my 6 month old had her immunizations yesterday. She was a little cranky yesterday, and got a little warm, never over 100.7 rectal temp.. BUt she's not eating very much when she nurses, and wouldn't take a bottle today (ate at 7:30 and only took 2 oz from bottles until 2pm when she nursed). My hubby who is staying home w her today had to bring her to me and she did nurse, but only on one side, not both like usual. She's not cranky or anything today, just not very hungry. Smiling, hanging out, sleeping ok.
When do I start to worry?
PLEASE no immunization debate or scare tactic horror stories, I make my own informed decisions on that issue and am not asking for advice on whether I should or should not get the immunizations.
Whenever my child is feeling ill or out of sorts, it takes a whole week before she gets her appetite back.
Loss of appetite is just one moderate symptom that her body is reacting properly to the vaccines. Her body thinks she's under attack by live nasties, and is responding as if she's sick. A bit distressing to watch as a parent (don't we want our kids to eat robustly at every feeding?), but completely normal. As long as she's apparently happy, there is no reason for concern. If she gets a little cranky, baby acetaminophen should set things right.
Additionally, many babies start having low-appetite days somewhere during their first year. So the timing could be coincidental. Maybe she's already had some low-appetite days that you hardly noticed because there were no recent medical treatments. Usually after a few days of eating less, the appetite returns with renewed vigor. You might consider pumping a bit extra until her appetite comes back to make sure your milk supply doesn't decline.
Sounds 100% normal to me!
Give her a few days. She'll get her appetite back.
Both of my kids were blah the day after immunizations. I would call the pedi if her appetite doesn't come back by mid-day tomorrow.
I felt blah a couple days after my last boosters (Pertussis & Tetnus).
ETA- She could be going through a slow (albeit brief) down in growth making her not as hungry and it coincidentally coincided w/the immunization schedule. Or... first tooth? ☺ My daughter was that young when she had her first 2 started to pop.
When your immune system goes into overdrive it shuts off your digestive system.
Your digestive system uses up the 2nd largest expenditure of your daily calories (not being a "puddle" but actually sitting or standing uses up the most... even running 3 miles only uses up apx 1-3%... most of the energy used is your heart beating, lungs breathing, sitting, and digesting food for more energy.). When your immune system kicks on, your central nervous system YANKS the energy it uses to digest foods and funnels it to the immune system (ditto, that's why you're lethargic/tired when you're sick... it's not the illness... it's your immune system hijacking the energy your muscles normally use).
Which is why you WANT a lethargic / not eating baby or child after getting vax'd. It means their immune system has kicked on full force and is busy creating antibodies, replicating them, and storing the blueprints for future use. It means their system is WORKING. Boosters, you usually don't get the same tired/not hungry response, because your body already has the blueprints on file and just sends them straight to production in your bone marrow and thymus.
Have you tried to give her some tylenol to help with the discomfort? Hopefully if she is more comfortable she will feel like eating.
If she has a mild fever, she may feel out of sorts or just have a headache. Kids are tough, and can be really sick without even acting cranky. It may or may not even have to do with the shot.
The only worry would be hydration. It sounds like she is drinking some - but does she have wet diapers? If she is on solids, will she eat her favorite foods?
I would probably give it a day, assumning no behavior changes and some drinking. But if you are worried about her hydration, check on minimum number of ounces needed with the nurse.
Sounds normal and if that's the only thing, even with a low-grade fever, I wouldn't worry. She should be back to normal in a day or two. Good luck!
It usually takes a few days. Just make sure she stays hydrated, try giving her a little pedalite. And the tylenol does help too. Good luck
Ditto on the tylenol suggestion. I wouldn't worry until tomorrow to be honest about the light appetite. I know for me, when I'm coming down with something I don't want to eat much & from what I understand, a couple of days following immunizations can make babies/kids feel the same type of way.
It's perfectly normal to have a decreased appetite after receiving a vaccination. It doesn't seem that she's "not hungry" just that she's eating less. That should improve within 1-3 days.
Peg M. is exactly right.
