15 month old and hot chocolate?

[UmbongoUnchained]

My 15 month old DD has a really bad case of croup. Her throat is swollen and she's feeling very sorry for herself. She hasn't eaten anything for 3 days and hasn't drank any milk or water today.
I sat down with a cup of hot chocolate earlier and for the first time she actually looked a bit interested so I let her have a sip, thinking the warmth might soothe her throat. She downed the whole cup!!

Aibu to just let her live on hot chocolate until she gets better? It did perk her up a bit, but does it count as a fluid hydration wise?

I've tried all food she won't eat it. And she's one of those amazing eaters where I still haven't found a single thing she won't eat so it's really hard to see her like this! I even made cupcakes but she just looked at it and wondered off. Hoping this doesn't last too long

Can you try sugar strawberries? Cut them up, add a cup of sugar and tsp of vanilla extract, cook them until they're syrupy and serve warm. They're delicious and the warmth will coat her throat.

rainbow yeah I know that. I just was t sure if it was good for her to have ONLY hot chocolate and nothing else for possibly another few days.

Thanks Senpai. If I manage to find some strawberries I'll give it a go!

I'm slightly taken aback that anyone might question the wisdom of giving a small child, who hasn't eaten all day, hot chocolate

Sorry op, you're clearly trying to do the right thing but what on God's green earth makes anyone think that no fluids and no nourishment might be preferable?

Who's saying that??

You asked AIBU to give a poorly child hot chocolate. I'm just a bit baffled that anyone would think you were being unreasonable.

Probably misunderstood the tone or something.

I meant for her to have only hot chocolate and nothing else. I should have worded it better but no I'm not going to withhold her any fluid or nourishment.

It is normal to worry. Plus O.P will be stressed from her daughter being ill, give her a break.

Of course you are not being unreasonable. If it is all that she will consume then go for it. However- my DS got terrible croup A LOT and Doc at the out of hours advised us not to give him milk or dairy products because they can exacerbate the croup.

Oh really? I think I'll see how she is tomorrow and pop her back to the doctors. She sounds awful as well, her little chest is so rattly!

The dairy thing is a myth I thought. It might make it a bit thicker where it coats the throat but otherwise dairy is good for coating the throat and getting in those extra calories you aren't eating.

Yeah - He said it thickened the mucus and could make it worse. Don't know if it's a myth or not, but followed docs orders. DS was still breast feeding at the time so wasn't worried about hydration. If he wasn't BF and would only have milk, I'd have given it to him. I reckon keeping hydrated is probably more important.

Hope she feels better soon Umbongo. I had never heard of croup before having kids and first time my wee baby started barking like a seal I was petrified. It's rubbish for them.

Sorry, op. I didn't intend to have a go.

Hot chocolate is absolutely fine, even if that's all she has for a few days.

I can remember my ds seemingly living on air sometimes when he was poorly. It's a horrible worry.

When DS was 18 months he had tonsillitis ... Doctor told me that if all he ate for the next few days was "ice lollies and chocolate buttons" it was fine and would do him no harm in the scheme of things.
So OP yanbu

I just remembered a doctor once advised my sister to give dc runny jelly (make some and let them drink it before it set) as it also coats the throat and gets water and sugar into them. I don't go to that extreme but do give ds jelly and I read the other day marshmallows may be good for a sore throat too.

Hope she's better soon x

Also if she's more interested in drinking/eating what you've got like my ds is I would sit down and pretend it's mine and put it in my normal mug/bowl... sometimes convinces ds to have it!

Also try things that are really really cold- fill a lidded cup with ice and water and see if she'll sip it. Ice lollies are good too. Always helped my croup prone child.

And water is not "more hydrating" than milk.

Morning all.

Taking her to Asda to get all your suggestions and a pressie to cheer her up! She had a wet nappy this morning so at least that's some thing!

Milk is fantastic at hydrating the body. They've done various tests and it's better than water and sports drinks. Milk also has a lot of vitamins and minerals and all round good things in it. I certainly wouldn't be diluting it if my child hadn't eaten for 3 days. They will need the fats and proteins. A little bit of sugary flavouring won't do any harm in the sort term either.

Hope she is feeling better soon.

Short term I meant, although I see no problem in long term consumption of hot chocolate either.