When to give rice water to a baby as complementary food?

Basic principles of nutrition for diarrhea in a child

When organizing a child’s nutrition with diarrhea, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• it is necessary to restore the volume of fluid lost by the child’s body;
• The child should eat often, but in small portions;
• after the condition improves, easy-to-digest foods can be introduced into the baby’s menu to avoid additional irritation of the digestive tract mucosa;
• When the state of health stabilizes and the stool is fixed, you can switch to a dietary type of nutrition, which is selected individually for the child.

How to feed a child during an acute period

If diarrhea is accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, then the patient’s diet should consist of liquid and puree dishes. To do this, boiled vegetables and cereal products are crushed using a blender or rubbed through a sieve.

To prevent the child from becoming weak due to poor nutrition, it is recommended that he be offered lean meats in the form of puree or soufflé. If he does not refuse fish, then it is additionally allowed to give him boiled fillet of a low-fat fish, mashed with a fork.

With diarrhea, a child’s general health may deteriorate significantly and, as a result, there may be a complete loss of appetite. There is no need to force him to eat, otherwise he may be provoked to vomit. In this case, the baby should be offered plenty of drinks and light snack options. But it is impossible to give him freedom to choose foods, since candy or chips can only worsen his general condition.

If a child has diarrhea, you need to remove foods that can cause fermentation from your diet. This:

• fermented milk products;
• yoghurts;
• cabbage;
• tomatoes;
• mushrooms;
• baked goods containing baked goods;
• smoked meats;
• pickles and marinades.

How to feed a baby with diarrhea

How should a breastfed baby eat? If the baby receives mother's milk, then the feeding scheme needs to be reconsidered. He needs to be offered breast more often, which will help reduce portions. It is impossible to stop breastfeeding, since together with mother’s milk, all the necessary microelements enter the child’s body, helping to restore upset digestion.

If formula is used to feed the baby, the feeding schedule depends on whether the baby is vomiting or not. But in any case, you need to feed the baby every 2 hours, offering no more than 50 ml of the mixture. You need to return to your usual schedule in a few days, when the acute period has passed.

If complementary feeding has already been introduced, then from the age of 6 months, the child can eat buckwheat and rice cooked in water during diarrhea. Older children are allowed to give:

• boiled yolk;
• skimmed meat broth;
• jelly;
• meat puree.

Nutrition for children 1–3 years old

The first two days from the onset of diarrhea, the number of feedings must be increased by one or two meals, i.e., a one-year-old child needs to be fed 6 times a day. In this case, the volume of a single serving should be reduced.

If diarrhea is accompanied by other symptoms and the child refuses to eat, then it is allowed to skip one or two meals. After this, you need to start fractional feeding in half-reduced portions. They need to be increased gradually: bringing them to the usual volume within a week.

What can you feed your baby? The diet should include the following products:

Activated charcoal for diarrhea

• Slimy soups and cereals. It is allowed to prepare soups using vegetable broths, thickened with oatmeal, buckwheat or rice, as well as well-cooked porridges in water from the same cereals. If the child is less than two years old, then the dishes should be rubbed through a sieve.
• Kissels, compotes. Blueberries will be especially useful.
• Dairy products. Acceptable fat content is not higher than 2.5%.
• Homemade white bread croutons, biscuits.
• Low-fat cottage cheese, banana puree. Products are allowed from the third day.

Apples baked in the oven will benefit upset intestines. The pulp of fruits contains special substances that help restore the disturbed microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. From the third day it is allowed to offer fresh apple puree. Starting from the third or fourth day from the onset of diarrhea, children can be offered steamed cutlets or meatballs made from chicken, turkey or veal. It is allowed to serve steam omelette.

The following foods should not be given to your child:

• fresh vegetables and fruits;
• milk;
• juices;
• fermented baked milk;
• baked goods;
• bread made from rye flour;
• confectionery;
• carbonated sweet drinks;
• legumes

After the child's diarrhea ends, it is necessary to continue following the diet. Its duration depends on the reasons that provoked the intestinal disorder.

Whole milk can be added back to the children's menu after two to three weeks.

Fermented rice water

Making fermented rice water is also a good recipe. Fermented rice water is produced through a fermentation process. To obtain such water it will take a little more time than to prepare ordinary rice water, that is, homemade medicine prepared according to a standard recipe should be stored for 1-2 days at room temperature.

When the water is ready, it has a sour taste. During the fermentation process, the mixture changes its acidity. Rice water does not contain gluten, which can cause an allergic reaction, therefore it is suitable for use by almost everyone. And the amount of vitamins, minerals and enzymes in such a decoction increases significantly compared to the classic one.

Which type of rice should I choose?

To prepare a decoction for diarrhea, you will need any raw rice (white, brown, black, etc.), which can be found at home in the amount of 0.5 cups. According to the recommendations of experts, it is best to use:

• round grain rice, which helps cleanse the body in case of poisoning;
• long rice, which is also allowed for ulcers and gastritis.

When buying rice, pay attention to the appearance of the grain. The packaging should be free of debris, moths, larvae, and stones. You should also look at the shelf life.

Drinking regime

During diarrhea, the child loses a lot of fluid and nutrients, so it is necessary to replenish the damaged reserves as quickly as possible. If a child’s diarrhea occurs without bouts of vomiting, then simply drinking plenty of fluids will help solve the problem. Otherwise, he needs to be given special preparations containing mineral salts necessary for the child’s body.

To solder your baby, you can purchase one of the following drugs: Oralit, Electrolyte, Regidron, Gastrolit. To prepare the drink, you need to dissolve a sachet of the product in 1 liter of cooled boiled water. You need to drink it in portions, offering the baby a little liquid every 20 minutes. The one-time dosage of rehydration agent should be determined by a pediatrician.

In addition to specialized products, you are allowed to prepare decoctions and compotes yourself. Drinks will not only help restore the disturbed water-salt balance, but will help replace lost vitamins and microelements. You can offer your child:

• rice water;
• decoction of rose hips;
• chamomile infusion;
• blueberry juice;
• raisin compote;
• healing mineral water.

You can prepare rehydrating solutions yourself. To do this, in 1 liter of boiled water you need to dissolve ½ teaspoon of soda and salt, as well as a tablespoon of granulated sugar.

The second recipe for the drink: stir ½ teaspoon of salt, pureed banana and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar in 1 liter of drinking water. If the baby does not have an allergic reaction to citrus fruits, then instead of a banana, it is allowed to use the juice of two oranges or grapefruits.

The principle of action and properties of rice water

Rice infusion, which is used to treat diarrhea, has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract of a child of any age:

• stops vomiting if it accompanies diarrhea;
• envelops the walls of the stomach with a thin film;
• reduces inflammation of the mucous membrane;
• protects it from the influence of gastric juice;
• prevents gas formation, bloating and the fermentation process;
• removes excess fluid from the body;
• participates in the formation of feces and helps strengthen them (due to gluten in the composition);
• eliminates spasms and pain;
• collects and removes toxic substances from the body;
• quickly restores the loss of vitamins, macroelements and microelements in the body.

The grain contains a large number of useful elements, such as:

• zinc;
• B vitamins, ascorbic acid, biotin;
• mineral compounds (potassium, magnesium, sodium, selenium);
• manganese;
• folic acid;
• aminobenzoic acid;
• allantoin – has a whitening effect.

Sample menu for the first two days

What can you eat if your child develops diarrhea? A sample menu for the first two days is as follows:

Additional recommendations

The diet for diarrhea can be supplemented with medicinal drinks. Good results show:

• Blueberry tea. To prepare it, add 5 tablespoons of blueberries to 500 ml of cold water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Let it brew and filter. You should drink the resulting drink one cup three times a day.
• Tea on raspberry leaves. So, pour 1 tablespoon of dry product into 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse, filter and give the child to drink it as often as possible, but only a few sips.
• Black currant. Juice from these berries gives good results. The drink should replace all meals during the first two days.
• Infusion of chamomile or fennel. You need to put a little salt and granulated sugar in it. Offer the child instead of food on the first day of diarrhea.

An apple diet gives good results for diarrhea. It can be practiced starting from the second day, supplementing the tea diet with it. During the day, a child can eat 200–500 grams of fruit. The norm depends on age. The apples should be divided into several portions and baked in the oven.

An excellent result can be obtained if you eat boiled carrots during diarrhea. The root vegetable contains a lot of vitamin A, as well as pectin and fiber. The latter actively removes excess fluid from the gastrointestinal tract. The duration of following the carrot diet should not exceed two days. Before giving the root vegetable to a child, it must be crushed using a grater.

Carrot puree helps stop diarrhea

For the second day, you can also practice a grain diet. The child should be fed porridge cooked in water. It is recommended to use oatmeal to prepare this dish. The taken 25 grams of the product must be filled with water (300 ml) and cooked until tender. Then rub through a sieve. You can add a little salt to the dish. Oatmeal can be replaced with rice.

At what age can you give

Before introducing your baby to a new product, be sure to consult with your pediatrician.

Before introducing rice porridge into complementary foods, many mothers offer their baby (aged 4-6 months) rice water. It is easier to digest, has low allergenicity and high nutritional value. In addition, it inherits many of the nutrients from rice.

The decoction contains B vitamins, as well as E, H, PP. It has a high degree of mineralization: it contains iron, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iodine, phosphorus, selenium, etc. It also contains mono- and disaccharides, starch and fiber.

The advantage of rice water is that it is economical. It can be made from any type of store-bought rice, since all varieties have approximately the same composition. Besides, what could be cheaper than the water left after cooking porridge or a side dish. After all, we usually just pour this liquid out.

Dish recipes

You can prepare a meat soufflé for your child. Will need:

• dietary meat – 110 grams;
• White bread;
• egg;
• vegetable broth – 50 ml.

Preparation:

1. Boil the meat until done.
2. Soak the bread in the broth and rub through a sieve.
3. Grind the meat in a meat grinder. Place bread, egg, and broth.

Transfer the mixture into the mold. Place it in a saucepan with water and place in the oven for 30 minutes.

Rice porridge is a mess

You need to cook porridge with a sticky consistency - take 2 tablespoons of cereal per 200 ml of water. When it is almost ready, pour 100 ml of milk into the pan. Add salt and sweeten a little. Rub the porridge through a sieve and warm it up a little on low heat.

The occurrence of diarrhea in childhood requires taking adequate measures, since diarrhea can provoke the development of dehydration. First aid is to follow a strict diet, which involves restricting food and taking large amounts of liquid. The child must be shown to a pediatrician. The doctor will be able to determine the cause of the intestinal disorder and select the necessary medications.

Contraindications

Despite following the preparation rules and the beneficial properties of the solution, it has some contraindications:

• age – up to six months;
• colitis;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• problems with the pancreas;
• inflammatory process in the colon.

Rice water is an effective, simple and proven remedy for combating diarrhea when it is not a consequence of an infectious disease. It is only important to follow the instructions for its use and preparation, and then the functioning of the intestines can improve.

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