Toddler with cold will only eat soup

[Kathrineamy]

Hi

My daughter is almost 2 (in July).
She's had a bad cold now for about 3 weeks and she always copes terribly with any cold she has, you'd think her arm was falling off :roll:

The problem we have is that she won't eat any solids. She will eat crackers, crisps or anything snacky fine, but won't eat any proper food for her lunch or dinner. I understand she is still really bunged up and has a reduced appetite, and I've tried clearing her nose before each meal, but she just can't handle the food. She will attempt to eat but will gag and eventually vomit and this happens at every meal time - she does it with soft solids too like scrambled egg.

She's been eating soup twice a day now for over a week, and i can't imagine it's doing her good and I imagine she's missing out on loads of nutrition. she still gags on this sometimes if the soup has some lumpy bits in it.

I'm really not sure how to get her back into proper food and she's still not over the cold, she is improving but I imagine she'll still be like this for another week or so.

Anyone have any experiences of something like this? I can imagine I'll just have to ride it out until she's better but I'm just a bit worried she's gotten lazy because I've given her the easy option and she just doesn't want to chew anything.

Thanks in advance x

[ijustwannadance]

You are worrying for nothing. Let her eat soup while she is sick. Why try to make her eat stuff knowing she will gag/vomit?
It is a temporary situation. It will have no long term effects.

[Cel982]

^^This. Honestly, don't worry. She'll be fine.

[3littlefrogs]

Homemade soup can be very nourishing.
TBH I would just liquidise everything and let her have it. If she will eat a few snacky things too that is fine.

I had surgery several years ago and could only eat liquidised food for about 8 weeks.

[HSMMaCM]

I agree just liquidise whatever meal it is. Shepherds pie soup is fine etc etc.

Would she eat scrambled egg?

[JustABigBearAlan]

Soup's fine. At least she's eating something and you can put all sorts of veg etc in soup to make sure she's getting enough nutrients.

I understand you want her to eat more 'normally' but I'd say it's not worth it at the moment. If it ends up a big battle and she keeps gagging it will just put her off completely - even when she's better.

[AliciaMayEmory]

She'll be fine. DS used to live on water and crisps for weeks on end when he had tonsillitis between ages 1-3. Better than trying to get her to eat stuff that makes her vomit. Hope she feels better soon.

[Kathrineamy]

Guess I am just over worrying, it's because she's quite a good eater and will usually eat full meals and snack all day long. I'll just carry on with what she can manage for now, thanks for the replies everyone X

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

what they all said...have you tried eating or swallowing while you cannot breath...it's just no fun!!

I had a cold recently and got in a right panic trying to swallow a few pills with a mouthful of water! DH thought he was going to have to resuscitate me!

Make some soup for her and you need not worry about what in it or not, then as she recovers then make it lumpier, thicker, more stew like and you'll be back on track

[3littlefrogs]

It is really important to remember that small children regress developmentally when they are ill. That is without the bunged up nose and general loss of appetite and taste that goes with having nasty, ongoing cold.

So you need to manage her as if she was about 6 months younger, and poorly. then allow time for her to catch up once she is better.

Soup is fine. she might like jelly, pureed fruit and ice cream too.

[ImperialBlether]

I was going to suggest you check her tonsils, but then she's happy to eat crackers, which would be odd if her throat was sore.