Assess and counsel the mother about sick and healthy child feeding
Feeding Recommendations for a Child Who Has Persistent Diarrhoea
- If still breastfeeding, give more frequent, longer breastfeeds, day and night.
- If taking other milk:
- replace with increased breastfeeding OR,
- replace with fermented milk products, such as yoghurt OR,
- replace half the milk with nutrient-rich semi-solid food.
- For other foods, follow feeding recommendations for the child's age.
Counsel the Mother About Feeding Problems
- If the child is not being fed as described in the above recommendations, counsel the mother accordingly.
- If the mother reports difficulty with breastfeeding, assess breastfeeding.
- As needed, show the mother correct positioning and attachment for breastfeeding and encourage her.
- If the child is less than six months old and is taking other milk or foods:
- Build mother's confidence that she can produce all the breast milk that the child needs.
- Suggest giving more frequent, longer breastfeeds, day or night, and gradually reducing other milk or foods.
- If other milk needs to be continued, counsel the mother to:
- Breastfeed as much as possible, including at night.
- Make sure that another milk is a locally appropriate breast milk substitute.
- Make sure other milk is correctly and hygienically prepared and given in adequate amounts.
- Finish prepared milk within an hour.
If the child is being given diluted milk or muk (gruel):
- Do not dilute the milk.
- Remind the mother that thick foods, which are dense in energy and nutrients, are needed by infants and young children.
If the mother is using a bottle to feed the child:
- Recommend substituting a cup for a bottle.
- Show the mother how to feed the child with a cup (senee or finjal).
If the child is not being fed actively, counsel the mother to:
- Sit with the child and encourage eating.
- Give the child an adequate serving on a separate plate or bowl.
If the child is not feeding well during illness, counsel the mother to:
- Breastfeed more frequently and for longer if possible.
- Use soft, varied, appetising, favourite foods to encourage the child to eat as much as possible, and offer small frequent feedings.
- Clear a blocked nose if it interferes with feeding.
- Expect that appetite will improve as the child gets better.
If the mother is not giving Vitamin A-rich foods:
- Encourage her to provide vitamin A-rich foods frequently - gommen, liver, carrot, egg
If the mother is not giving the young child a share of meat, chicken or fish when these are eaten by the family:
- Explain young child needs them and encourage her to provide whenever they are available in the household.
Follow-up any feeding problem in 5 days.
Last modified: Wednesday, 1 March 2017, 2:01 AM