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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How do I get my 8mo eating again after illness? Help!

5 replies

hayesgirl · 12/05/2012 19:28

My DS has recently had a bad bout of gastroenteritis. Last weekend he was in hospitalas he was dehydrated. He has lost so much weight and we are trying to get him eating again. It seems like the bug has gone now but he's gone from 3 7oz bottles and 3 decent meals a day to around 12oz milk over the day, a small bowl cereal and maybe a 1/4 slice of toast! If he eats any more than this he just throws it back up again!

I really don't know what to do, I don't want to push too hard but just when we look like we're making progress he's sick again and then won't eat or drink anything all day! He's been on the 75th centile since birth so it's really hard seeing him lose so much weight! Doctors just say that we don't need to worry about food as long as he's drinking but it's been over a week since he had a proper meal!

Any advice appreciated!

OP posts:

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wheniwasoneihadjustbegun · 12/05/2012 19:48

They can take ages to get their appetite back after bugs. At least, mine can. Really don't worry. Just keep giving him drinks and offering food (things like cut up pear / chunks of banana that are easy to eat as finger food and have a high water content might go down well). He'll eat when he's ready.

Octaviapink · 13/05/2012 14:11

He's still getting the majority of his nutrition from milk at this point so I would focus on that rather than the solids (got another month before they really kick in) and don't worry - it can take ages for them to really start eating again after an illness.

candr · 13/05/2012 19:29

My friend's DS had that and she gave him loads of yoghurt as it was about all he would eat. She then added finger foods into the bowl and went from there. He will get back into it especially if it is bits of your food but very worrying to watch.

bronze · 13/05/2012 19:31

Rice crispies
Was what the doctor order for ds and it worked

LionsnTigersnBears · 13/05/2012 21:39

Yes definitely just push milk, as long as there's no diarrhoea, there's not a problem with low appetite. My dd (22 months) still reverts to milk scoffing/ food refusing when she's ill, and she always makes up for later on. But if you are worried at all, phone the ward again or your HV if you get on.

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