How To Care For A Toddler With The Flu

Yesterday, I woke up with Kelly tucked under my arms. I felt her forehead and knew right then that there was something wrong. I took her temperature — she had a fever. Later that day, she started coughing and I noticed that she has a runny nose too. She has the flu.

What is the flu?

The flu is caused by a virus called influenza. The symptoms are very similar to the colds and other viral illnesses, making it a bit difficult to tell if your toddler really has it. So, how do you know?

  • Flu is more likely to occur between October and February.
  • Your child probably has it if there is a sudden onset of fever that is around 38.3 degrees Celsius or higher. A runny nose or dry cough may follow after.
  • It is often accompanied by aching muscles, a headache, fatigue and chills.

When your child has the flu, expect him/her to be irritable. He/She may also have low appetite and a sore throat. Some children also experience abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.

How to care for a toddler with the flu

Being a mom for a year can teach you a lot about caring for a sick child. Aside from lots of hugs and kisses, you can help your child out by giving him/her plenty of fluids and lots of rest.

Other things I used/gave/fed Kelly that alleviated the flu symptoms are:

  • Nasal drops
  • A soothing balm from Mustela
  • Soup
  • Water and fruit juices
  • Ibuprofen

Your little one should start feeling better after three to five days. The first thing that will go away is his/her fever. You will later on notice his/her appetite coming back. The cough/cold may stay for a week, but it should not last more than week.

If your child has a fever over 39.4 degrees Celsius or a fever that lasts more than three days, call your doctor! You should also bring him/her to the doctor if the cough lingers for more than a week or if he/she gets sick soon after recovering from the flu.

Kimberley Reyes

Kimberley Reyes is an Online Business Manager for entrepreneurs who are ready to get off the hamster wheel and step into their CEO shoes. On top of helping her clients get organized and scale their businesses, she is also happily busy raising her five kids with her firefighter husband.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Mommy, reporting for duty! As usual. | Mom On Duty

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.