10 Month Old Refuses Food for Four Days!

It's hard, but this is fine. My son is going to be 3 this summer and the peditrician said that it's fine for even him to go with out food for a fwe days provided he stays hydrated. Have you tried different food? Sometimes with my son, if he was sick or in some kind of pain, he wouldn't think that the plain old stuff was worth the effort, but would go for something special. Also, try the Gerber finger food biscuits. They are about as long as you finger and pretty thick and my son loved them while getting his front 8 teeth in.

It usually lasts for 5 days with my daughter (teething).
But that kind of combo has to be awful for Kyle. Poor thing.
If he is on antibiotics and the teeth feel better in a day or two - then he should start eating again (the swallowing must hurt him a lot). Also if he is on antibiotics - try a little yogurt.

CAn you give him some motrin (check with your doc if he is on antibiotics- not sure how that works) - also give orajel.

If he is still not eating after this weekend - I would put another call into a nurse or the Pedi.

I hope this goes away really quick. So sorry :(

Hi K.,

My second child refused food after the third teaspoonful at six months. He didn't eat any food again until he was well over a year old (it may even have been longer). The pediatrician didn't worry and neither did I because he clearly was developing mentally and physically. He's now a very healthy 6 1/2 year old who still has a very limited diet (mostly beige - bread and crackers - just 4 months ago he added Dino chicken nuggets and a couple of months ago pizza). Hope this helps.

Wow! Of course, it is natural to worry! You absolutely should consider Reliv's nutritional supplement for kids! It is a wonderful blend of all the essential nutrients, plus DHA which is brain food. It strengthens the immune system, and kids just don't get sick anymore! You could probably postpone the ear tube surgery - most kids who take Reliv do not get ear infections! If you want to talk to some moms who have had fabulous results, let me know! It's delicious - comes in a couple of flavors - and you can mix it with milk or other items, even put it in applesauce or yogurt or baby food. You can mix it with a small amount of milk and it tastes like cake frosting! Lots of recipes available! It is the successful choice for parents who have tried every thing else with little or no success. IT's food, not drugs - the company is well established and well regarded for over 20 years, and they hold 6 of the 12 food patents in the US. Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, Success from Home magazine, De Marche and the Direct Selling Association all have reviewed Reliv very highly. The company also has a tremendous humanitarian mission, feeding over 40,000 people a day worldwide. The scientist who developed the kids formula is the same guy who worked on ProSoBee and Enfamil formulas - and Reliv is better. Let me know if you want to get connected to some other moms on this!

DONT TRY TO FORCE THE FOOD UPON HIM just at regular feeding times offer him something that normally he eats if he dosent want it and is getting plenty of fluids just let him be ear infections are a bad thing and i know when 1 of my 3 get them my house is upside down. they yell and dont eat and want to be held or snuggled and i still have 2 others to tend to this is a hard thing but like i said more fluids less pushing

Dear K.,

He may go back to eating enough once the ear infection clears. Hang in there but if your gut is telling you something is really wrong, have your pediatrician monitor his weight and health.

I hope this helps,
A.

As long as he is drinking I wouldn't worry. When your baby get's sick it's so hard because you don't want to feel like you are starving him but yet you don't want him to get dehydrated. Continue to let him drink all he wants and offer him some apple sauce, cheerios are great! They do have vitamins so that will add to what he hasn't been getting. Your doing a great job, I know it's so hard not too worry!

babies, and all kids for that matter, don't like to eat when they are sick. I know that a lot of adults won't eat if they're sick. It's the same thing. At any rate, keep offering him liquids since it's more important to keep your baby hydrated. If he won't take formula, pedialyte, or even apple juice. At least he won't dehydrate and these drinks also have some calories, as water does not. Hope this helps and if you are still concerned, talk to you doctor again.

At this point, it sounds like you have done everything you can. Hopefully, the teeth will be in quickly and the tube surgery will be soon. Did you ask the doctor about giving Kyle Tylenol for the teething/ear pain. Perhaps if you try the baby Tylenol as directed, every 4 hours or whatever, it would ease his pain, and he would then eat for you.

It is very hard to see them not feeling well.

Would chilled food help? My son is the same age & he loves yogurt, tiny pieces of cold watermelon...anything from the fridge when teething. We also do cold peeled apple in the baby safe feeder. Hope he feels better!

He might be in pain when he eats like a stomach ache, or those teething teeth see what your pedia recommends for this, and i would not worry also as long as he is getting the fluids
good luck to you and have a nice mothers day
L.

Hi K.,
I am a mom of a 3yr old and a 1yr old. I can relate to concerns about what they eat - or don't eat. Your pedi is right. Your son will be fine and he will eat when he needs to. However, in the meantime parents can freak out and worry because they love their baby so much. It sounds like you and your husband are great parents. I know much easier said than done, but don't worry about it. In a few days he will be eating a ton!
Best,
TC

I have a now 5 year old boy who had recurring ear infections and many of the same symptoms you have mentioned. He had tubes twice and it was the best thing that happened to all of us. He went in for surgery around 7:00 am and he was home by 11:00 am. By 2:00 that afternoon, we had a completely differnt and happy child. He slept better and started eating very well after that. To this day we do not have anymore problems with ear infections and he eats normally. Hang in there, it will get better. He will eat again when he feels better, there is absolutely no need to push him to eat. Remember to think about how you do not want to eat when you don't feel well. You survived and so will he. Good luck and I wish you a house full of happiness once the tubes are put in his ears!!! It will make a world of difference!

He really will be fine. For the first full year they get all that they need from breastmilk or formula--food at this age is just for practice, not nutritian. I know it's hard not to worry, but try to be patient. Offer food once or twice a day but don't force the issue. When he feels better he'll come back to it. Hugs!