Seeking Safe Foods for a 1 Year Old After the Stomach Flu

If he's drinking milk, maybe stay away from that. We had a similar situation and realized milk was making her vomit because it's so hard to digest. Once she was about a week out from the virus, we were able to reintroduce milk.

Hello D.,
I agree that does sound like a long time. You are giving him really neutral foods and small quantities that is great.

Is he holding down liquids? If he isn't or if he is throwing up within an hour or so, I would be concerned about dehydration.

We have had stomach flu 1 time a year for 3 yrs with our 3 kids. Usually they have come through it in 3-4 days. It is true that they would not eat much for a few days later, but not continue to throw up.
You might plan a visit to the doctor Fri or Sat if he is still throwing up. Best of luck to you! Stomach Flu is exhausting. A.

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I would call the pediatrician and tell them what's been happening.

Try to let him eat a small graham craker and a swollow or two of pedialyte. You can keep a small bowl nearby for catching vomit. If you do graham crackers they won't hurt coming back up if vomiting happens right away.

Five days does seem long. I would call a nurse to see if they recommend seeing him. I believe that the greatest risk is dehydration. So first and for most liquids will be the most important. From what I have heard...start with liquids first...if water is staying down then you can try to move on to a BRAT diet. Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, or Toast. When they don't stay down, go back to the water/liquids. Once the liquids have stayed down for so many hours(have to ask a nurse exactly what that is...I don't remember exactly)...then go back to the BRAT diet again. I have heard to try and stay away from dairy products as they are harder to digest on little sick tummies. Hope this helps! Hang in there...no fun!

I don't know if you are still breastfeeding, but if so, breastmilk is not considered dairy and will give him pleanty of nutrients. Nutritionally, he should be fine drinking only bm (ie. no solid foods) until he feels better.

Hope he feels better soon!

I am in the same situation. My poor daughter has the stomach flu as well, she is almost a year. Stay away from milk products as that will irritate the stomach and he is more likely to throw those up. He needs bland foods. Think the BRAT diet. (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast). My daughter pretty much only wants cheerios. Her doc said that's fine. Make sure that you keep offering plenty of clear liquids. Water, pedialyte, or even gatorade. Be careful of dehydration. Small amounts often.
He should start to show improvement within 5-7 days. If not I would investigate. Is it bacterial maybe?
Also something to consider. You didn't say whether or not your are nursing him still, or how long he has been 1. Have you given him cow's milk? If his symptoms don't clear up soon I would investigate a diary allergy or possibly another food allergy.
At one year old we pretty much give them free reign on food, and maybe he is not tolerating something.

It sounds like time for a trip to the doctor. The stomach flu generally only lasts 24-48 hours, possibly a bit longer in someone this young, but after 5 days I start suspecting something else. It may be nothing, but it's better to get him checked out and be sure than miss something that needs treatment.

In the mean time, if he can keep down liquids, get some pedialite. It will help keep him properly hydrated (electrolytes and all, which are lost when he's sick like this).

I always stick to the BRAT diet. Banana, rice, applesauce, toast. I would definately steer clear of the dairy foods all together!!

When my daubghter was about 16 months old she got a stomach bug that lasted 6 days. The first few days he vomited several times (started on a monday morning). By wednesday she seemed to be getting better but she was throwing up about once a day. The doc said these can last from 3 to 10 days. My doc said if she is willing to eat let her, but know that most likey it wil come back up but she will stil be getting some nutrients from it. Do not force the child to eat, he is sick. Stay away from milk products (yougurt) and acidic foods. Breads, cereals, dry crackers, soup, popicles are my daughters fav whenshe is sick. Youf ee d them anything you would if you were stomach sick. Keep him hydrated as best you can (this is where popiscles come in). so is is not that his stomach is sensitive he is not over the bug. After six days wih my daughter it still took her a few days or so to go back to eating normal. Of course you are worried it is a long time for a litle on to be sick. I was worried about her weight since she was on the samll end. I took her back tothe doc on the 5th day, she was not dehydrated which I was surprised and she lost 9 ounces which they were not concerned about. He will come around. Good luck

My experience with my one year old when she had a stomach virus was that it want on for a week or more, and gradually improved. The Docs just told me to keep trying small amounts of food. If she didn't keep it down, she wasn't ready yet. There's no magic sign that will tell you he's all better. It's a very frustrating process - for when you have a sick child, you get very happy when they eat, only to become discouraged when they throw it all up an hour later! Your son sounds normal. Just keep trying light food, and focus on fluids, since dehydration is a real problem when it goes on for so long - soup broth worked well for us. Good luck.

Last year when my son was this age he also got sick, but he wouldn't eat anything. when he went to the doctor, the doctor said as long as he's drinking he'll be fine. i don't know, you might try just fluids until he's better. Maybe some pedialite or something with the electrolites in it. powerade gatoraid. never wanted to use them but they actually have less sugar than apple juice. i agree, no dairy until he's better, it just makes you all mucusy and is probably contributing to the vomiting

Have you tried (and does your son like) homemade chicken broth or chicken soup? Homemade broth is extremely nourishing, but easy to keep down.