What to feed baby with hand foot mouth

What To Feed Your Kid When They Have Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Posted on May 3, 2022 by The Essence Nutrition Team

The infamous rogue Botero painting hand has become more medieval Plague art genre versus his usual Botero contemporary art with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Fall 2021…

it’s SUPER common in kids, especially those pursuing scholarly efforts at Colegio (school)
it’s SUPER contagious and Florida, as usual, exploded in an epidemic in Fall 2021
it can lead to loss of appetite and a preference for soothing, blander, cooler foods due to the presence of mouth sores

So – this week on the menu, that 22.5 month old “bioterrorist” as my best friend deemed him, was eating:

Plain skinned baked sweet potato
Kefir, yogurt, cheese, and cottage cheese
Popsicles, although he hasn’t quite mastered sucking them and not just Pac Man biting them 🧊
Fruits (non citrus ones)
Plain bean pasta (Banza) with olive oil
Plain tofu with olive oil
Tuna mashed with yogurt / labneh
Waffles, pancakes, oatmeal
Almond butter and sunflower seed butter
Cheerios and milk
his perpetual obsession, “nanos” [bananas] which he chain smokes (eats) all day (I cut them in half so he winds up eating 1. 5-2 whole ones per day)
Broth
Ezekiel bread and crackers (Wasa wet with some water)
He isn’t super into water but is super into stealing my mint tea / Spin Drift and I’ll keep him hydrated no matter what
Annie’s pizza bagels (yep. Dietitians will keep their kids fed and happy through illness)

Also on the menu: one mom doubling as an octopus juggling 600 things this week, and slathered in colloidal oatmeal cream / Dessitin. Grateful he is okay and just now slightly bothered by his “cola” (tush) he keeps pointing to.

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How To Prevent And Treat Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease

From www.thebump.com

By Anita Davies

Here’s what you need to know about the mild but highly contagious illness that often lurks in kids’ classrooms.

The mere mention of “hand, foot and mouth disease” is enough to make any parent shudder. This common childhood illness is incredibly contagious and can tear through playrooms, day care centers and preschool classrooms at an alarming clip. And while its symptoms tend to be relatively mild, hand, foot, and mouth disease can make babies and toddlers (and their caregivers) pretty miserable. Here’s everything you need to know, including how to prevent it in your little one (and yourself!).

What is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a type of viral infection, explains Sarah Kohl, MD, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and founder and president of TravelReadyMD. The funny-sounding name is derived from the telltale rash that generally appears on the hands, feet and mouth (as well as blisters surfacing in the mouth) of those infected. The virus usually manifests with a high fever that may spike before the outbreak of the rash.

What Causes Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is typically caused by the Coxsackie virus—usually, but not always, the Coxsackie 1 virus. It’s most commonly seen in babies and kids younger than 5, because they haven’t been previously exposed to the virus and haven’t developed an immunity to it yet. But older children and adults can also contract hand, foot, and mouth disease—even if they’ve had it before. That’s because the illness can be caused by several different viruses and even different strains of the Coxsackie virus, says Bande Virgil, MD, a pediatrician and creator of The Mommy Doc website. So while you’d become immune to the specific virus that caused the illness the first time around, you’re still susceptible to other strains.

How contagious is hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Very! “These viruses spread quite easily,” says Jeffrey Kahn, MD, director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. It’s generally contracted through contact with feces, saliva or mucus, and while it can surface year-round, hand, foot, and mouth disease tends to cluster in the summer and fall, according to Jonathan Auth, MD, a pediatrician at CHOC Hospital in Orange County, California. And because parents may not realize their child is infected at first, it paves the way for the illness to quickly spread through day care centers and nursery schools.

So when is hand, foot, and mouth disease contagious? Here’s the tricky thing: It’s often contagious before any clear signs of the illness are present. “Because the virus can be shed by people without symptoms, it can be impossible to completely avoid exposure,” Kohl says.

Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

While an official diagnosis can be made via a mouth swab or stool sample, pediatricians often simply make a determination based on the symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease, says Adam Spanier, MD, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore—which is why it’s important to call your pediatrician if you suspect your child may have the illness.

The telltale sign is the red rash, but you can’t always rely on it as an indicator. Sometimes, the rash can be quite subtle, Virgil says, or you may not see the rash before you notice a fever. You also may not spot a rash at all, since it can take the form of ulcers hidden inside your child’s mouth or throat.

Here, some symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease to look for:

Fever. A high temperature is usually the first sign of the virus, which may or may not be accompanied by a rash, says Auth.
Rash. Red spots may appear on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and around the mouth, as well as on the knees, elbows, torso, buttocks and genital areas.
Discomfort. Your child may seem a lot more irritable or uncomfortable than usual, even if she doesn’t have a rash or a temperature.
Lack of appetite. If your child seems especially picky about his food, isn’t eating or doesn’t want to drink, it could be a sign that blisters are bothering him, says Spanier.
Sore throat. If your little one complains of a “sore throat,” blisters in her throat could actually be the real culprits.

Pregnant moms who have been exposed to the illness and experience any of these symptoms should let their obstetrician know right away. “Fever in pregnancy can be harmful to a fetus, especially in the first trimester,” Virgil notes.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Treatment

“While there’s no medical cure or treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease, your pediatrician can help you come up with ways to make your child more comfortable while the illness runs its course,” Auth says. Here, some home remedies for hand, foot, and mouth disease to try.

Over-the-counter pain relief. Ask your pediatrician about appropriate pain medications, such as ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), and follow the dosage procedures for your child’s age. Taking them half an hour before mealtime can make eating and drinking less painful, Spanier says. Experts also recommend OTC pain relievers to help bring down a fever. Let your pediatrician know if your child’s temperature remains high after taking a pain reliever.
Plenty of liquids. Make sure your child is hydrating, either with breast milk or formula, or, if he’s older, with water, Auth says. Keep track of urine output: If your child has less than three wet diapers during his waking day or, if toilet trained, goes to the toilet less than three times, call your pediatrician. “Another way to ensure your child is hydrated is to make sure he’s producing wet tears,” Spanier says. ‘If he’s crying without tears, it’s a sign he may be dehydrated and needs to be seen by a pediatrician ASAP.”
Cold or soft foods. Bring on the ice pops! Foods that are cooling and easy to eat will help soothe a sore throat and painful mouth. Try making breast milk ice pops for baby, and pudding, applesauce, chilled soups or smoothies for an older child.
Cover mouth blisters. “Many parents I’ve worked with use a combination of Maalox and Benadryl, then use a Q-tip to cover mouth sores with the mixture,” Kohl says. This can help soothe irritation and make it easier for babies and toddlers to drink; but just as with OTC pain relief, ask your pediatrician first before you try this remedy.
Rest. Your child is likely to feel cranky, especially if she has a temperature or is in pain, so plenty of snuggles and cuddles on the couch are a good hand, foot, and mouth disease treatment.

How Long Does Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Last?

The good news: By the time your child’s fever resolves, he may be back to his usual playful self, especially if his blisters are mild. The bad news: If he still has lesions, he may not be welcome back in day care just yet. “Children are usually considered contagious until the lesions resolve, which may take five to seven days out of day care or preschool,” Virgil says.

Following a bout of hand, foot, and mouth disease, peeling nails (and skin on the hands and feet) can sometimes happen, even a few days or even weeks after the illness has run its course. “A lot of parents see this and panic,” Spanier says. “Even though it’s weird, it’s just another effect of the virus and nothing to worry about. ” Keep hands and feet clean and moisturized—the nails will grow back and look like normal in a few months.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Prevention

No matter how hygiene-focused you are, hand, foot, and mouth disease can be tough to avoid, particularly if your little one is in day care, preschool or engages in organized activities with other toddlers. Still, there are some things you can do help prevent it.

Wipe down surfaces. Make sure all toys and surfaces are wiped down after playtime, washed and disinfected, Kohl says.
Talk hygiene with your day care. It sounds gross, but hand, foot, and mouth disease is often spread by fecal matter, usually because someone didn’t embrace proper hygiene habits. Make sure your day care center is using disposable gloves and has protocols in place to sanitize hands and changing areas from one child to the next.
Follow your doctor’s guidelines. While it can be tempting to send your child back to school as soon as she seems better, experts say it’s crucial to make sure she is past the contagion period to avoid passing the illness onto others.

Breastfeeding positions

Resuming the topic of breastfeeding, I want to talk about the position in which you need to feed the baby. The answer is as simple as possible - in the position in which both are comfortable.

The union "mother-child" is unique and unrepeatable. For this reason, there is simply no universal position for feeding. What may seem comfortable to one mother may not be suitable to another. And as for one woman, poses can change at different periods of her life. So, with a plentiful flow of milk, there will be one position, when feeding twins, another, etc. The main thing is to try and find options in which breastfeeding will become a pleasant union between mother and baby.

We will introduce you to the most popular positions for breastfeeding.

Cradle

This position is the most famous and used in breastfeeding. Mom needs to sit down and take the baby in her arms so that the baby's head fits in the crook of the elbow. Then you need to turn the baby on your stomach and give the breast. With the other hand, you need to support the baby's butt or back. For more comfort, you can put a roller or pillow under your arm.

Back cradle

This position is recommended for use in the first weeks of a baby's life, when the baby is not yet able to suckle to the breast on its own. Mom facilitates this process by controlling the movement of the child's head with her brush.

In order to start feeding in the “reverse cradle” position, the mother needs to sit comfortably and press the baby so that the mother’s left hand holds the baby’s head. In this case, the left palm should be placed under the back and shoulders of the baby. The head must be supported by the fingers. At the first attempts to feed in this position, you can support the breast from below with your right hand (controlling the correct grip). After you are sure that the baby was able to take the breast well, the right hand can be removed. To relieve the load on the arm holding the baby, you can put a pillow, a roller or a folded blanket under it.

By hand

With this position, pressure on the mother's stomach is excluded, therefore it is especially recommended after childbirth through a caesarean section and other trauma to the abdominal cavity. Also, the position is convenient for the flat structure of the mother's nipples or in the case when the baby refuses to eat milk from one breast (the position allows you to put the "unloved" breast in the same position relative to the baby's mouth as the "beloved one").

For the “out of hand” position, the baby must be placed to the left or right of the mother so that he seems to be looking out of her armpit. An analogy can be drawn with holding the ball in American football. In this case, the baby's tummy should touch the mother's side. The baby's mouth is located at the level of the nipple, and the legs move behind the mother's back. Mom needs to support her neck and head with her hand. So that the mother does not have to lean heavily towards the child, the baby needs to be laid on one or more pillows.

Lying sideways

The pose is convenient in many cases - for night feeding or for breastfeeding during the day, when the mother needs rest.

To do this, both mother and baby are laid on their side, facing each other. Mom needs to hug the baby and give him the breast. There are many variations of this position: Mom can lay her head on the pillow, on her elbow, or just on the bed. You can feed with the lower breast on which she lies (in this case, the child should be raised to chest level with the help of a pillow or your own hand), or with the upper breast - for this, the mother needs to lean a little more towards the baby, bend the upper leg at the knee and put it on bed.

Relaxed feeding

For this pose, you will need comfortable soft pillows. Mom should put them under her back so that she is in a reclining position. The baby fits on the mother, independently finds the breast and regulates the force of sucking. In this case, the mother can help the baby by supporting his head or back.

The pose is convenient to use during rest, as well as with a strong flow of milk (gravity prevents milk from actively pouring from the breast).

Sitting

Mom is in a sitting position, the baby sits on his mother's knees facing her. The pose is suitable for feeding children over 6 months old (it is necessary that the child can sit up on his own by this time).

Standing motion sickness

The pose resembles a “cradle”, only at the same time the mother stands and gently shakes the baby. The posture can help calm or put a restless (overexcited) child to sleep.

Posture for lactostasis

In order to cope with lactostasis, you need to direct the child's chin to the place of milk stagnation. Since congestion can form anywhere in the breast, the woman herself will have to come up with positions in which the baby can “resolve” the diseased area.

Overhang

The position is necessary at the time of transition from bottle feeding to breastfeeding. To do this, the mother needs to bend over the child, leaning on her elbow. Under the influence of gravity, milk will be more abundant, and the baby will need to make less effort when sucking.

In a sling

Mothers who actively use various slings can easily feed their baby without taking the baby outside. To do this, you just need to loosen the sling so that the child sinks lower, and his mouth is at his mother's nipple.

The main thing in the selection of a pose is convenience. If you feel tired or tense in your muscles while feeding, try changing your position or using pillows and blankets. When the mother is comfortable, the milk will flow easily and it will be easier for the baby to eat. You need to try, experiment and find the option that suits you best. Let feeding be a joy!

How to apply the baby while breastfeeding

Desired position

First of all, you need to correctly position the baby at the chest. Take him in your arms so that he is turned to his mother with his whole body, the child's face should be close to the chest, his mouth is wide open. In case of an incorrect position, the baby's body is deviated from the mother's, the chin does not touch the chest, the lips are extended forward. This is an important point, because if the baby starts sucking the breast incorrectly, he will not receive enough milk, the baby will begin to throw and grab the breast again, and sometimes even refuse it.

Correct grip

Now you need to correctly insert the breast into the baby's mouth. In general, every healthy newborn has reflexes that help him eat. But the baby does not have a reflex that would help him keep his mother's breast in his mouth, and the baby cannot properly grasp the nipple himself. Therefore, the child needs help - put the breast into the crumbs' mouth so that it captures not only the nipple, but also the areola. If the baby grabs only the nipple, then the pressure on the ducts of the mammary gland will be weak and the milk will flow poorly from the breast. In addition, if a child suckles only the nipple, his skin is often damaged and cracks appear on the nipple. Sometimes, in order to give a breast to a child, a mother pinches the nipple and areola with her fingers and tries to push them into the baby's mouth. You don’t need to do this, it’s much easier to just touch the nipple to the baby’s lips (stimulate the capture reflex), wait until the baby opens her mouth wide, and quickly give him the breast.

simple postures

Immediately after childbirth, especially if there was a caesarean section or episiotomy (or just want to lie down), you can feed the baby lying on its side . You lie in bed, put the baby next to you, bend your lower arm at the elbow, and support the back of the child with your upper palm. The baby should lie on the bed parallel to your body, his mouth should be at the same level and very close to your nipple.

The second easiest position for feeding - sitting position . To do this, take the baby in your arms, bend your arm at the elbow from the side of the breast with which you will feed the baby. At the same time, the baby's head lies on a bent arm. To make it more convenient for you, put a pillow under your elbow (regular or special for feeding), you can also put something under your legs.

For variety

We have mastered simple poses - now you can try to feed the baby from other positions, for example, in position "jack" : mother and baby lie on their sides parallel to each other, but now their legs and head look in different directions. There is also such a pose - "chest on top" : the baby lies on its side, and the mother, as it were, hangs over him. In this position, it is easier for milk to go down the ducts, and it is easier for the child to get it. To make everyone comfortable, the baby should be put on some kind of elevation (for example, on a pillow).

Prevention of lactostasis

Laxtostasis, or stagnation of milk, is a very unpleasant thing. It occurs when any lobule of the mammary gland is not emptied of milk to the end. To prevent it or if it has already occurred, you need to feed the baby from under hands (from under the arm). In general, if you feed in this position at least once a day, then the lower and lateral lobes of the breast (the most frequent places of lactostasis) will be better emptied.

In this position, you put the baby on the pillow, the baby's head is located at your chest, and the body and legs are behind you (facing towards your armpit). Here's the important thing: the baby's mouth should be at the level of the nipple, then your back will not get tired during feeding.

Child likes

If your milk flows out too quickly and the baby does not have time to swallow it, then you can feed the baby in position "baby on top" . You lie on your back (with your head on the pillow), and the baby is applied from above. Grown up children still love this pose because it is more convenient for them to observe the world around them “from above”.

The second favorite position of older children is that the baby sits or stands while feeding . Children like that they can eat and look at their mother, and at any time they can kiss the breast on their own.

So learn how to properly breastfeed your baby, master different positions, and then you can feed for a long time and with pleasure!

When the baby suckles the breast incorrectly, the skin in some areas of the nipple is constantly irritated and rubbed, cracks appear. With each feeding, the condition worsens, the cracks become deeper and longer, and the pain intensifies.

Insert the breast into the baby's mouth so that the baby captures not only the nipple, but also the areola. If the baby grabs only the nipple, then the pressure on the ducts of the mammary gland will be weak and the milk will flow poorly from the breast.