Help! My 14 Month Old Hasn't Eaten in 24 Hours!!!

Call your Doc.

Give him whatever fluids - dehydration is the biggest concern.

My Doc reccomends the BRAT diet when tummies are in trouble.

Banana's
Rice
Applesauce
Toast.

Toast is really good, heat up some toast and put a little butter. Let him smell it - it is hard to resist warm buttered toast once it is smelled.

M.,
Does your pediatrician know about the black,sticky diarrhea? If not I would call them today. That does not seem like normal diarrhea. My two sons had the stomach flu a year ago. It was a total nightmare. They were vomiting with diarrhea. It lasted for sooo long. At least a week. I think it was a rotovirus. I quess children who have that have very distinctive smelling diarrhea and it can last for 10 days. Anyways, my youngest son at the time was around 14 months as well. I took him to the pediatric urgent care to evaluate him for dehydration and they told me that I could keep nursing him and to also give him sips of 7UP. The Pedialyte tastes horrible so typically they will not drink it. They also told me that along with the typical BRAT diet(bananas,rice,applesauce,toast)for diarrhea to offer him pretzels, crackers, rice cereal(prepared with water), mashed potatoes, toast, pasta without butter, cheerios and any other dry cereal. The idea is to keep it plain, not too much sugar,no whole grains only white bread, no butter, no fruit or veggies, and no dairy. Good luck, I hope he starts to feel better. It is horrible when they are sick and you feel helpless as a mother. Hang in there you are doing a good job!!!

My son once had a virus like this...took him to the doc and she said it was normal to have this kind of stomach virus to last 2 weeks. I couldn't believe it! It's really good you are able to get him to drink. I think I would definitely check back with the doc if it's been over 2 weeks. My son's poop was never black...and with all of the Samonella scares (don't know if this is definitely what this is...but), I would be asking if they could test a stool sample at some point.

Hope he feels better soon!

If it was me call the Doctor again... Do not wait..... And if he will not do anything and you are still worried go to the ER...

S.

Just a quick addition:
My ped said the same thing, not uncommon for this kind of virus to last up to 2 weeks... but to keep the liquids flowing. He always tells me, the food will come when he's ready.

If you're going to give Lucas gatorade, be sure to dilute it 1:1 (1 part water to 1 part gatorade). Gatorade is high in sugar and that high concentration of sugar will aggrevate the diarrhea.

Have you tried the BRAT diet? Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. Don't use applejuice though, it'll bring on severe diarrhea... I know from my own personal experience with a stomach/intestinal virus! Apple juice is high in sugar and will irritate the bowels and cause severe diarrhea.

YOu could put the applesauce in a cup and give him a straw to drink it with... tell him it's an apple shake. If he's drinking, but refusing to eat from a fork or spoon, maybe a straw will suffice!

As other moms have said, if your gut is telling you Lucas needs more medical care, take him to see your ped or to the ER.

Good luck!
L.

My opinion is see another doctor or take him to the ER to be checked out.

You definitely want him to stay hydrated, which is hard sometimes with him having diarrhea for so long. Black and sticky stool can mean blood in the stool.(not trying to scare you, just letting you know) Is it like tarry? Does it have a foul odor? Does he run fever?

try pedalite for 12 hours straight and that should help get him back on track. Did you tell the pedatrician about the type of poop too? if not call again and tell them. DOes he have soars in his mouth? Look in his mouth and see if there anythign in there too.
by 10 days or if he look dehydrated get him back to the dr
J.

As others said, I would call the Dr. about the black and sticky poop, but it's probably just part of the virus. My 17 month old son had the stomach flu at 14 months with vomitting and diarrhea. What type of liquids is he drinking? We found that water made it worse but pedialyte and gatorade helped. As long as he stays hydrated, he will be fine. My son did not eat anything at all for 3 days but that's just what his body needed. When he was ready, he starting eating again. At the time, he was only in the 5th percentile for weight, so when he lost weight we were nervous. But, he quickly gained it all back and more and is doing great. Hope Lucas feels better soon. Poor guy.

Take him to the ER and have him get checked.
take a fresh sample of pooh and have them examine it.
I don't like the fact that the pooh is black.
Take care

If your dr is not telling you to take him in, then I would not panic too much. Keeping them hydrated while sick is most important and you're obviously doing that if he still is using the restroom regularly, good results or not. I did want to respond though to tell you my neice had a different issue with being "scared" to have bowel movements. And I know from alot of experience even one day of irregular restroom activity in a child can cause weeks of stomach upset and that equals no appetite! As for the unusual or new symptoms, go with your gut. If you don't trust your dr or aren't happy with the course he or she is telling you, by all means, take him somewhere else or insist on them seeing him again. Hope he is better soon! Good luck!

It's normal for a sick child to loose his appetite, but the black sticky stool is definitely worth another call to the doctor. Usually diarrhea produces stools that are lighter in color, even yellow or green. A black stool could mean (don't panic) blood higher up in the bowel. Give the doctor another call and see what she thinks.

Call the doctor now if they will not see you. Call a different doctor such as a gastor endrologist. Push they to help both of you.

If he's having this much diarrhea then his electrolytes are almost certainly off, give him some Gatorade or pedialyte to drink. As far as food just give him anything and everything you can think of he might want to get him eating something! Try getting him to eat something before he has some of his liquids, those liquids will make you feel full fast. GOOD LUCK!!

Is he in daycare? If so there is a virus that is spreading like wildfire. So bad that the health dep. has sent out papers on it. The virus starts with an S but it's a long name I can't pronounce or remember. If he has this then the only way to get rid of it is antibiotics for ten days and then he has to stay out of daycare for the whole time. It's so bad that when they find out if that's what it is the health dep. has to be notified. I would get him in with a sample today!
H.

Hi M.:

As I see you've gotten lots, and lots of great advice... I agree with all... keep the liquids coming, call your doctor, and most of all i just wanted to wish you and Lucas the best, I hope this passes soon, and he can once again be a happy healthy little boy. Best Wishes.

Hi M.. My 15-month-old (3rd child)recently had a similar stomach virus. He took in plenty of fluids, but it was a good 10 days before he really got his appetite back. See if he will take PediaLyte. My little one likes the apple cold and diluted a little. Or apple juice. As for the black sticky poops, I'd call your pediatrician on that one to make sure there's no blood in his stool (not to freak you out).
Hope it helps!
-A. T.

I would definitely go to the doctor a.s.a.p. Black poop is not good. It could mean there is blood in his stool. Please keep us posted.

That is very scary! My little one is actually battling the diarrahea right now too! So I know the boat that you are in! And it is certainly no Disney Cruise! I would definitely take him back and make sure they test his poop. Black and sticky Belle had only one time..then it went back to yellow and gritty. Belle is getting hers tested today. We have been on the Brat Diet as well. Our doctor told us the very most vital thing to do at home is A LOT of liquid. Lots and lots. Keep an eye on his pee to make sure it is not getting to concentrated and that when he cries..you see tears. Poor little man, I know it is hearbreaking...best wishes to Lucas (and to you!) for a speedy recovery!

M.

Viruses are nasty. They do have to run its course but If I were you and I was as worried as you are I would go for a second opinion. You are your son's best advocate. Utilize your six sense (woman's intuition) and keep questioning until you feel deep down you are satisfied with the answers given.

Get a specialist opinion in the Pediatric field. Go to
Children's Memorial Hospital for a referral.

Most of all stay calm Children sense worry and concern and Lucas already is dealing with physical problem and doesn't understand what it is all about. Best of luck. S. K

Keep him with gatorade or pedialyte, and add some acidophilus into his drink. That will help limit the diarrhea, gas, and cramping. Do it several times a day until he starts to feel better. Stay away from prune juice or apple juice.

My pediatricin gave me this advice, and it worked like a charm. Just use an adult capsule and dump the powder inside into his drink and shake it up, but make sure he drinks it all. You can also put some of the powder on his bink.

You can also do the 'poop' exercises with his legs, bicycling them, and pushing his thighs into his belly one at a time to help relieve gas pressure.

When he gets hungry again, start with easily digested foods like soup, bananas, toast, etc.

Good luck, I know it's so sad when you're little guy is sick and you can't help him! But it will pass!

Take him back to the ped and have them do a stool sample. Bring one of his dirty diapers with you so that they can get what they need. I have noticed that virus' do take the full 10 days, as I have been there before. My son didn't eat for three days when he had the flu, and had bad diarrhea for 5 days. It was awful but we were able to get him to eat applesauce, and lots of pedialyte. I am so sorry you are going through this as I know how scary it is. Just make sure he really is getting lots of liquid, (more than normal, and more than you think he can take).