Do you let your LO eat rubbish when poorly?? Not eating meals but will eat crisps, cake....

[sharond101]

DS 18mo has been under the weather with a bad cold, teething (majorly) and now suspected chicken pox. He won't eat any of his normal favourite however offer him a biscuit (rich tea), sponge cake, ice cream, crisps or jelly baby and he will happily eat those. Do you allow it??

I do but then again I allow it most days

Yes, but only if I'm positive he's ill and not just trying it on

Just to note, I didn't give him all of these he was at creche today (before we saw any pox) and he got a biscuit and crisps then we went to chemist and they asked if he could have a "rice cake leftover from children in need" I said yes and they handed him a small fairy cake. e had to call into the Dr's Surgery and they gave him a jelly baby. I will own up to the ice cream.

Yes.
Would also try to get good stuff into him too though. Even in tiny portions. Banana smoothie? Roasted root veg sticks (with a little salt if needed)?

Yes. When children are ill they burn energy faster so a bit of sugar does them good

Seriously, when DS was about the same age he got gastroenteritis, and survived for days on milk and rich tea biscuits while he recovered. OOH GP also once told me to buy ice-cream on the way home from a consultation about tonsillitis, as not only would it be soothing but it would also get at least some fluids in.

Poor little soul, that sounds rotten. Yes, I'd let him have treats under those circumstances.

Yes.
And a mish mash of foods in small portions if needed i.e. a spoonful of Boursin cheese, a few crisps, smoked salmon ribbon, jelly babies.

It's better that he is eating something, imo, sharon. I would offer other things - the banana smoothie and veg sticks are good ideas, and in would offer things with protein - does he like scrambled egg, or toast and peanut butter, or cheese on toast - but I wouldn't worry if he says no - as someone else said, you'll know if he's trying it on, just to get the treats.

When I am poorly, I know my appetite changes, and it only want to eat whatever it is at I fancy, nothing else. I remember having a stomach bug, and for a week or more afterwards, all I wanted to eat was toast, mushroom soup or scrambled eggs!

I hope he feels better soon.

Thank you all. He took 2 spoons of weetabix today and a triangle of peanut butter sandwich, shook his head to all else even though I offered his favourites so I know he is poorly and has been haphazard for a good few days with his food. I will continue to offer the healthier stuff but make do with the not so healthy stuff too. He won't drink much milk either but is having water.

Yes but he eats fruit when he's poorly so I tend to give him that mostly.

Yogurt is my test, if dd turns down petit filous it's serious! I'd probably let her have that, weetabix and peanut butter sounds good. But only being able to tolerate total junk, no

What about fruit puree eg in the squeezy sachets? Sweet, smooth, comforting and slip down easily. Hope he feels better soon!

When my son was recovering from surgery and trying to heal the doctors advised me to give him: cake, biscuits, ice-cream, jelly, chocolate and crisps (as well as fruit and veg)!

he did marginally better today. I gave him a finger food selection at breakfast which was a bowl with dry cheerios, breadsticks dipped in peanut butter, a banana muffin and some raisins and chopped prunes. He ate the lot apart from the banana muffin which after a few bites was passed over to the dog. He had one slice bread with a slice of cod meat at lunch with some custard and pureed fruit then at dinner time he had a couple spoons enchiladas (lots of veg), some pasta tubes, a couple mini sausages and some ice cream.

Wow, that's not just a good "sick day", that's a good day, full stop! Or it certainly would be in our house anyway!

Nice one, always good giving them a range of little things to pick at, makes it all feel more manageable and keeps their interest up.

Yes my friends daughter had been so ill so lost loads of weight which lasted a few weeks. Friend consulted the health visitor who said jus to let her eat what she wanted for a little while to get the taste buds going and then make dietary adjustment s necessary. I think as long as the little one I drinking also is the most important thing.

YES! I used to freak out about things like this, but then my daughter had chemotherapy and we were so happy when she had any appetite we just let her eat whatever she wanted.

On days my lo is ill I do relax food rules but I still try to give them nutritious food.

Rice pudding with jam
Porridge with honey
Fruit juice
Smoothies
Tea cakes
Sweetened yoghurt

We normally keep sweet stuff to a minimum so when it's added it's usually gobbled up.

On days my lo is ill I do relax food rules but I still try to give them nutritious food.

Rice pudding with jam
Porridge with honey
Fruit juice
Smoothies
Tea cakes
Sweetened yoghurt

We normally keep sweet stuff to a minimum so when it's added it's usually gobbled up.

DC is poorly and got custard earlier as a good sweet way of getting some fluid in.