1 year old refusing to eat - please help

[vanGal]

My 1 year old used to eat everything I made for him. Healthy mash-ups of veg, chicken, fish, etc. He got a stomach bug about 10 days ago and since then he refuses to be fed any of his meals. While he was unwell I gave him cereal for all his meals as that is all he would eat.

Now he is better and has been better for about 3 days but he will not eat anything. He wants nothing but cereal from the spoon. He will feed himself cheese and bread but categorically refuses to eat anything else. I have tried the foods he used to like, i have tried feeding him, I have tried getting him to feed himself. Nothing.

I'm really worried and don't know what to do...

Please help...

My DS had a bad stomach bug when he was about 10months and it took him ages to get his appetite back. He only ate bananna and bread sticks for a few days. He lost a bit of weight but the health visitor told me not to worry. I just kept offering and he got his appetite back eventually. I made sure he had plenty of water to drink.

My DS also went off his normal foods for a couple of weeks after he was ill.

You could try mixing some fruit into the cereal, or offer a yoghurt after he's had half the cereal, so he's started eating and then alternating spoon of yoghurt, spoon of cereal. Don't push it if he doesn't want it.

Does he normally like to 'steal' food from your plate? I found this helped get my DS appetite back. I would sit down on the floor with some cheese, apple, raisins on 'my' plate and let him 'steal' it.

Also, only offer a really small amount at a time - 2 child size spoons of mash and just a couple of pieces of vege or meat. Try to remember when you've been unwell and the last thing you want to see when you are recovering is a massive plate of food.

Do try not to worry too much, its so hard when they wont eat much. Keep offering drinks throughout the day.