16 Month Old Dd Issues

My daughter just got over that bug, she would hardly eat for almost a week, i was so frustrated and worried. The doctor told me to keep her on a starchy diet until the diarrhea clears up, but then she started throwing up all night and it was nothing but the pastas and the foods she was eating (obviously) but she did that for two nights and I was worried but I would just keep almost forcing (I don't mean holding her down and putting the spoon in her mouth) her to eat a few bits even half of the small bowl of food I had made for her she was down to about 1 meal a day, for almost a week, I was stressing out worried that she would get sicker from not eating(we started eating in new spots too, on the floor in the living room, anything to keep her mind off of what I was trying to get her to eat. The doctor told me to get some probiotics from the pharmacy (OTC and about $13) and to stir it up in some applesauce. the next day and now even today (this was no more than a week ago) she is eating just a good as before if not better she is usually a picky eater but not as much right now. it is worth a try, the probiotics stuff is the ingredient in yogurt but with out the dairy and the sugar, it helped us all around. The hitting thing, what I did was find an area to restrict her and when she is not listening and still hits put her in this area for 1-2 min for a time out (not her bed, she will see her bed as a time out area after that) so put her in a corner or somewhere that she can't wonder free and tell her that what she has done is mean, it only took our daughter a few times and she didn't like that anymore. hopefully I have helped.

Hi K.,
My 1 year old son just got over a bug that sounds like what your daughter had. He used to eat everything, and lots of it, but this was a nasty virus and it is taking him some time to get back to normal. Don't worry too much, keep offering her healthy foods that are easy for her to digest; she may not be feeling 100% yet, and may associate eating with feeling horrible and vomiting. I would try to avoid being a short order cook, just offer her a meal, let her eat what she wants and offer her food again in a few hours. As long as she is getting plenty of fluids, as evidenced by her diapers, she will be fine, she won't starve herself.

I wouldn't worry too much, appetites vary a lot at that age. Especially after a virus it will take a while and then she will eat you out of the house I am sure. Make sure to give her shakes made with carnation instant breakfast, or pediasure or higher calorie smoothies. Don't worry as kids have an instinct not to starve themselves and when she is ready she will eat. My son had a stomach virus last year and it was almost two weeks without solids. I just waited.
DO NOT BE A SHORT ORDER COOK!!! That sets them up for being picky and you being worn out. Serve what you serve the family, she can eat it or not. Offer her nutrtional drinks and just wait. Teething can play a factor into them not wanting many solids too.

As far as hitting, Hold her hand down, look her in the face and say "WE DO NOT HIT, THAT IS NOT NICE" and set her down in a time out, playpen, crib or highchair. She is old enough to be removed from everyone and have to stay put for a minute. If she gets up, put her back and be tough. My son used to pull his sisters hair, I would see clumps come out! I would take him out of the room, put him in his pack and play and tell him that wasn't nice, then I would walk away, which he hated!!!! Then I would go back in a few minutes and give a kiss and hug and give him another chance, if he did it again, I repeated it. He eventually got that if he wanted to play with his sister and not be in the play pen he needed to stop the hair pulling. Good luck

In regards to the flu and eating issues I wanted to write only because at around 16 months I came down with the flu. My mom said it was pretty brutal on me. So brutal in fact that I swear I still have memories of it!
After that time eating for me was torture and was for many many years after. I associated all food with that sickness and didn't want it to come back. I lived off of hot dogs and bananas for 2 years after that. My doc told my mom that I would be fine and as long as I am growing and seemed happy to not be concerned.
I know that I was a very picky eater for most of my life. Not sure if I would have been a better eater had I not gotten sick at such a young age, but we will never know.
However I wanted to let you know that now in my 30's I eat pretty much anything and I am very healthy! BUT it did take years and two great parents that didn't push the issue and just let me be, that helped me to get there.
It was a long road and I would say at times it could have even been viewed as an eating disorder, but the fact that I remember the illness means it must have been pretty hard on me.
Just be patient and work with her. I know it is frustrating, but coming from someone who had dealt with it, it is so helpful when you know your family is there to help and not push you beyond what you are willing to do in that moment.
Good luck!

The hitting is just a phase but you have to stop it now before it becomes a habit. She needs to be restrained and made to tell you she's sorry.

The eating may be a phase too and she may not feel 100% better yet. If her diapers are normal and she doesn't lose any significant weight, I wouldn't worry. She could be in a low phase of growing. She'll eat when she's hungry. No kid will starve if they're offered food. Good luck!!!

Our kids all took several weeks to get regular appetites back after having the bug. In fact, tonight, a month or more later, my husband and I commented on how much our little one is back to eating. She'll come back to normal in time. Just make sure she's drinking enough. I don't have ideas on the hair pulling. Sorry.