Eating - Corpus Christi,TX

She'll be fine... Promise! My daughter has had two ear infections - she's almost 2 - and both times she went a day or two where it seemed she was living on air. She ate almost nothing - the doctor said that up to three days of eating very little is very normal. Just make sure she gets PLENTY of fluids - sounds like you're doing that already. She'll be okay - it's scary, but she will be.

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I swore by PediaSure when my son got sick as a little tyke. It gives them the vitamins and minerals they need in a nutritious and tasty drink. I always got chocolate, because - like me - he is a chocoholic. He only thought of it as chocolate milk, so there were usually no arguments. Now he knows the difference, but when he's not feeling too hot, he'll still drink it, and he's 11.

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It's very very normal for appetite to completely go away when a person is sick, and a couple days of not eating at ALL is fine as LONG as you're keeping her hydrated. Juice and broth (chicken broth in a sippy is fantastic sneaky-food, btw)have enough calories and nutrients to get her through.

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Well, don't worry, that's very normal for a sick kid. My DD is having a cold & she wouldn't eat any of her favorite foods anymore. All she wants to eat is bread, cookies & some juices. that's all! I leaned to ease out & eventually she will get back to her eating routine. Just remember to give her her daily vitamins (as these might increase her appetite )
If all she wants to have is milk & gold fish, then do it, at least it's better to make them eat something than nothing at all
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Hope she gets well soon:)

I went thru the same thing with my 2 year old at the beginning of the year when she was sick.

My mom told me a story about a little girl she treated in the hospital along time ago and how she did not eat anything for days. One day my mother offered her ice cream. This helped the little girl recover.

I did the same. I went and bought ice cream, yogurt sticks (froze them) and popsicles which had vitamin C. She started with the ice cream and then ate the yogurt sticks.

She is in pain and doesn't feel well - her appetite will pick back up in a few days. A few days of not eating much will not hurt her. Try not to worry! And keep giving her liquids - that is good. Hope she feels better soon!

carnation instant breakfast. I don't eat when I am sick either so give her that for nutrition and keep letting her eat goldfish. Its not good for her but its better than nothing. I can't think of the name of it but there is an infant drink designed to keep their nutrition level up if they aren't eating. maybe another mom will know the name.

Don't worry about her not eating right now. Her little body will bounce back & be ready to eat soon. I've heard to stay away from dairy products when running a fever.

She probably just feels bad. One or two days without eating much is not going to stunt her growth.

Fluids are the most important thing, so long as she is drinking, I would not worry about it.

Totally normal!! When my kids are sick and don't eat, I worry, but the day they get over the illness, they literally eat enough to make up for all they missed! Weight loss is not an issue once this happens. I think the other posters had great ideas that I have tried too (I like the Instant Breakfast or chocolate milk idea for my kids, personally), and my kids also eat popsicles when they're sick, which you might try. Otherwise, a fun soup with Dora shapes (Campbell's makes this) or any other liquids is the best way to go. It will pass soon, I promise!

My son had his tonsils out and he did not eat any kind of food at all for 2 weeks exactly, he only had water. The doctor said as long as he was getting fluids its o.k. Most normal people do not like to eat when they get sick. There is no reason to panic over your child not eating for a few days. It will be o.k

If you ever had an ear infecion you would know that it hurts to swallow, even yawn. Let the medication get int he system at times 3 days, believe me she will let you know that she is ready to eat, drink and be merry again.

How about applesauce (w/sprinkles perhaps), and, as someone mentioned, freezer pops or the all-fruit popsicles. Homemade smoothies too - juice, bananas, berries, melon. Getting enough fluids is whats important.

Take care, A.

alot of times we don't want to eat because an ear infection hurts down to our lower jaw and sometimes to the side of our neck.. I have had ear infections often due to sinus, I get so congested that all the pressure goes to my ears. I take a pain reliever for pain but the real problem is sinus so I have to be on constant allergy medicine and I sometimes put on a hot towel on my check and ear for pain. I am more prone to ear infections during winter so I make sure that I wear a beanie that covers my ears that really helps alot. I hope this helps as to why your daughter may not be eating or moving her head alot its cuz the pain travels down. It really is painful.

Do you eat when you're sick? I doubt it. don't expect her to eat until the ear infection is cleared up. Continue to give her easy to digest and tasty foods such as yogurt and gold fish. She may lose a pound but she'll quickly gain it back once the infection is gone.

Don't worry, that is normal behavior when our little one's have an ear infection. My son who is also 2 does the same thing. Also, the antibiotic may have an initial side effect of loss of appetite, which will pass after she is on it a few days. Her appetitie will come back once the medicine starts kickin in.

L. :)