to think that starving a toddler for 48 hours is impossible?

[musicmaiden]

My DS is 2.10 and for the past week has had diarrhoea, needing his nappy changed up to 6 times a day, but no sickness, fever etc - otherwise completely himself and eating and drinking normally (or as normally as a fusspot toddler does). Given the length of time it's taking to stop and unsure if it is a stomach bug or the infamous 'toddler diarrhoea', I took him to the doctor, who basically said that to allow the gut to recover from a bug he would need to have 'no solids for 48 hours max'. DS was attempting to pull the surgery apart so I was a bit harrassed and didn't really question this too closely at the time but subsequently thought that I would struggle not to eat at all for a 48hr stretch unless I was very sick, so how could we do this to DS? He doesn't understand at all and, while I had no problem last night putting him to bed without dinner, he had a meltdown this morning until he got his usual banana.

It really doesn't sound like practical advice to me but AIBU?

That used to be the advice, I don't think it is now. Being hungry can cause nausea, and will upset a child far more then they would be if they were sick. I'd let him eat. Little bits and often though, so there's less to clean up. Try clear fluids first, once this is being tolerated then move on to food.

I hope he's on the mend soon.

I would let him eat something too.

I had to not let my toddler eat for 6 hours for tests and he he was gnawing on my arm by 4 hours

Call NHS direct and get their advice. That is old fashioned advice from your doctor.

By "no solids" don't they mean no proper food and only things like biscuits and dry food. I don't think they mean starve the child of even snacks. I'm sure he'll be happy to eat some shortbread or gingerbread men.

Has he eaten anything different? That's pretty odd.

Yes bloody hard - Id feed him safe gentle stuff. Ease off the dairy and rich foods.

My Ds had toddler diarrhea- and it got much worse after he actually had a bug and was going 8 times a day. In the end I took his nappy off him to stop nappy rash and discovered that he stopped pooing all the time as he started to hold it in and it sort of retrained his bowel IYSWIM. I managed to potty train him and stop the diarrhea. I feel for you- it's rubbish changing a toddlers nappy that many times. i found when DS did have a tummy bug it took quite a long time to go back to normal.

When DS1 was really ill years ago, my doctor said not to starve him as it would be awful to attempt. He had young kids himself.

I'd give him plain food like toast or digestives. Isn't it the BRAT diet for sickness? (Bananas, Rice, Apple, Toast.)

I think your doctor's wrong, and that what you should be avoiding is milk or anything containting milk - sometimes after a stomach upset, a child can develop a temporary lactose intolerance so if you give them milk it prolongs the diarrhoea.

The BRAT diet is good for settling the stomach - small amounts of Bananas, Rice, Apples (especially stewed) and Toast (dry white) - for 48 hrs then introduce potatoes, cooked veg, boiled egg.

BTW, I don't have any medical knowledge but this is what worked for my DS.

My dd has had this, diarrhoea for 2 weeks but was completely fine in herself. I was advised by our hv that she could eat but only plain foods, little and often. She mainly lived on things like toast, yoghurt, fruit and crackers! It would've been impossible to starve her for 48 hours, she loves her food. Hv advised to keep her hydrated, so plenty of fluids. Hope this helps and he's better soon.

I'd steer clear of dairy foods so no cows milk or yoghurt etc but you can't give him nothing for 48 hours.

Yes, BRAT is the modern advice. Beige, low fibre, low fat food.

When my 2 year old had a bug NHS direct told me to give her the BRAT diet in tiny amounts when she asked for it. They emphasised no butter of the toast though.

BRAT diet - bananas, rice,apples, toast and plenty of fluid. Would stay away from anything dairy too.

I think 48 hours complete starvation is nigh on impossible - the advice from our GP has always been no dairy, and occasional dry toast. When DS is ill, it's all he can manage anyway - he does full on dying swan routine.

Yes, it was stupid advice. With a stomach upset so severe that he shouldn't eat for 48 hours, he probably would have completely lost his appetite anyway. I would just follow gemdrop's advice.

The BRAT diet is not the best current advice, continued normal food including milk or formula is advised by e.g. NICE

This sounds like rotavirus. My ds had it a few months back, was explosive for a week, the washing machine was on constantly!

www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/rotavirus.shtml

I didnt starve ds even though the Dr advised but like you said you cant starve a baby that young (my ds is 21mo) instead i just gave him things like porridge and bread and weetabix which was expecially good, plus loads of fluids. You just have to wait it out. My ds was ill for 9 days with it so hopefully your ds should get better soon.

We do the BRAT diet for the runs too. works really well.
Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. and lots of water.

Thank you all for your thoughts. He had banana, a few slices of apple and some crackers yesterday. The only problem is he is a fusspot and won't eat rice and the like, and would happily live on bread, bananas and milk if I let him. Apparently he was on remarkable form yesterday but today when I left for work he was weepy and weak :(
Hopefully he'll be back on form soon.