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Original poster

dd's ill and wont eat or drink

13 replies

tammybear · 12/11/2004 14:31

dd's had a cold for a couple of days now. yesterday it flared up badly. her nose keeps running, her face is red from her keep rubbing it, and she has a terrible cough! she wont let me give her tixylix or capol, unless i force her to have it (which i hate doing!) She wont have breakfast (usually weetabix with milk), she'll have half a roll for lunch, and wont eat her dinner. She wont drink her juice or water or milk. Im worried that this is going to make her iller, so is there anything I can do? Thanks. xxx

OP posts:
yoyo · 12/11/2004 14:34

The eating won't be too much of a problem but she needs some fluids. Have you tried ice lollies (you can make your own with fruit juice if you prefer)? Often find this helps with mine especially if they have sore throats too.

yoyo · 12/11/2004 14:35

Sorry. Don't know how old she is so might not be appropriate.

Original poster
tammybear · 12/11/2004 14:36

shes 23 months

OP posts:
Roobie · 12/11/2004 14:38

My dd was exactly like this a few weeks ago - didn't eat or (more worryingly) drink anything for two days. Fortunately she started drinking on day 3 (although still didn't really eat anything for a couple more days) otherwise I was going to resort to squirting water down her throat with a syringe. Perhaps you could try giving her an ice cube to suck or keep trying her with juicy fruit. You can also lower her temperature with a cold towel rather than calpol - my dd loved the feeling of a damp towel around her neck that had been in the freezer for a couple of hours. I guess if she continues not to drink then doctor's advice may be in order.

Lonelymum · 12/11/2004 14:41

I would second the advice to get her to drink whatever you can. Don't push the food and have the confidence to believe that she will start eating again when she is hungry. All that snot and phlegm (sorry to be graphic) can fill their tummies up and make them not feel like eating, but she will when she is feeling better.

mishmish · 12/11/2004 14:45

We've just had a bout of this too. I found that it was a good time to introduce funny straws and he did take a few sips of milk and water just because of the novelty.

Things are getting a bit better now (5th day) but I think when they lose their appetitie they can take longer to get it back when we expect. I know it's an awful worry. I found fruit sorbets quite good - especially if they are hot or have a sore throat - not as rich as ice cream.

I know what you mean about forcing them to have Calpol, I hate this too and usually end up covered in calpol and fluff at 3am.. My health visitor showed me a great technique - sit them sideways on your lap so they have one arm around your waist and you can hug them and hold their other arm. Then just lean them in towards you and gently back a little so you can tip the spoon against their mouth. I find this works and even worked with horrible antibiotics (supposed to taste of banana - tasted more like bathroom cleaner to me). Good luck and make sure you remember to eat and drink yourself!

Roobie · 12/11/2004 14:45

I used to offer her a drink every 5/10 minutes or so as each time she would take a half-hearted tiny sip and then push it away - but it all added up! It doesn't really matter what they drink so you could try all number of things in the hope that she might just fancy one of them - I've heard that flat coke can be good in these circumstances.

Original poster
tammybear · 12/11/2004 14:47

thanks you guys, will keep at it. shes having a nap at the moment so just trying to relax as im suppose to be going out at 3:30 doing my pass plus for driving. so not in the mood for it! xxx

OP posts:
yoyo · 12/11/2004 14:49

On the Calpol front have you tried a syringe? This is the only way I can get any down my DS. I use one that came with some baby nurofen but I'm sure you can buy them too.

I wouldn't give coke at this age but a GP once told me that flat coke is great when you have an upset stomach.

Original poster
tammybear · 12/11/2004 18:54

managed to get her to have some capol without forcing her to have it. she also had a quick sip of her apple juice, and had half a kit kat and 3 cookies. feel a lot better about it now after your advice but will see if she drinks or eats anything tomorrow. xxx

OP posts:
prefernot · 12/11/2004 20:54

Oh, tammybear, my dd (2) does this every time she's ill. She's a small eater anyway but the slightest thing wrong and she just stops eating. It's a real worry for a while but I've found I've got used to it and so long as she sips little bits of fluid I wouldn't worry. Sounds like she did great with cookies and kitkat anyway! More than mine will eat when she's well !!

Original poster
tammybear · 12/11/2004 21:00

thanks prefernot. dd hasnt been properly ill before so i didnt know if this was normal or not as i havent dealt with it before. so thankful for mumsnet!!

OP posts:
prefernot · 12/11/2004 21:10

Oh lucky you to get through to 23 months without illness! We live in inner London where germs seem to move around so quickly ...

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