Toddler hasn't eaten anything in 3 days...help!

[Pete]

Our 18month old girl seemed to have contracted a stomach bug, or somthing similar last Saturday. She threw up constantly for about 2 days and had very loose nappies. Since then she has almost seemed to have developed a 'bad' association with food. Whatever she ate came straight back up. Since then she hasn't eaten anything for 3 days; nothing. She has been happy with milk and water but she's drinking far too much and her nappies are extremely watery. No blood, so thats a relief, but green, yellow and her 'bits' are absolutely red raw, like I've never seen before. I went through 12 nappies yesterday. The doctor has said that she will eat when she's ready and she doesn't seem to be suffering any dehydration but I'm really worried for her. She's extremely weak and feels very fragile. She's usually tearing the place apart and leaving a trail of toys but she still literally spends all day in bed. We almost feel that since she knew what she was eating was coming straight back up and making her feel worse she developed some sort of negative association with food. 3 days without solid food surely can't be normal or healthy?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[~*Nile*~]

Forget the name of them, but the chemist has a couple of different types of electrolyte pops - they look like Zooperdoopers but are full of minerals etc, and are for kids with diarrhea.

You child's appetite will return, don't worry. When the bug passes, and she is feeling better she will eat.

[*kaos*]

Dehydration is the biggest issue when a child is sick, so if she is drinking and weeing well, then that should be a weight off your mind.

When my kids are sick, they usually sleep a lot more than usual, are very quiet and don't eat. It is such a massive change to their normal selves. How about trying small amounts of her favourite but healthy foods, like perhaps some banana, even stewed apple (yummo). Stay with her when she eats to comfort and reassure her.

How is she doing today?

[Marmee]

I agree with what has been said. Dehydration is the biggest issue. It sounds like your little one's body is just letting her get rid of the nasties. When she is ready, go gently with food introduction again, to give her body time to recover (ie: putting a heavy 3 course dinner on our tummies after being sick for 3 days doesn't make us feel great!) Brothy soups, stewed fruits, smoothies....

[hanabi]

Bicarb soda in the bath can help sooth and heal her burned bits. Sweet foods tend to go over well, such as acidophilus yoghurt gently sweetened with fruit or honey but if she has no appetite and is keeping up with fluids, she'll be OK. It is horrible when they're so sick and weak, but she will soon recover and be bouncing off the walls as usual.

[Pete]

Dehydration is the biggest issue when a child is sick, so if she is drinking and weeing well, then that should be a weight off your mind.

When my kids are sick, they usually sleep a lot more than usual, are very quiet and don't eat. It is such a massive change to their normal selves. How about trying small amounts of her favourite but healthy foods, like perhaps some banana, even stewed apple (yummo). Stay with her when she eats to comfort and reassure her.

How is she doing today?

She actually ate half a banana today and hasn't brought it back up yet. Her nappies are very green and her poor little bits are extremely red. She screams every time she needs a change. But the fact she did eat something today is making me feel a bit more relieved.

[Marmee]

Oh good. Let's hope she continues to feel a little better, hour by hour

[Nicoy]

Try offering plain salted potato chips, most kids will eat them and will think they are getting a treat, and they an bland enough to not overly tax the digestive system..

[meme]

As above as long as she is getting fluid that is the main thing. They eat when they start to feel better and that is when they start bouncing again. Hope the redness goes and she is feeling better soon.