When a child has a fever, the body works hard to fight the infection, increasing its metabolic rate and fluid loss. The primary goal of feeding is to offer comfort, maintain energy stores, and prevent dehydration. While appetite may decrease significantly, nutrition provides the body with the resources needed to heal. Consult a pediatrician if you have concerns about your child’s illness or their ability to maintain fluid intake.
Prioritizing Hydration: Essential Fluid Intake
Fever causes increased fluid loss through sweating and a higher respiratory rate, making dehydration the most immediate risk. Focusing on fluid intake is more important than worrying about solid foods during the acute phase of an illness. Offering small, frequent sips of fluid is better tolerated than large volumes at once, especially if the child is experiencing nausea or vomiting.
The best options are fluids that replace both water and electrolytes, such as commercial oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or clear, mild broths like chicken or vegetable soup. These solutions contain a balanced mix of salts and sugars that help the body absorb water more efficiently than plain water alone. Diluted fruit juices, like apple or white grape juice, can be offered in moderation to avoid exacerbating diarrhea due to high sugar content. Water-rich fruits served as ice pops or frozen juice cubes can also encourage intake, which is helpful for children with sore throats.
To monitor hydration status, observe urine output and color. Pale yellow urine or a steady number of wet diapers indicates adequate fluid intake. Signs of mild dehydration include dark yellow, strong-smelling urine, dryness of the mouth and lips, and less frequent urination. For infants, fewer than six wet diapers per day is a key indicator, while older children may not urinate for eight to ten hours.
Gentle Nutrition: Solids That Are Easy to Digest
Once the fever subsides and your child shows interest in eating, focus on gentle nutrition that does not strain the digestive system. Keep food simple, bland, and low in fiber and fat, as these components require more digestive effort. Simple starches are excellent choices because they provide easy-to-access energy for recovery without overwhelming a sensitive stomach.
Soft foods like plain rice, well-cooked pasta, or mashed potatoes offer complex carbohydrates for sustained energy. Bland proteins, such as scrambled eggs or well-cooked, shredded chicken, can be introduced to support muscle maintenance and immune function. Applesauce and ripe bananas are gentle on the stomach, providing both calories and potassium, an electrolyte often lost during illness.
Managing Lack of Appetite and When to Seek Help
A lack of appetite is a common response to illness, as the body prioritizes fighting the infection over digestion. Parents should never force a child to eat. Instead of pressuring them to finish a meal, offer small portions of preferred, tolerated foods frequently throughout the day. This approach, involving small, frequent meals, is often successful at ensuring a steady intake of calories and nutrients.
Focusing on consistency and patience rather than specific meal times reduces stress for both the child and the parent. If the child is refusing solids, reinforce that fluids remain the priority. The return of a normal appetite is a positive sign of recovery, though it may take a few days after the fever breaks for eating habits to normalize.
While poor appetite is normal, certain warning signs necessitate immediate medical consultation. Seek help if your child refuses to drink fluids for more than six to eight hours, or if they exhibit signs of severe dehydration, such as lethargy, a sunken soft spot on an infant’s head, or the absence of tears when crying. Any combination of decreased fluid intake with persistent high fever, repeated vomiting, or confusion should also prompt an urgent call to a healthcare provider.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid During Fever
Certain foods and beverages can delay recovery or worsen symptoms and are best avoided when a child has a fever. High-fat foods, including fried items and greasy snacks, are difficult to digest and can increase nausea and stomach discomfort. Reduced digestive function during illness means these foods sit in the stomach longer, diverting energy away from the immune response.
Overly sugary drinks, such as non-diluted fruit juices and soda, should be restricted because a high concentration of sugar can pull water into the intestines, potentially worsening diarrhea. Highly processed foods, like cookies and packaged snacks, offer minimal nutritional value. Strongly spiced foods should also be avoided as they can irritate the digestive tract. Beverages containing caffeine are restricted because they act as diuretics, contributing to fluid loss and worsening dehydration.