopped ginger infused in water with a bit of fresh lemon juice,
or fennel water.

[Rach69]

Poor Hunker, I hope he feels better soon. Personally (on the advice of a doctor I used to work for) I swear by scrambled eggs on their own(works for the dog too after he's been throwing up!) It's easily digestible, nutritious and solid - ish. I think toast etc can irritate a sore stomach. Avoid milk - it breeds bacteria. I know it sounds silly but flat coke (non-diet) is a good fluid - it has sugar and salt and water and is non-acidic (also recommended by doctor).

[Rach69]

Oh, and be careful after gastroenteritis because it upsets the balance of the stomach and ds1 might be irritated by or intolerant of all sorts of food for a while - stick to bland carbs like rice, pasta and avoid dairy. He will regain the weight, just don't let him get dehydrated.

[chicagomum]

Would reinforce the rice and apple particularly. Even when much older my mother used to give us grated apple and (if it was a severe upset) the water rice had been cooked in which apparently helps to coat the stomach and soothe it from the onslaught of the "turmoil" it had been through. Not very tasty but did work.

[Rach69]

I guess apple and rice would be good because they are both often used as first weaning foods because they are fairly gentle on the tum?

[MerlinsBeard]

flat lemonade is supposed to be good to settle nausea.

Hadn't heard the brat thing but will remember that one!

Would say dry toast

:( for weight loss, not ,uch that u can do until he keeps things down

[hunkermunker]

Thanks, guys.

DS1 is nearly 23mo, and I just want him better

[SorenLorensen]

Poor little sausage. Ds2 had this two weeks ago and was poorlier than I've ever seen either of my kids. Troutpout recommended BRAT to me and I think she was right as ds2 begged for yoghurt then vommed it all back at me too. I gave him utterly bland stuff (BRAT with variations - like rice and flaked cod) for about 3 days and no dairy at all after the yoghurt incident. It took him days to get over it - not nice

[meggmoo]

Fennel or Chamomile tea to settle his little tummy (works wonders for my ds when poorly) you can sweeten with sugar if you like.

Boiled wholegrain rice/boiled egg/toast with a tiny bit of marmite.

What about his beloved twiglett? Nice and dry, carbs?

[AntheaTurnerPuff]

poor little mite hunker

another vote for brat - ds1 had really bad d&v a couple of years ago and I nursed his appetite back with rice mixed with stewed apples and sugar (naughty I suppose but hell he ate) and very ripe banana mashed on toast

[chipmonkey]

agree with BRAT, hunker. Although ds3 did have a face on him a few days ago that said: "If I see one more banana........!"

[MrsMuddle]

Lived in the Far East for a while, and there they would give children the water that rice has been boiled in.

[MerlinsBeard]

How is he today Hunker?

[hunkermunker]

Thanks again, and MoM for thinking of him - been to the doctor with him today and he's confirmed it's rotavirus Might last a fortnight - and he's been sick again today after just drinking water

He's eating some toast at the moment. The doctor said he's being sick more because his throat's sore and he coughs, then retches, then vomits. SO hoping DH, DS2 and I don't get it.

[hunkermunker]

I like rich tea biscuits too much to give them to DS1 if he's only going to be sick again

[Flossam]

Oh poor DS. Remember two weeks is worst case scenario. Might not be so long. Lets be hoping eh. I would just try and offer him toast if he is hungry. Poor little lad. Poor you.

[hunkermunker]

Will be a week tomorrow, so hoping he's going to be better before two weeks is up. He must still feel rotten - he's not himself at all.

However, he's eating a banana atm...fingers crossed this is the last we see of it!

More positively, DS2 had his six-week check today, the doctor pronounced him "perfect" and he's put on another 10oz this week. Oh, and he's started laughing and cooing in the last couple of days - he's so sweet!

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

ahh the poor little mite
ginger biscuits
ginger and peppermint are kind to stomach