Out of mind with worry, dd (nearly 4) has decided she doesn't like food and had eaten nothing for over 4 days

[beatofthedrum]

My dd has always been a picky eater but eaten the food she 'likes' in decent quantities and have always been careful to ensure a balanced diet. Last wed she started behaving strangely with her food, holding it in her mouth a long time and wanting drinks to persuade her to swallow it. By Thursday she was saying she disliked all her favourite foods and mealtimes were stressful. On Friday she stopped eating. Totally stopped and no amount of persuading/telling her Santa was watching/trying to act casual and let her choose worked. She didn't eat Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (I'm crying typing this, it is scaring me so much). She keeps spitting into her hands and sitting there with it and she is such a fastidious little girl usually, can't best paint on her hands etc. She is letting saliva hang out of her mouth, really regressive behaviour. Christmas has been totally spoilt by the worry of this. Everyone is telling me to act casual and I have tried, believe me, but how long can you leave a situation when a little girl is voluntarily eating absolutely nothing. I manage to be casual for a few hours then I lose it, either begging her to eat or (not proud of it) shouting at her. I've phoned NHS Direct twice and they've been great but all they could do was direct us to an out of hours gp who ruled out temperature, sores in her mouth/throat. He gave us oral thrush medicine just incase was that though he could see nothing but she won't let ANYTHING in her mouth, both hands over mouth screaming crazily. I am so scared. Last night she started eating while watching tv. She ate one babybel then asked for 2 more. Refused everything else I quietly slipped beside her. Went to bed feeling much brighter but she was up in night with very sore tummy and 2 big vomiting bouts - she lost all that she'd eaten. What can I do?? Surgeries not open till tomo. Does nit really seem a GP issue as she seems to be developing some kind of phobia about food. Could really do with some advice. Thanks.

Sorry, should have used paragraphs!!!

I dont think your first port of call should be here, take her to the bloody childrens hosp!

is she drinking anything? if not, then I would be very concerned about dehydration

I second the drinking. DD, at age 2, became very ill very quickly from dehydration.

Is she lethargic or floppy at all?

Is she drinking? If so, I would try backing off completely. See what happens if you don't even mention food At just serve her small portions of her favourite foods at meal times and the rest of you sit and eat chatting cheerfully. If she eats hers fine, if she doesn't that's fine too. It sounds to me as if she's got a tummy bug of some sort and her body has decided it doesn't want any food until it's better.

Going without food for 4 days isn't going to do her any harm, honestly.

If she's not drinking I would be more worried- try NHS direct again for advice on this.

I read on here that a child would have to not eat for 40 days before he/she would starve, so at this point, I wouldn't worry too much (easier said than done though!)
I agree with seeker's post.
If she's drinking ok, just relax about what she's eating (or pretend to) and let her try things again at her pace.
If she's not drinking, she'll need to see someone before she gets dehydrated.

I agree with the others. My dc1, also not big eater, would never eat anything when had bug; could go on for a while. Sounds as tho your dd may have bug; give it a few days and see? As long as she drinking, obviously. Hope she better soon.

Personally, I would take her into A & E.

Not eating anything for 4 days is well beyond normal.

If she is drinking I'm not sure what people think a and e will do? Infact when Ds was in hopsital with a chest infection he didn't eat for a week and because he was drinking that wasn't deemed as an issue at all.

I would be much more likely to go and see the gp and get her referred onto specialists who may be able able to help if it is some sort of phObia like you think.

The really important thing is- is she drinking?

Yes she is drinking plenty. Milk and water. She is definitely not dehydrated.
This has not been my first port of call. The surgeries are shut so I've phoned NHS Direct twice and seen an out of hours GP.
I've been told to go to my own GP on Wed, but by then she will nit have eaten for going on 6 days.
I know backing off is what everyone has recommended. I've been trying to do that. It isn't easy. Thanks for responses, appreciated.

Sorry, iPhone keeps changing 'not' to 'nit'.

The fact that she asked for more babybel and felt brighter after eating it but then was later sick makes me think that it is a bug. It doesn;t sound voluntary to me.
I wouldn't worry about it as long as you are getting fluids into her, she will most probably start eating as soon as she feels well again but by stressing out about it you may create issues that aren't there.
Hope she feels better soon.

Will she drink anything other than milk and water?

Would she drink those complan things that are like a meal in a drink? They're designed for people who aren't able to eat enough, and as well as being high in calories they're fortified with all sorts of things.

Maybe go to Boos and com back with a selection. Even slim fast contains heaps of vitamins and minerals.....

Apart from not eating and salivating strangely, she has been as normal, though obviously weepy/unreasonable from empty tummy. No complaints of anything sore and she is more than capable of explaining any pains etc.

Then really, really really don't worry. She's got a tummy bug and this is her way of dealing with it. Don't mention it - have a nice, quiet day with normal meals at normal meal times. Easier said than done I know, but honestly the way to go.

I would be concerned that the first time she tries to eat something she vomits some time later - that sounds like a physical problem to me rather than just a food phobia.

How about smoothies, will she drink them?

I agree with seeker. I would probably also leave a plate with some favourite bits of food on lying about in the hope she might start feeling peckish

are there bugs going round? my dcs all go off their food before getting sick, and the vomiting last night sounds like it might be a bug. the key question: is she drinking? will she tolerate honey in warm water or even diluted juice/milk?

Get some complan and mix it with milk ( use a blender, its gorgeous!) and voila a chocolate milkshake. Full of nutrients and might give you peace of mind whilst you address the problem.

Would she normally eat chocolate? Is she refusing that too?

She loves chocolate and has put some in her mouth but then held it there for a while then started crying and spat it down the toilet/down her clothes. So very unlike her as she likes to be clean.
You are right that it may be a tummy bug manifesting itself strangely. She has not said she felt ill until last night when she was getting horrible tummy cramps with her vomiting. Off to call NHS Direct again, see if they have any new ideas. Will def get smoothies today. Been hard as we were staying away with relatives and think people were getting impatient with me worrying. I tried to get ella's kitchen pouches as she used to love slurping them when she was younger but they weren't stocked locally. Am home now and will get smoothies, fruit pouches and complan today, all good ideas, cheers.

Sounds like a tummy bug..my DD didn't eat for two weeks with one before and she was fine so please don't worry, and don't persuade her to eat just now or it will all come back up

And do not.give her milk if she has been vomiting, will make her very very sick. Soon she will be better and eat loads to catch up.

Sounds like it could be a bug to me too. My DD didn't have the words to be able to verbalise she felt sick at 4, especially as she'd never been sick that she could remember when she caught her first stomach bug. I think you're right to phone for advice and I hope she's well again soon.