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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Parenting

2 year old not eating - how many months will it go on + is there anything i can do?

28 replies

citybranch · 18/02/2009 16:42

My 2 year old DS's eating has been deteriorating since November (he has always been a bit fussy). Each week he seems to have dropped something from his diet. Recently we are down to yoghurt, peanut butter on toast, ice cream - THAT IS ALL HE WILL TOUCH - and not much of it either!

We ended up in A+E with him on saturday as he has been trying to shake this cold off for weeks, but his temp suddenly shot up to 40 and he went all floppy.
I spoke to the paediatrician at hospital about the eating as i have suspected that he could have enlarged tonsils making it difficult to swallow - he also dribbles gallons! This doctor said his tonsils are normal + not to worry it was just toddler faddy eating. My GP has said the same previously.

I just wonder how many months he will go on barely eating before a doctor will sit up and take notice? Is it normal that a child can't shake off a cold for weeks because of lack of nutrition? My DS has lost so much weight. The antibiotics the hospital have put him on have given him diorrhea, he has only eaten 2 yoghurts since friday (its now wed) and he just sleeps all day. I'm getting so worried about him. I feel like a terrible mother because he just won't eat.

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nappyaddict · 18/02/2009 16:53

Insist that you get referred to a paediatric dietician. DS won't drink and we've been referred.

Lionstar · 18/02/2009 16:54

Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time. I know lots of toddlers do go through faddy phases and some do seem to exist on thin air. In your position I would be worried too - especially the sleeping all day.

Have you tried smoothies with lots of fuit added to boost the vitamins - even make them with yoghurt to make more palatable. Maybe if he drinks them he won't think of it as eating.

Also try having lots of food around - snacks and nibbles always available, but don't push anything on him. Does he eat when you are i.e. does he see other people around him sitting down at table and just eating normally?

If he doesn't eat much today though I would be tempted to get him back to the docs, especially if he has the runs. Does he drink much?

ra29needsabettername · 18/02/2009 17:00

I find it appalling that they haven't taken you seriously. What was he like at eating as a baby? Did he wean ok or have reflux? Only eating certain things is one thing but if he is losing weight then imo he needs to be checked out properly by a pead.

rolandbrowning · 18/02/2009 17:02

Is he drinking anything much?

georgimama · 18/02/2009 17:03

Please phone your GP now. You need urgent professional help.

citybranch · 18/02/2009 17:15

I've just called the GP who has nothing available this eve and said to call first thing in the morn, which i will.

He didn't drink much over the weekend but has upped his intake a little more since. 2 days ago i bought him some of that cow+gate 1 year plus formula as i thought he could do with the extra iron and he has had quite a bit of that. (he usually drinks juice during the day and cows milk in the eve).

Today he fell asleep at 12.45 and he is still asleep now, i've just been up to check on him. I called his name, he rolled over and carried on snoring away. I'm worried because this is a very long time for him. Do you think i should make him get up?
He has been quite cheerful when he has been awake, you would not guess that there was anything wrong, just a little cold.

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citybranch · 18/02/2009 17:16

oh yes, and he was diagnosed with reflux at 6 weeks old....do you think this is related then?

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nappyaddict · 18/02/2009 17:23

How much would you say he is drinking in a day?

rolandbrowning · 18/02/2009 17:23

I think you should follow your instinct, do you think he needs to see someone before tomorrow? If so take him to a&e or phone the out of hours doctor, don't let them fob you off if you are really worried. Better safe than sorry.

nappyaddict · 18/02/2009 17:33

BTW children should have 1.5 ounces of fluid per pound of weight.

DS is 33 lbs so should have 49.5 ounces of fluid a day.

nappyaddict · 18/02/2009 17:38

"According to the Institute of Medicine, a child between the ages of one and three needs about 1.3 liters of water a day."

link about fluid intake

citybranch · 18/02/2009 17:47

right, i've just woken him up. he's sitting on my lap now and he seems ok, asking for his cars.

i'd say he has 3 beakers of juice, maybe 3 beakers of milk too. mind you, less as he's been asleep so long.

do you think the reflux he had as an infant could be causing him a problem now? this could make sense...

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ra29needsabettername · 18/02/2009 22:32

I just wondered because my ds's reflux effected his eating for a long time. They can have slent reflux where they aren't even sick. But my ds never ate properly... I found feeding him so demoralising and when I realised it was because it either hurt or was associated with discomfort it became easier to understand.
I think if he is losing weight then that is an indicator (with the other symptoms) that really should not be ignored.

citybranch · 18/02/2009 22:50

ok thanks, will definitely mention the reflux to the GP tomorrow. Do you know if dribbling a lot can be a symptom of reflux? I certainly feel as though the 2 are connected as the food intake decreased, the drooling increased.

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giraffescantdancethetango · 18/02/2009 22:54

How many teeth as he got?

missymoo2411 · 18/02/2009 22:58

has he got ulsers in his mouth,they might be soar could cause the dribbling .if he likes ice lollys and ice creams thaey will get fluids into him ,id ring n.h.s aswell blss him..

citybranch · 18/02/2009 23:19

i believe he has most teeth already, the thing is the dribbling has been going on constantly for over 3 months now so i don't think it is new teeth or ulcers. His tops are soaking within 1 hour, every day... that is how extreme this dribbling is. And it all ties in with him stopping eating.

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Pannacotta · 18/02/2009 23:33

I think you need to get some decent help asap.
I would write down all the things you mention here and take this list with you when you go to the GP and stand your ground, this doesnt sound healthy to me, the combination of not eating and constant dribbling.
Good luck.

mej3 · 18/02/2009 23:33

Hi citybranch. It is so horrible when you see your childs weight go down and feel very sleepy etc. We were in same boat last year with dd who was 3. I was back and forward at GP, A&E, and in the end I just told my GP, I wanted my DD to have a blood test. I will not blab on about our dd (now 4) but I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you are worried and see a big change in your ds, don't feel that you can't say you want to get to the bottom of this, can he have blood test etc.

ra29needsabettername · 18/02/2009 23:47

DS did dribble terribly at that age. I never had an answer for it but thought it may have been due to anti reflux meds... His tops were also soaked through.
Your gp may not know enough about this (or may). I only got proper help from a gastroenterologist. I had one gp say that babies couldn't suffer from reflux once they started sitting- utter crap!
For my son it wasn't just reflux and it may not be this for yours. Also (if I remember correctly) when they are run down/ill then reflux can get worse- reappear. Has he ever been tested for allergies?

citybranch · 18/02/2009 23:50

yes, i will ask for a blood test tomorrow too. I guess he could be anaemic from this poor diet.

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citybranch · 18/02/2009 23:58

I was told when he was newborn that the reflux would go when he sat up. So i have assumed that it did go. He has never been tested for any allergies. He used to throw up cows milk when we first tried it with him at one year, HV suggested goats milk which was much better. We have since switched to cows milk again with no obvious problems (i think!)
Oh dear, i just really hope the gp sends him for some tests at least. Don't want to be fobbed off with the 'phase' thing again.
ra29, did your gp eventually refer you to the gastroenterologist or how did you go about speaking to one?

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mej3 · 19/02/2009 00:14

Let us know how you get on. You sound like the sort of person who is not pushy at doctors (neither was I) until you get fed up being fobbed off. Hope all goes well.

ra29needsabettername · 19/02/2009 09:49

My ds was one when he got seen and it was because I took him to a and where I was lucky to find a team with peadiatric gastroenterologists. After being fobbed off by gps and even another hospital doc for months, this hospital admitted him straight away. They did loads of tests and found he had severe reflux and a biopsy showed a problem with his gut (they thought coeliac disease for years but thats another story!). Does your ds have a distended tummy and skinny limbs?

ra29needsabettername · 19/02/2009 09:50

that should say a and e

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