1 yr old DS wont eat

[sues1974]

Hi, my DS turned 1 two weeks ago, this was shortly followed by a really bad head cold that has gone onto his chest. The first night he was poorly he burned up but never had a dangerous temperature so treated him with calpol. For 3 days he wouldnt eat but would still drink his milk, so i went back to using a formula milk to make sure he got his vitamins and iron. Hes much better now but still has a blocked nose (or runny) and a bit of a chesty cough, other than that hes his old self again, apart from the fact he used to eat anything, but now wont eat anything other than yogurt and organix snacks. He opens his mouth for food but then just dribbles it out or flicks it out with his hands. Everything that he used to love is getting spat out, or refused. Im scared hes going to start loosing weight and get poorly. Has this happened to anyone else and do you think it will pass once he's 100% better again? He's just started nursery so i expect him to be poorly off and on with him catching it from all the other children. On my HV's very last visit she said he would probably have a cold for the first year of nursery, i can cope with that but not with him not eating anything. Any advice is much appreciated, thanks x

[CillySunt]

It's probably just a phase and he will eat when he gets hungry. But if you are giving him formula that may be filling him up and that's why he isnt hungry.

[sues1974]

im giving him half cows milk and half formula at the moment, and also he ate really well when he was still on full formula all the time before he was 12 months old. hes been poorly for 2 weeks now and dont know if i should take him to the doctors, i think they would just tell me that he will get better on his own and that anti biotics wont make any difference. He's happy and fine in everything else, hopefully he'll start eating again once his nose and chest are clear.
xx

[FanjolinaJolie]

If it's been going on for two weeks I think you should get him checked out by the Dr.

My 2 DDs have both had the most horrible sounding chesty coughs, one needed antibiotics and one didn't (both were seen by the Dr)

The one who had the chest infection didn't eat for a week, bar drinks and the odd yoghurt.

If the Dr says he's fine just let him eat what he wants, fruit/cheese whatever. Just keep the fluids up.

[brightongirldownunder]

It could be teething. DD had permanently runny nose at 1 yr and hardly ate a bean, then I remember looking into her mouth and seeing the most horrific swollen gums. She's now 2.9 and eating like a trooper. Its horrible to watch though so I really sympathise. Prob best to go and get him a check up too just in case as he may have a sore throat/throat infection - that definitely puts them off their food..

[ShinyAndNew]

The absolute worse thing you can do is make a fuss about it. Trust me, I learned the hard way. 6yo dd1 still will not eat. Dd2 went through a similar phase, was ignored and low and behold she started eating again a few days later.

Keep up the fluids, keep offering the food, but remove it without comment if he doesn't eat it and offer a snack about an hour later. If you turn it into a big deal he will start to think it is a game and refuse food for attention.

It will be because of his cold, dd2 eats like a horse, but won't eat when she ill. Though 'easy' things like yoghurt, rice pudding, soup etc go down better than actual meals if she is not well.

[sues1974]

thanks for replies, im going to get him into the doctors, then at least if he does need anti biotics im not leaving him any longer. im not making a fuss of his non eating as i know he wont die of starvation when drinking milk and eating yogurt, so heres hoping he goes back to normal once better

[minxi]

My 11 month old DS has just started this - he has been poorly with a cold/cough and sounded like he had a sore throat since last Thursday - puts food in mouth then spits out - this morning had 4oz milk two tiny mouthfuls of cereal - quarter of petit filous yoghurt (which are tiny) then nothing, lunch had three tiny squares of sandwich about 1cm square 1 crisp and another quarter of the youghurt...lots of water - dinner had one mouthful of tomato soup then 2oz milk oh and managed to get another 3oz milk down him in the afternoon - which I had stopped doing as didn't need it, surely this isnt enough food for him ? Hoping it is just a phase but going to take your advice and not make a fuss - just keep trying with the different choices then pick it up and throw it away - might as well just throw a few notes out the front door grrr

[sues1974]

Hi, the Dr was please with my son, says theres no infection and as long as hes drinking its fine that he's not eating. Then laat night he projectile vomitted his milk across the room and down my husband, also came thru the other end, and keeps doing so. He's still tired but ok otherwise so just going to keep my eye on him and hope he gets better soon.