Tummy bug now terrible eating - help!

[buggie]

As above really - Bugglet (9.5mths) had a tummy bug over the w/e and a random vomit a few days ago. Obviously I'm expecting her to be a bit funny with food, but it feels like meals are turning into a bit of a battle with her flinging her arms/hands around to block any attempt to get food nearby. Even favourites such as weetabix & banana or veg & cheese sauce are barely being touched.

I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to try and remain upbeat & unbothered (she's seemingly unbothered by reducing her intake so drastically) and once she seems to loose interest I stop otherwise I can see a real battlefield would emerge.

Know lots will be reading this thinking "Ah, yes, been there & done that" so any advice or reassurance would be fab

**Disclaimer - PLEASE do not turn this into a traditional v's BLW - I do offer finger foods and she does take these ok, but majority ends up on the floor & as a v active 0.4-2nd centile lass she's got alot less to loose than some, so I'm not about to completely go for that**

[bluesuperted]

Hi Buggie,

We are BLW but just mentioning that so you know as totally understand your choice and that it's not for everyone!!

I just wanted to say that at pretty much exactly that age my LO stopped eating much at all in the way of solids having previously got really into it - everything was systematically thrown on the floor (and this was very enjoyable for him!). I put it down to teething but also read that it's hugely developmental for that age too - a real spike of throwing stuff off the highchair from a great height (think my source was the babycentre newsletter, not massively academic but other mums I know agreed that their LOs became (only temporarily) less interested in food at this point.

I would say - up her milk if you can (as you know, most of pre-1 year old nutrients come from breast or formula milk at this point) and offer her her favourites for a couple of days until her interest levels pick up again - sounds like you are doing all the right things to avoid a battlefield, so even though it's hard to not feel a bit stressed (lovely nutritious dinner on the floor or in the bowl, argh!) sure you are doing great. But in the knowledge you're offering lots of extra milk where you can. If I was doing this with E, I'd need to feed him at home for a few days to reduce distractions - and probably in a darkened room too!!

I hope this is some reassurance - I'm sure it will pass as quickly as it came on - when E had a tummy bug in February he went off his food lots as well but I guess that's less noticeable at 6 months. I've seen Bugglet being a great eater so I'm sure she soon will be again!

xx

[snowboarder]

Just v quickly - got to run - but little sb got funny with food around that age (not due to bug though) - the ellas pouches and pouch yogurts from sainsburys saved us somewhat as he would't take me spoonfeeding him and wouldn't really pick much up. He sucked them straight from the pouch (but just the fruity/veg ones). Worth a go?

[Ruth_Baldock]

This happened to Seb, and me really, after we had the novo-virus. I didn't feel like eating for a good 10 days, because I didn't really 'fancy' anything, so would pick at things and didn't have normal meals (very bad, considering I was pregnant as well!!!) and I also had the fear of being sick (err and the rest) all over again. I suspected the same about him. I continued to offer, with the assumption that he'd resume normal eating habits when he wanted to. Like the Bugglet, he was happy as larry and unphased at having less than his usual in take. After about a week he went back to normal, mainly by demanding my dinner...

One of the things that proved useful to bridge the gap from nil by mouth (by his choice) to total eating normality was smoothies. He went mad for them and it made me happy that he wasn't existing on air.

[buggie]

Thank you guys!

BST - did wonder if it could be development linked too as she does seem to be

learning/refining skills by the day & her morning naps are bit all over the shop at the mo

as well. She did feed herself a couple of spoonfuls, but for the 2 that went in, 2 went behind her ears, 3 on the floor and 1 over my top!

Think moving house/developmental leaps/gastroenteritis aren't good bed fellows!

Snowboarder - thanks for the pouch tip... Bugglet does like sucking/squeezing them into her mouth so will try that for lunch! Annoyingly she is v good with fruit & would happily eat berries all day (cripes knows the effect that could have on nappies - bleugh!).

[buggie]

Ooo - smoothies - could try the sippy cup again (anyone know where to buy sou'westers?!) :)

Feeling more relaxed than I was 1/2hr ago - thanks guys!

[supergolden88]

My little boy was exactly the same when in the middle of teething/bad cold. Would not eat anything but fruit pots/pouches. Was off his milk too. And frequently coughing made him throw up everything - especially bedtime milk feed.

But while I was tearing my hair out he was fine and 10 days or so later back to eating. I found taking him out to a cafe and feeding there was more successful that battling it out at home. Not so sure the cafe staff appreciated it.

[The Nappy Lady]

Buggie

Hang in there, I think most babies are very into solids at first as so 'exciting' to be allowed to put stuff in their mouths. Then the novelty wears off & it can all get very stressful.

Keep chanting 'under 1 it's just for fun' & keep giving her the milk & offering solids, stay chilled about it & try to sit with her & eat yourself at the same time - remember babies learn by copying. We all tend to sit & feed them or watch them eat which I'm sure puts them off!

Lovely to see you the other day.

Hugs, M

X

[Fuschia]

Mine all were fairly willing to eb spponfed for a bit then started refusing at various points (6m for ds1 who was weaned at 4mm, more like 9-10m for the twins)

Latest baby doesn't really countenance me feeding him at all, I think he has been watchinge verybody eat too much

[Moos]

Buggie, sounds you're back in a calm place and have had lots of good advice - just wanted to add my support. Bugglet will do great-I do remember Moosling chucking food about at that stage too. If you can relax and go with the flow, give her and especially yourself a break, don't spend lots of time cooking but offer extra-babyish / instant foods, smoothies, yoghurts and especially extra milk, and just let her take her time getting back to "progressing" to more advanced foods. xx

[Moos]

That wasn't a sentence, was it? Tut tut.

[buggie]

I understood it as a sentence Moos!

Interestingly lunch (albeit a pouch) was yomped down in record time - not holding my breath, but think she might have

realised how useful breakfast can be!

Thanks for all the advice/reassurance chaps! x