At my wits end trying to get sick DD to eat! HELP!

[Jakabella]

Bella has a UTI infection and is on Anti B's. But she still will not eat! I have tried EVERYTHING that I can think of!! She has had 1/2 a bottle at 9.30, a few bites of veggiemite toast, 1/2 a tub of yogurt all day.. She will sip at her sippy cup of water evey now and again.

Its REALLY stessing me out! I need to get her to eat and drink to get better!

DD is 10.5 months - well more like 10 3/4 months - is she to young for cows milk? I was wondering if maybe she would drink that?? Or maybe 1/2 cows milk and 1/2 formula??

PLEASE HELP!!

Kate

[Arimeh]

Try not to stress so much babe. The thing is - they don't like to eat when they are sick, but they certainly won't starve to death.

I always found my kids wouldn't eat much of anything but dry crackers and water when they were sick, I put the stuff out there for them to eat, but if they didn't eat it - I was ok with it. I think if I was feeling like crap and someone was trying to force me to eat food when I didn't feel like it, I'd be pretty cranky at them

Just try to chill, have some nice fruits or something easy to digest for her when she feels up to it.

Frozen grapes is a good one

[Tanya]

I wouldn't worry about food... just keep water up to her so it helps flush her system... offer her fruit but don't stress if she doesn't eat. She will recover as long as she is drinking little bits of water

[Lulu]

Hun, leave her be a bit. I find all my kids almost completely drop off eating when they are sick, or getting sick.
She is following her bodys instincts. Make sure she keeps drinking, DON'T try her on cows milk right now - that will make it worse.

Clear fluids, toast here and there and a bit of yoghurt is fine. Really it is. If you want to get her to drink a bit more maybe lightly flavour the water with a dash of apple/pear juice.

[kirsty_lee]

I agree with mel, when they are sick forget about trying to get them to eat. I would just keep trying to keep up her water and giving her fruit like mel suggests. As long as she's not dehydrated, she'll eat when shes ready babe, i know it's stressful though. hope it passes quickly

[Alan]

Hi Jakabella
It can be so scary when they are like this. A few days with little or no food will not do her any harm. Try to make sure that she has plenty of water by offering her sippy cup frequently. Keep doing what you are doing hun, you are doing a fantastic job

[minimatron]

Hey Kate... am sorry to hear that Bella is unwell...hope she has a speedy recovery. Like everyone said, my kids wont eat much if anything when they are sick. Just make sure you offer food and water. Bits of fruit are good...especially now you could give her water melons/ mango/ grapes. Dont worry too much about her not eating just yet she probably doesnt feel up to it. Hopefully the ab's kick in quick.

Oh have you tried any of the raffertys squeezy packs? The girls would only have that after a week of gastro and barely eating. Good luck hun

[~clover~]

Worry more about the fluids. DD2 had tonsillitis a while ago & was in hospital with dehydration. She didn't eat for an entire week. Not a thing. She wouldn't drink either, or take her ABs, so that was the problem here.

[Jakabella]

Thanks ladies!

I guess I just need to chill out and step back a bit! I guess if she is drinking water from her sippy cup then she is not going to dehydrate!

I am really really paranoid about her dehydrating! I guess it has just been drummed into me form when he was born that you need to make sure they drink enough! And then she isnt drinking much bottle I get really really stressed out!

Ill just make sure she drinks some water and offer her food and let her eat what she wants.

Thanks again - Ill chill out and not be such a food natzi!

Kate

[Jakabella]

It takes me an hour to get her Anti B's into her - I just have to play and eveytime she laughes or opens her gob I squirt a bit more in!! It tastes pretty gross so I dont blame her for not wanting any!!

Kate

[danita]

try not to stress my DS is in the 35 percentile for weight and 95 percentile for height so he is long and lean and i stress really bad when he doesnt eat, at the hospital (when sick) they say forget food, fluids fluids fluids, offer food but if he doesnt want it dont worry he is now 19months and i offer soft foods when sick like jelly and pureed fruit.
if yur worried about dehydration they can have Hydralite ice blocks ( brought from a chemist) which will help to replace any lost fluids.
it may also be worth finding out how much fluid is needed for her age at 18 months Ds only needed 60ml every hr the doctor said some hours he may have more and other hours not so mmuch but this was a good target to aim for.
i know its really hard not to stress when they dont eat.

hope this helps

[Visitor8]

Don't stress Let her go, keep offering.

As a general rule, kids wont starve themselves

Ashton is sick atm, he's had 2 spoons of yogurt today. And a few sucks at the breast and half a bottle. Yesterday it was less. He basically had 200ml of water and 1/2 bit of toast.

I know he'll start eating when he feels better. When i'm sick I dont' want to eat either and that's what I try and remember

[Visitor8]

i found a cool trick to get medication in ...

Lay them on your lap like you were feeding them, head back, squirt it right in the back and hold their nose for a second. They automatically swallow Never had a problem getting meds in since.