Children may forget to drink enough fluids when they are not feeling well. In addition, you child will lose water faster than usual if their body is producing mucus or if they're running a fever. Offer plenty of liquids frequently and encourage them to drink even if they aren't thirsty.   Good drinks include water, juice, clear broth, or warm lemon water. The juice, broth, and lemon water will also help replenish electrolytes. Monitor your child for signs of dehydration including decreased urination, no tears when crying, sleepiness, dizziness, constipation, headaches, irritability, dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes, passing dark or cloudy urine. Getting enough fluid will also help control your child’s fever. Fighting of the flu will sap your child’s energy, so extra sleep is very important. Let your child sleep for as long as they can. This may include naps during the day. The amount of sleep your child needs will vary according to age and individual needs. In general healthy children need:  11 – 18 hours as newborns 9 – 12 hours from 4 to 11 months old 11 – 14 hours from 1 to 2 years old 11– 13 hours when they are 3 to 5 years old 9 – 11 hours when they are 6 to 13 years old 8 – 10 hours in their teens If your child’s temperature rises, they may get the chills and even start shivering.  This occurs when the body temperature rises in relation to the air temperature. If your child gets the chills, take their temperature to see if they are running a fever and keep them warm.  A normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). Most pediatricians define a fever as a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Tuck them into bed and put extra blankets on the bed. If your child is an infant, wrap them in a blanket and hold them. Your body heat will help keep them warm. If their fever starts coming down they may suddenly feel very warm and remove the blankets. Let them regulate their temperature as needed. Remove extra blankets if your infant starts to feel very warm. Use a cool-mist humidifier to keep the air moist in their room when they sleep at night. This will make it easier for them to breathe, soothe coughing, and help them fall asleep quickly.  A cool-mist humidifier is safer than a hot-water vaporizer for children. This way if your child bumps into it in the night, there is no risk that they will get burned. If you don’t have a humidifier, you can make one by putting a pot of water on the radiator in the child’s room. If the radiator is on, the water will steadily evaporate and moisten the air. Chicken soup is excellent for helping the body fight an infection. The fluid will prevent dehydration and the salt and nutrients will replenish electrolytes that may have been lost during sweating.  As your child starts to feel better you can add some vegetables, noodles, or chunks of chicken to the broth to make it heartier. As your child starts to feel better, their appetite will return. Providing emotional support will help them to relax, sleep and fight the infection. Your child may be prone to crying or irritable when sick. Try to offer them ways to distract from the discomfort of being ill. You can:  Provide them with a favorite book or read to them until they fall asleep for a nap Play music or a book on tape so they can listen while relaxing in bed Allow them to watch television or a movie
ابق طفلك مرطّب. دع الطفل ينام لفترة أطول. ابق طفلك دافئًا. ساعد طفلك على التنفس بمرطب هواء. اصنع شوربة دجاج. قم بتهدئة طفلك.