Getting a Sick Kid to Eat.

I just read your second reply and realized that she will be 2 and is 20 lbs. (not 3). This is small, but not necessarily too small. My daughter was 20 lbs. at 2 years and healthy... however, she ate well and was developing normally... just small, so the Dr. didn't worry. It sounds like your child has more going on. Have you ruled out medical issues with her pediatrician ie. Celiac disease, Chrones, Colitis, Reflux Other Digestive issues? If that is not the case, it definately sounds like she has other sensory issues. You said she gets speech therapy? Does she have other delays? Her speech therapist should be able to give some ideas for sensory activities and help with feeding issues. If she does not have experience in this area, ask her to refer you to an Occupational Therapist who can do a sensory evaluation. Often times children with feeding and speech difficulties may have other underlying developmental delays or Sensory Integration Disorder, which can effect eating as well. The fact that she is sick, and possibly has an upset stomach from the medication, is just making her more turned off to food. Eating a variety of food is necessary for the health of your child and is really one of lifes greatest pleasures (or should be)... even picky eaters will drink and eat well given the foods they like (even if limited). Continue to offer her a variety of foods and liquids (of various texture) and if she doesn't improve her eating once she is done with the meds, ask her Dr. or Speech Therapist how she can get more intervention for this issue.

I think overall, it's more important tat she drinks rather than eats. What about popsicles? MIlkshakes? Ice cream or sherbet? Pediasure, water, lemonade, Gatorade? Jello, applesauce, toast with sugar?

What about drinks? Will she take a smoothie at all , if she will that's a good way to get some goodness into her. Other than that I am not sure what to suggest.

I hope you work something out.

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how about a smoothie, or pediasure. Something else I've done with my kids is 1/3 orange juice, 1/3 yogurt, 1/3 milk in a sippycup. stir it all together and it tastes like an orange julius.

It is confusing from what you wrote if she is sick like she has the flu or sick in another way. If she has the flu and is throwing up and can not keep food down, you can not force her to keep food down or eat. Would you like someone to force you to eat when having an upset stomach. Liquids are the most important right now so keep offering those, Gatorade or pedialyte is the best to help her stay hydrated. Foods that are easy on the stomach when sick are rice, bread, crackers, maybe try pediasure... I know you said you have limited foods right now but you are have someone else pick up those items, a body can not keep down other food when really sick because it is too hard for the body to digest.

If she can not keep food or liquids down then she may need to go to a hospital for an IV to help stay hydrated. Even if she is on antibiotics they may or may not help so if the fever and lack of keeping food/liquids down continues I would go to the hospital or day clinic and get an IV for her, let them know the situation of her low weight, not keeping food (maybe liquids down) and how long she has had the fever and taking the antibiotics.

I have a very picky almost 3 year old daughter and I let her come to the grocery store with me and pick out a few things ( at my discreation of course) but that puts her in charge of choosing things she likes as well as me feeling a little less stressed about what she'll get in her stomach that week. I give her choices like fruit,(she loves avacados) crackers, healthy cereal, we also talk about what we'll have for dinner that night and she picks out side dishes or what she wants in her salad.. She actually likes coming with me now and knows she has some say in what we'll eat this week.

maybe try kiefer (liquid yogurt).
not eating is no big deal when they are sick... but kiefer tastes yummy, good for belly and has some calories : )

pediasure! my son had open sores all up and down his mouth and throat from hand/foot/mouth disease, and didn't eat for a week - he got through it by drinking pediasure through a straw (with very strong painkillers, which also made him miserable if he had an empty stomach - i know how you feel!) the dr. said he could live off it for awhile if he had to. it tastes like a chocolate shake (or vanilla or strawberry) and he loved them. GOOD LUCK it is no fun having a sick baby.

take her to your pdeiatrician asap or call and ask ur dr what u should do - if u dont feel he is iving you enough advice, then go and seek a 2nd opinion asap.

I know this is so hard. Many medications need the food to work or can cause an upset stomach without food. Try watered down apple juice.
Jello
Chicken noodle or chicken with rice.
Crackers, goldfish, oyster crackers
Apple sauce
Dry toast even raisin toast cut into cookie cutter shapes.
Popsicles (not sugar free) or frozen apple juice crushed or shaved.
Ginger ale
crushed ice

And only give her a tiny amount. We used to give our daughter a metal jigger to drink or eat from when her tummy was really not hungy.. She seemed to be able to face it. If she had 2 jiggers. of anything.. I felt like she was going to be fine.