Poor DD - she is so poorly - how do I tempt her to eat?

[KatyMac]

She had a really rotten cold/bug she has been off school since Tuesday last week.

Last term she was poorly again for several weeks, being off school - going back for a few days being off again for 3/4 days going back again then being off again

So I am keeping her off for a longer time this time

She is starting to be better during the day, then her temp goes sky high later on during the day and she gets weepy and miserable and very down

Very post viral

& she still hasn't started to eat properly

So how do I tempt her to eat
Should I keep her off school longer
How do I stop her getting the next bug

Poor thing is so unhappy & fed up with being ill

When mine are ill I let them eat whatever they fancy. My poorly DD spent the weekend living on yogurt, cheerios and a bowl of porridge. You can get back into a more organised eating routine when she feels better. Is she managing to drink plenty?

She is drinking - with persuasion

But I can't really let her go back to school unless she eats, can I?

Oh I don't know poor sausage is so down

Don't tempt her to eat. She'll eat when she's hungry and her body is ready for food.

Get her some tonic to build her back up. Then start off with bland food like plain biscuits or toast.

If she has this winter vomiting bug then it is very nasty and she'll need a couple more days off school I should've thought.

dry cereal always works for dd. She had flu over xmas, barely ate for two weeks but drank loads. This week she is better and is eating like a horse to make up.

Hope she is better soon

Just give her loads of fluids. She'll eat when she feels better.

If she'll drink try giving smoothies or proper juice, that way yuo know she's getting some nutrients and calories, also frozen yoghurt or ice cream might tempt!

It's more 'flu like what she has had - I don't think it was 'flu tho' silly to say she wasn't ill enough for that

Get her checked out by your GP, it could have developed into a chest infection.

Don't send her to school until she is eating as she won't have the energy.

My dd is 4 and usually has a ferocious appetite and eats almost anything. She was laid low over Christmas with a similar virus and it took I would say 3 weeks before her appetite returned. She used to get really confused; e.g. asked for chocolate many times which we would give her, then she would lick it and get all tearful and say "oh I don't want it" - she is too young to understand her loss of appetite.

For many days she lived mainly on grapes and toast. I have put her on vitamins now for a month but she is back to normal now - hope your dd is soon better as well.

what rhubarb said!

Also meant to say it really affected her behaviour as well, almost regressing to the tantrums and frustrations of a much younger child. And she slept LOADS - 13-14 hours at night and a 2 hour nap at least - the excess sleeping went on for a week or more. Even now she is sleeping for over 12 hours - quite a bit more than normal.

It's exhausting for you as well; I found it so hard to be patient when she was being quite trying even though it was not her fault.

onepieceoflollipop - that sounds just like DD even down to the chocolate & she is 10!!

Rhubarb the GP saw her on Thursday & her chest was very clear & cos she is asthmatic you can tell when her chest is bad by her peak flow

I don't think I will send her to school - she is visibly to poorly to go yet

How long before school want evidence?

The Dr won't give her anything to "build her up" will he

I think multivits may be the way to go

If you have a more "old fashioned" GP iykwim he may suggest something. I have NEVER given my dd vitamins, generally I have a very strong belief in getting what you need from your general diet. (although I am aware that it is luck that she is a good eater- not being smug!). Anyway, this virus is so horrible that I concluded that with no decent food for probably 2-3 weeks I really wanted to be safe, hence the vitamins.

She returned to nursery on "shorter hours" for a week as she wasn't fit enough for anything like a full day and didn't want to be there for lunch. Last week she gave them all a good laugh by strolling in and announcing "I'm back on chocolate now btw!"

It is worrying KatyMac, when it drags on like this you get to the stage when you worry that they might never eat normally again even though deep down you know it will be fine.

my dd has had loads of time off and school said cos of her age, kids catch everything so try not to worry.

My DS didn't eat hardly a thing for about 14 days last year, tried to tempt him with all his favourites, in the end we just had to let him eat whatever he fancied and when.

How about an indoor picnic with a few nice picky bits - might cheer her up too.

Aw poor little Kmac!

I'd second the multivits while she's fighting it off,even if normally you avoid them. There's one called "berroca" in a green tube that the GP's seem to recomend.Basically fizzy vit c but the kids like it.

Or an orange chewy vit, Bassets I think?

yes I thought so! Tesco do them too!

or these?

You're wise keeping her off school a bit longer-even if she's over HER bug she might catch another while she's so low.

Horrible for you though while she's like this. Just let her eat what she fancies, fluids are the main thing.

I know

I'm just the "send you to school with a broken leg" type mum - I feel guilty - which is daft

I just wish I could wave a magic wand & make her better

She's still quite poorly this am - but I have tempted her into some dry bread

Sorry to hear she's still poorly.

She is much brighter this evening

But I still think we might give school a miss tomorrow

She had bread & butter for breakfast, a dessert spoon of cheese & potato pie for lunch and about a tablespoon of rice & fish for tea - so I am getting food in again