Does anyone give their child Complan?

[Nbg]

I'd be interested to hear the effects from using it.

We have just started to give it to our dd who has just turned 5.
We cannot get her to eat. Sweets and biscuits don't seem to be a problem but getting her to eat a meal is becoming a huge issue.

She has been a little unwell since the begining of the summer holidays and it wasn't until she started school last month that we found she had a UTI.
That has now been treated and she is all clear but she managed to get a D&V bug last week and things seemed to get worse again.

Dh and I are quite concerned now. She is just skin and bones and only weighs 2 stone.
We started the Complan on Monday and we split the satchets so she has half on a morning and half when she comes home from school.
This morning she has been sat on the toilet for 15 mins, obviously constipated and when she did eventually go it was like rabbit droppings (sorry if TMI).
I'm thinking that this is a normal reaction to something like Complan?

I would like to hear of other peoples reasons for using it and the results and effects you have had with it.
I'm still not sure about it but then again I think thats its better than dd having nothing.

[shrooms]

I can't think of many problems associated with complan tbh. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Does she normally have much dairy? Because it's common to get constipated from suddenly having alot. And since it's made of skimmed milk powder I wouldn't be surprised.

Also it's very high in calcium and iron I think, which can be constipating in that form.
However it could just be because she doesn't eat enough, that there isn't enough going in to give proper movements. Poor girl... sounds like time for a GP trip.

Could you try adding those fibre sachets to the complan as it doesn't affect the taste of texture and provides up to 5g fibre depending on the brand.

Let us know how it goes x

[Shitemum]

Has she seen the GP?

[Nbg]

No we haven't gone to the gp yet.
When I spoke to my HV last off, she said that they only prescribe these kind of drinks if the child refuses to eat anything and it has to be over a certain time. I do trust my HV too. She is very good.

I'm just at my wits end with it.
We've tried every trick in the book to get her to eat, her cooking with us, choosing what she wants, giving her set times to eat, punishing, not punishing, treating, charts, treats, the lot. None of it works.

[morningpaper]

You need to see a GP

She might have other issues such as anaemia which will need treatment to increase her appetite

Don't try and treat this yourself

DD was similar and was prescribed some special powder that we put in her normal drink which contains vitamins and sugars (but it tasteless)

Keep a food diary for a week and then see your GP

and don't give sweets or biscuits, there is no need

[morningpaper]

Your HV is talking SHIT btw

my DD eats stuff but has still been prescribed powders and drinks because she is underweight and also gets ill a lot

she is also anaemic

see your GP

[morningpaper]

(There are special paedaetric milks that DD has had also - which are formulated to build-up their little bodies - Complan is NOT designed for this job.)

[morningpaper]

P.S. DD (also 5) has gone from 2 stone to 3 stone over the last year with these build-up drinks and has been MUCH healthier - AND she is eating a lot more. But you need to see a GP and not take your HV's advice on this because she is wrong. If your GP is not helpful then ask for a referral. Don't treat this yourself.

[Eniddo]

I considered it when dd1 lost a lot of weight a few years ago after a viral infection (was also 2 stone at 6)

but Mother inferiors advice to give wholewheat toast with a scraping of nice chocy spread and lots of wholefoody peanut butter did the trick and is just as good (as well as being 'real food').

She ate that A LOT.

[Nbg]

Yes I have started a food diary this week to monitor what she actually taking in.

We said that if it didnt improve in the next week that we would see a gp.

Thank you

[Nbg]

Funny that because dd has been having that for her breakfast the last few days.

Thats the one thing we can rely on, is her eating her breakfast.

[Eniddo]

Well thats great.

dd1 (still skinny but full of energy and int he normal weight ratio at 9) still eats a mahoosive breakfast and less during the rest of the day.

Ice cream is also good
Cocoa with jersey milk
sneaking butter into stuff (although dd1 can sniff butter out at 30 paces)
and trying to chill out about the eating

personally I wouldnt have taken dd1 to the gp as it would have made a big deal out of it which would have possibly scared her and made it all worse. I stuck with the tiny portions of fattening food and it all came good in the end.

[Nbg]

Well she has already said she doesn't want to go to the dr's about it.
We mentioned to her that it might be an option, so she is obviously worried about going.

She came home yesterday with her packup almost full.
All she ate was half her biscuit and a small yoghurt.

[Eniddo]

oh god nbg dont take her to the doctors

shes been ill. She isn't refusing food she is eating - albeit tiny amounts.

honestly I would lay off with the dcotor

[Eniddo]

I know how yuou feel as I was exactly the same a few years ago

[Eniddo]

this thread has some wonderful ideas on it

[Nbg]

The last thing I want to do is scare her.
Shes an anxious little thing at times and if taking made it worse I don't know what I'd do.

Its just so frustrating seeing how skinny she is and watching her mess with her meals rather than try to eat them.

[Eniddo]

have you read that thread?

You could be me 3 years ago

dd1 anxious too.

[Nbg]

Thanks Enid

[Eniddo]

my lowest moment was looking at her in school queue and another mum saying to me 'wow don't you feed that poor child'

I went home and howled

[Nbg]

Blimey.

Tired and weepy - check
Hates mashed potato - check
spine and ribs sticking out - check

!

[UnfortunatelyMurderedMe]

My dds have complan or slimfast for breakfast. It isnt worth the arguing about eating cereal, and REALLY only want them to have the milk to accompany the cereal so this is ideal.
They dont want to eat, I want them to have some milk = complan/slimfast.
Neither of them get an pleasure from eating food, though they ARE hungry immediately after school and I tend to cram in an egg mayo sandwich then, so if they dont eat dinner later on, they have had SOMETHING.
I also give them banana custard a lot, and make cakes, with custard, which is another egg squeezed in IYKWIM.
Biscuits, washed down with milk.
And remove all sweets till she is pecking at more.
Dont hassle. Serve, remove and offer fruit if she wants something inbetween.

[Eniddo]

(if it helps at all, she is now almost 9, very slim but strong and healthy, full of energy and eats loads of new foods and tries most things - still hates mash though!)

[Eniddo]

Sambucol elderberry extract (from health food shops) is absolutely brilliant for helping getting rid of the last traces of viral infections. I swear by it.

[Nbg]

Oh Enid thats awful
Do you ever worry that she may develop an eating disorder?
I do with dd. I used to be scared of eating when I was younger and became quite ill with it. What dd does sometimes are just the thing I used to do.

Unfortuntely, I am trying very hard with the remove without mentioning it. Its very difficult!

[Nbg]

Ooh thats interesting.
Can any age child have it or do they have to be a bit older?

We've all had the D&V bug. Well I've still got it.