DS (18mo) has lost weight through illness

[MrsChemist]

He had a horrible cold for nearly two weeks and hardly ate anything. I managed to get him to partake is biscuits and toast on occasion, but he mostly just drank milk and water.
I took him to the doctors, and the doctor said not to worry about not eating, as long as he was drinking.

He's feeling better now, but I've noticed that he has lost weight. He was a skinny boy anyway (DH and I are both small and slim) but I'm a bit shocked about how much he seems to have lost.

He's not a massive eater to begin with, and I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips on getting him to gain a little more weight. I'm taking him to the clinic tomorrow to see HV and get weighed, so I'll know how much he has lost (although I'm worried they blame me )

TIA

I'm pretty sure he will surprise you by eating a LOT for a few days..my DD is not a big eater but when she was ill recently and got skinny she literally ate constantly for about a week after she got better!

Don't bother getting him weighed, it will probably just end up making you anxious.

Nearly all children lose weight when they are ill, but put it back on again after the illness by eating like a horse.

Choose foods that are high in fat (I'm talking avocados, bananas, peanut butter, yoghurts etc, not chips and chocolate!)

Forgot to add, he's suddenly decided that he doesn't want milk any more, so while he used to have a bottle before his nap and before bedtime, he now just has water (if he is in the mood) so I'm worrying about that as well.

My sons both had a sickness bug before Christmas and went very skeletal. Ds1's shoulder blades were really sharp and his rib cage was totally visible all the way down. I could even count his vertebrae. They are quite skinny normally but this was quite shocking.

It didn't take them long to get back to their old weights. Just let him eat as much as he wants when he wants.

Don't panic, just feed him healthily according to his appetite. He might be hungrier and eat more as he recovers, but don't force it.

My DD2 is very small, and I used to worry that she would vanish completely whenever she had a bug. She never actually did though and is very sturdy and healthy.

If you're worried about the HV making a thing of it, either don't go, or be ready to explain that the doctor has seen him and isn't concerned.

Cheese, yogurt, milk on cereal.

Don't worry, Ds ate nothing for a week when ill and took about a month to get back to normal. I just fed little and often and things I knew he loves

Thanks everyone, the doctors' surgery has a record of seeing him, so they do have a note of it if the HV asks. I would usually leave going to the HV, but DH is adamant that we go, just to make sure he's ok.

What does your DH think the HV is going to do/say about it?

I tell you now, it will be a waste of your time. You believe that your ds could do with putting on some weight, and you know how to do it. Simple as. Trust yourself and your ds.