Milk~Cake~Teeth~Growth Spurt????

Updated on July 06, 2007
T.P. asks from Everett, WA
10 answers

My son just turned 1 and of course, he dug into his birthday cake and loved it. Unfortunately the next day he had really bad diarrhea and he's had for about a 5-6 days now. Over the last month or two, I started giving him more sweets (like a cookie or bites of cake from time to time, not alot)so that his body could get ready for a whole baby birthday cake but it seems like it didn't work. He also started drinking regular milk during the middle of June (his birthday is at the end of June) He loved it! Just yesterday, I noticed that he has a tooth about barely poking through his gums and it also seems like he's gotten taller lately.
So the problem is my son barely ate anything yesterday. He usually porks out and loves eating anything, but he barely ate any of his cheerios, he threw all of his sandwich on the floor (he atleast ate his banana) and he kept refusing to eat anything else the rest of the day including drinking his milk last night. It seems like something is wrong, but I'm not sure what. Could it be that his stomach is still upset from the cake? Or is it because of his teeth and it hurts to chew? Or is it a growth spurt that is making him not feel good? He has his one year check up on the 13th. Should I take him in before then?

Also, how much milk did your one year old drink during transition form formula to milk?

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So What Happened?

Thank you to everyone who posted a response. My son is feeling much better, his appetite came back and his doodies are no longer runny. He finally did cut a tooth (his 3rd one on top) and it looks like there is gonna be another one really soon. To answer the question about water, I do try and give him plenty of water but it was a good reminder that because of the diarrhea, I should be giving him more. Thanks again.

Have a great day.

More Answers

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C.M.

answers from Eugene on

When we started our daughter on cow’s milk she did not want to eat as much because she was filling up on milk. So now we offer it only after dinner. We make sure she gets plenty of other dairy with her meals like yogurt and cheese. We also don’t give her water until after her meal or snack. This way she fills up on food and not liquid. There are days when she eats everything we put in front of her and others where she only takes a bite or two all day. She is still gaining weight and is a happy healthy girl so we try not to worry about it. She does eat less when she is teething. We offer her more frozen foods when she is cutting teeth and it helps her teeth and gets more food in her tummy. Frozen yogurt pops, frozen fruit pieces, and ice cubes are her favorite. We try to always offer healthy foods so even if she only eats one meal I know it was a good one. I hope this helps and good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from Spokane on

I have a 1-1/2 year old, and right now he's getting in two more bottom teeth. Everytime he cuts teeth, his eating habits diminish. As for the loose b.m., he sometimes gets that when teething, but not as badly as you describe it. I think I would heed the advice of the rest of the moms, and take him in for a dr. visit. They might ask for a stool sample, so I would take one with you if you can - it would save you some time. Best of luck, hope your little one feels better soon!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Portland on

I would call the pediatrician if you're still concerned. It may be his tooth coming in. Banannas are usuallu easier to eat because they're soft.
i think he'll be ok, but i called the doctor whenever i got worried and the advice nurse would tell me if i should bring him in or not. And you can always take him to put your mind at ease!
K.

p.s. I just read one of the other mom's comments and not to put her down or anything, but DO NOT give him gatorade. Try Pediatite or something equal to it. He needs the electrolytes. If you don't have that, you also dillute apple juice ( or grape, orange, etc.) with water. I give my son 50-90% water, and the rest is juice. He likes it. it has a little flavor, but he's drinking moslty water. You can also give him plain water too of course! Just make sure he stays hydrated- the the most important thing.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.K.

answers from Spokane on

T.-

I don't think that there is any reason you need to take him in before his one year appointment on the 13th. And I wouldn't worry too much about him not eating, if he's hungry he will eat. I would try maybe a half hour before you try and feed him to put some numbing medicine on his teeth. It could be his growth spurt that is causing it, however when my son went through his growth spurts he ate non stop. I really don't think that the cake had anything to do with it, my son NEVER had sweets before his first birthday cake and he tolerated it just fine. I think the diarrhea could be linked to the teething. Also it took my son a couple of weeks to get used to the regular milk when I switched him from breastfeeding to the milk...he never had formula so I'm not sure if switching from formula might be a little different. But when starting the transition my son would only drink small amount of the whole milk....probably 1 and a half cups over the entire day.
Well I hope I was of some help to you, good luck and I'm sure he will pick up eating again as soon as he feels a little better.

B.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.L.

answers from Seattle on

I don't think you need to take him early. One of the circumstances you mentioned above alone could cause diareah or not wanting to eat...the combination of them could just be a little more than he can handle. If he won't drink milk, I would try to get him to at least drink water or something like gerber liquilites (pedialite is aweful tasting, but gerber is good...or gatorade maybe) so that he doesn't get dehydrated. He will eat when he is hungry. I have a boy who will be 3 in a couple weeks. I can tell you this...he ate lots as a baby, whatever i put in front of him and he gobbled it all up...as a toddler, he refuses almost everything, especially if it isn't familiar. I was a picky eater as a child, so I guess i had it coming to me, but I guess my point is that kids taste for things seems to change a bit from baby to toddler years (or at least their attitued toward WHAT they are tasting). Babies WON'T starve themselves. Sometimes might wonder if htey will, but they never do...and it won't last forever. Just make sure that he is drinking something. One trick I used with my son when he has been sick and won't drink anything is to put water in a medicine suringe and force it down him that way (so I knew he wouldn't dehydrate-sounds like that is your main concern). Good luck! It won't last forever.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.W.

answers from Anchorage on

Your kid eats what his body needs. If he is growing it will eat alot. Teething gives diahrea. Being slight sick gives it too. Just makes sure it doesnt stay long and give him the proper foods to clog it up. Cheese works well. have you tried string cheese with your kid? Maybe a tiny fruit bowl with alot of cheese in it? You know make it fun. They will eat it.
I had 4 girls. I aloud them to drink as much milk as they wished. They need it badly because there bones are being built and you dont want to weakin it by limiting milk.
Hope it helps and Take care

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J.M.

answers from Seattle on

You gave him sweets to prepare him for his birthday cake? That's a new one for me. If it's true diarhea (liquid stool not just loose stools), I think you should call the pediatrician IMMEDIATELY. Eight days is WAY too long to wait considering his been sick for such a long time already. Food poisoning lasts for 24 hours. An upset stomach usually doesn't last more than three days. A full week is too long. You don't say if you've been giving him water or anything other than milk to drink but if not, dehydration could be a serious problem.

I used a half and half (half a bottle of formula to half a bottle of milk) system to get my little ones used to the milk and I just gave the bottles at the regular time.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

To me, it sounds more like a bug. If he's truly been this sick for 8 days and is lethargic there is reason for concern. Call the pediatrician and/or speak to the advice nurse.

I've usually hesitated to call the advice nurse thinking that my symptoms will go away and they usually do. But I have advanced cellulitis now because I didn't call the advice nurse. The cellulitis is up my leg in only 1 1/2 days. I will always call her now when I sense something is wrong. I think if I were a new mother I would put her number on my speed dial.

He cannot still be upset by the cake. And I've never heard of anyone getting sick eating sweets unless they've eaten a very large amount. They usually vomit and it's over with. My granddaughter has gone overboard on sweets and she only felt bad for a few hours.

I think you would know if the teething is bothering his system he would be very fussy and cry alot. The teething pain only lasts until the tooth erupts. Of course there is frequently another tooth trying to erupt.

What I understand from your message is that he has just started to refuse food and the digestive system seems to be your primary concern.

In my experience lactose intolerance does cause diarrhea and can upset the tummy for a short while after drinking milk or eating a dairy product. He would also be gassy and his tummy might look bloated. But this wouldn't go on for days without continued consumption of dairy products.

Lactose intolerance is not an allergy. It's the body unable to digest lactose. My granddaughter had an allergy to milk. We learned this when her mother switched to formula when she was 3 months old and started with the vomiting.She did projectile vomiting and possibly diarrhea. She outgrew the allergy. Babies often outgrow allergies because their body develops to the point that they can digest foods.

The reason for uncomfortable reactions to food allergies or lactose intolerance is that the stomach can't adequately digest the food. As they get older their body begins to develop the "chemicals" in their stomach so that they can now digest those foods.

I'm lactose intolerant and I didn't start having symptoms to notice until I was well into adulthood.
If I drink a glass of milk I will feel gassy and sometimes my stomach will feel queasy. One way to help find if that is the cause is to not give him any diary products for several days and see if his symptoms get less.

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A.M.

answers from Seattle on

The cake, milk, and teething can cause the diarrhea! Everytime my 16 month old son cuts a tooth he gets runny lumpy stool...(I know TMI) When we made the switch to milk from formula, we went from Lactose Free to full on milk, in one big swoop. He was getting 3 8oz bottles a day, now we are at about 2-3 sippy cups and 1 bottle at night to go to sleep. As for eating, I think its normal when the gums hurt they don't want to eat. Talan will only eat cold fruit like watermelon or apples when he is teething, and his sleep will be disturbed. But go with your gut if you think you should go in sooner then you should, mommies know their babies best!

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D.G.

answers from Portland on

I all good sweetheart...nine times outta ten ...it is his teeth and sumthin new in his mouth....plus now he is BIGGER...he is not a baby no more ...he is just gettin over the b-day party ...he is a little HUMAN now ...is how i judged things like that with my kids ....GOOD LUCK....

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