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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

15 month old not eating

19 replies

TeamSouthfields · 17/07/2013 16:26

Sorry put here for traffic....

LO has had a rough ride of late...
8 weeks ago, he got measles, then meningitis, swelling of the brain and fluid on the brain ... He has then had virus after virus, his just picking everything up...

He hadnt fully got back to eating..

At the moment, the only things i can get past his lips are peas and yogurt covered raisins, with water and cows milk...

Do u think this is ok?
Iv literally tried everything else, but he just refuses it / spits it straight back out....

He wont even eat chocolate or crisps, biscuits, nothing....

What can i do??

Thank you

OP posts:

maja00 · 17/07/2013 16:28

Are you still breastfeeding at all? If not maybe give formula for the time being.

ThePowerof3 · 17/07/2013 16:34

God poor baby, so glad to hear he's on the mend. You must have been out of your mind with worry, just keep trying but try not to stress and I agree with maja80. It might be a coincidence as a lot of kids are off their food in this weather

Rufus43 · 17/07/2013 16:39

Sorry he (and you!) has been having a hard time. My sone went through a long not eating stage, he only ate sweet corn and rice cakes. I would try not to worry, put lots of interesting looking stuff on his plate and let him help himself. You can get small cutters to cut fruit, veg, ham, cheese etc into fun shapes like aeroplanes

I would also make an appointment with the dr/health visitor just to chat to them about how long you should leave it before he is referred to someone who may be able to help you! Hopefully it won't come to that.

You could also try eating nice looking stuff in front of him, don't offer it to him....he may ask for it himself....mummy's food s much more interesting!

Rufus43 · 17/07/2013 16:41

Just thought that the milk and yogurt covered raisins are probably quite good. Lots of protein and fat

Mumsyblouse · 17/07/2013 16:51

I had this with one of mine a while ago for about six months after a very nasty bug, your poor little man. The key thing is a) to make sure they get enough calories but don't worry about the form too much (so yog raisins/milk good) b) don't make there any issues over food or battle over it so you may have to accept these odd choices for a long while and c) just check with a health professional that this is ok.

It will resolve, but not necessarily immediately and what you don't want is him to have an eating/refusing problem or bad association with food, just keep calm and no pressure at mealtimes even if the choices are bizarre to you. With the peas hopefully he won't get too constipated!

Original poster

TeamSouthfields · 19/07/2013 09:35

Thank you everyone x

OP posts:

VulvaVoom · 19/07/2013 09:53

Didn't want to read and run as I have personal experience of this (as the child!)

I wouldn't eat ANYTHING from the age of about 2, it drove my DM to absolute despair, I wouldn't even be bribed with sweets, ice cream - nothing.

I remember my parents sitting over me at every meal, pleading with me to eat. My main point is I never felt hungry or deprived, I just wasn't that bothered. I certainly got my appetite back too you should see me now!

So, I understand it must be very hard (and it sounds like you've had a hellish few months) but try to be relaxed about it and it will come back. Meanwhile buy as many yogurt raisins in as you can!

VulvaVoom · 19/07/2013 09:54

PS Could you give vitamins to DC? My cousin does this as DD only eats cheese sandwiches and chips!

Callaird · 19/07/2013 10:05

His stomach has shrunk from not eating when he was unwell. Just give him what ever he will eat for now, yogurts are great. Give him extra milk if he will drink it. This weather won't be helping either. I have nannied for 23 children, they will eat when they are hungry. Make sure you sit and eat with him, have nice food on your plate and let him have bits and pieces if he asks, you know food tastes better from someone else's plate!!

I would offer him a plate of finger foods and add bits and pieces that he isn't eating at the moment. Remember a healthy meal does not have to be a hot meal, picnic plates for lunch and tea are fine.

Just remember, no child will starve themselves, they will eat when they are hungry and the more upset and anxitious you get, the more upset and anxitious he will get.

Please do not make food a battle, encourage but don't force.

wigglesrock · 19/07/2013 10:34

I know it's not the same, but my dd3 has always been a really small eater. I gave up on the idea of "proper food" and made very little plates of a few strawberries, a small amount of cooked chicken - like a mouthful, some raisins and a little cube of cheese. Slowly it worked. She doesn't have the biggest appetite now, she's 2.5 but is a much more adventurous eater than my other 2.

I know its worrying, especially with him being ill x

quesadilla · 19/07/2013 11:14

My dd has a similar reaction after illnesses. It sounds like your little one had a particularly rough ride and my dd has never been that ill, but late last year she had a very nasty stomach flu with a bad cough which lasted more than 3 weeks (adenovirus, I think) and it took at least another 3 weeks for her appetite to come back.

She basically drank milk and ate nothing but yoghurt and bananas for several weeks. I was in a state about it.

The GPs I saw said its fairly common for children to go right off food for a fairly long time when they are under the weather. As long as they are getting some fluids and calories you shouldn't sweat it too much as long as you start to see some improvement.

I would talk to a GP/HV about it though, just for your own peace of mind, but it doesn't sound like anything to be too worried about.

LongTailedTit · 19/07/2013 11:21

I seem to remember from a chart recently that peas are the most protein packed green vegetable - not a bad choice eh!

I'm sorry your DS has been so ill, my DS is a non-eater too, he was a bit early and is small and v slim, so when he stops eating properly it drives me to distraction.
In comparison to some more severe cases he's probably a good eater, but every couple of weeks he just stops taking proper meals, and will only have a couple of mouthfuls at best for each meal.
He is still happy(ish), v healthy, strong, and really bloody vocal, so it doesn't appear to be doing him any harm!

I'm always told to look at what he eats over a week, not each day, as it's easier to get a balanced picture of his diet that way.
Also, if I know he's in a two-mouthfuls mood, I make sure those spoonfuls are protein heavy.

Try not to worry!

Jenny70 · 19/07/2013 11:57

I was going to say (from title) cut the milk, as it may be cutting his appetite.

But with this medical history & continuing to catch bugs etc, I would be chatting to the Gp and nutritionalist about it. It isn't a balanced diet, and if you are trying to recover from serious illness & ward off new sicknesses you would be wanting more fruit & veg, as well as protein in his diet. Maybe supplements might help in the interim?

Mooycow · 19/07/2013 12:15

Dont make a fuss, offer normal dinners , things you know he liked before, if he refuses to eat them, then take it away no fuss, no pleading, no bargaining, NO FORCE FEEDING , dont offer an alternative,
encourage fluids daily not always milk as this will fill him up, eating dinners together as a family helps too
Children are very self sufficient , they rarely starve themselves, but we are also bad at worrying too. speak to your local health visitor they have lots of ideas and some have feeding cliics too

MiaowTheCat · 19/07/2013 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsannekins · 19/07/2013 13:08

While the weather has turned my 'eat everything in sight' 18 month DD into surviving on cold grapes, the odd mini milk and maybe a few bits of something interesting that someone else is eating, given that your DS has been through quite an ordeal over the last few weeks (as have you, bless you), I would go back to the doctors/HV for a bit more advice, maybe even a nutritionist referal, just in case there is something else underlying. Fingers crossed its not, and the little monkey picks up with time.

Original poster

TeamSouthfields · 26/07/2013 02:16

Thank you everyone...

Been offering him a varied amount of foods and his slowly starting to eat afew more things. Afew grapes, a chicken nugget, a chip, and abit of broccoli ... Seems like process ....

Thank you everyone

OP posts:

themaltesefalcon · 26/07/2013 02:52

Awww, poor wee mite. Glad he's eating a bit more, OP.

Hissy · 26/07/2013 07:47

Even my hulking great 7yo who normally eats me out of house and home will not eat for days if he's been ill.

Your DS has been so very ill, bless him, his stomach will have shrunk, and he's probably scared of being sick, or feeling it, he's making small progress, bit by bit, try not to worry too much, he'll get there!

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