I know this has been done before - food after sickness

[Galena]

Sorry, I know this has been done before but, having had no sleep last night whatsoever, my brain isn't functioning well enough to find it.

DD (19mo) was up all night vomiting. :( Every 20 minutes for 5 hours. Bless her - there was nothing there in the end and she was really distressed.

All I've given her so far this morning is water - and even that I'm rationing at the moment. Don't want her making herself sick again by gulping water.

Thing is, she's a 'young' 19 months (born 3 months prem) and can't tell me a) how she's feeling and b) if she's ready for food.

How long should I leave it before offering food, and what should I offer? When would I be expecting her to eat the full range of foods again?

Thanks. Sorry to be useless!

Sorry, meant to add that she seems quite happy in herself this morning - a little quiet but playing. She's had a horrible cold for the past fortnight with a lingering chesty cough.

Anyone?

Start with dry toast (ie no fat on it) with either marmite or honey or jam. You can also try a plain biscuit.

Then move on to plain food eg potato, pasta, maybe with a little sauce but no dairy.

I keep mine off dairy for 3 days and then only introduce it slowly, eg watered down milk with cereal, or a little butter on bread, and slowly build up to richer food.

There is also the BRAT recommendation: banana, rice, apple and toast.

My sympathies. I am going through the same at the moment. Although my dd's sickness is complicated by the fact that she also has a very heavy cold which is not helping her feel better the way she should.

Oh, I have just read your second post. Your dd has a cold too? That is the same as my dd. She had the cold for about 10 days and then the sickness on Saturday night. She is still bed bound at the moment, such is the way she feels. She is 10 years old though, so at least able to tell me how she feels.

I hope your little one perks up a bit soon. Don't expect too much today. My dd did not brighten up for a full 24 hours after the sickness.

Hi Galena, it sounds as if you and your DD have had an awful night.

I wouldn't rush to give her anything to eat, but if you think she's hungry, give her a dry biscuit or some toast to see if that stays down. If she likes stewed apples or mashed banana they would be a good idea too, but I would avoid dairy products or anything that's difficult to digest, like meat.

When my DSs have been as poorly as your DD has, it's usually taken a good week before they're interested in proper food again (strangely the first thing they want to eat when their appetite comes back is chocolate biscuits ).

Hope this helps, and she gets better soon.

Thanks. Dumbledore, it seems to be a really grim cold, this one!

Ttalloo, I've certainly had better nights!

She's had a little bread and jam. Some water. Looking very pale, watching TV and waving to Mr Tumble. It's stayed down so far though.

Glad the bread and jam have stayed down - and thank heavens for Mr Tumble!