My Daughter Is Sick And Won't Eat

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My Daughter Is Sick And Won't Eat

by Joanne Adams
(Birmingham )

My daughter is 3 1/2 months and she is sick quite bad. She now refuses to eat. She had her last bottle at half six pm last night.

I have tried to give her one and she is just being sick on it an she is gaging in it. She even gags on her dummy. What do I do please?

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My Daughter Is Sick And Won't Eat

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Jan 27, 2009

Advice for Infant That Won't Eat
by: Liz

Poor baby. I don't know what time of the day you wrote this message, but such a young baby shoul dof course a lot more often than one time in a day.

A really sick baby may refuse to eat for different reasons, but you must still get liquid into her. If she has no appetite, she still at least needs some oral electrolyte solution, so she stays hydrated. That is extremely important!

Some times a sick baby may not want to drink because she can't breathe. If she has a stopped up nose, you may want to use saline nose drops.

You can make these by adding 0.5 teaspoons of table salt to 1 cup of boiled water. After the solution has come to room temperature, put one drop in each nostril then suck with the 1 ounce rubber syringe (suction bulb). Do this before each feeding and at bed time. This will make it easier for the child to breathe.

Other reasons your baby may not want to eat are a sore throat and nausea.

Ask your doctor for advice regarding Tylenol, if you think your baby may be in pain, or her fever is so high that she doesn't want to eat for that reason.

If she gags on formula or breast milk, try with the oral electrolyte solution (rehydration solution) and maybe only a teaspoon at the time. Babies that have a stomach bug or even just a bad cold with a lot of mucus, may vomit very easily if they eat too much.

Start feeding your baby rehydration solution immediately. If you can't go out to buy any, you can make your own rehydration solution by boiling 6 teaspoons of sugar and 0.5 teaspoons of table salt in one litre (4.5 cups) of clean water.

If your baby appears dehydrated, (tired, doesn't urinate or urine is dark yellow), start feeding her 2 teaspoons of the solution every five minutes and at the saame time call the doctor for advice.

You need to feed her even if she is asleep. Take her up, hold her in an upright position and gently push the spoon into her mouth. You can wake her up just a little bit to make her swallow. Keep going.

I sat with my daughter doing this many hours at night when she had a stomach bug. The ER told me I could do this at home or in the hospital. Same procedure. I stayed at home, and she slowly got better.

I understand that this may sound very scary, but with a little baby that doesn't eat, one really has to act. Dehydration is very dangerous for them.

I hope your daughter is better soon and not dehydrated.

Warm wishes,

Paula

Feb 07, 2009

my 19month year old baby
by: ana

Hi my baby has been sick for 4 days she has been vomiting and having diarrha for the past 3 days when she was sick today she pooped 3 times it was wet but the color was a lite yellow i am not so sure if she is dangersly dehydrated her lips are fine she does still drink a little bit of water and still eating food but the thing is she loves the brest she has always loved it since she came out of the hospital when she was born. before she got sick she still didn't like to eat that much but still drank water but now she still does drink water but not as much as before.

Please help i hope you help me solve my problem.

THANK YOU
ANA

Feb 08, 2009

Baby Help Line Advice
by: Baby Help Line

Hi Ana, Your baby sounds like she may have a virus. They usually can last from 7-10 days. As long as your baby is taking in fluids she should be okay. You may want to try giving her an electrolyte solution such as pedialyte. This will help replenish vitamins that she may lose while sick.

Make sure you stay away from fruit juices until she does not have diarrhea anymore. If she starts to vomit or have diarrhea immediately after drinking then try giving her small amounts of fluid frequently. Start with 2 teaspoons every five minutes. If she is able to keep this liquid down for an hour, double the amount and wait 15 minutes between drinks.

If she can't retain any clear liquids or if the symptoms become more severe, notify your pediatrician. They will examine your child and may order blood and urine tests or X rays to make a diagnosis. Occasionally hospital care may be necessary if dehydrated.

LIZ

Jul 15, 2009

May have ear infection
by: Anonymous

you may also want to have her ears checked because the sucking on the bottle will hurt their ears and may stop them from eating. Good luck! Laura.

Jan 15, 2010

My 15 month old is sick
by: Anonymous

Hello, my baby is 15 months and she has been sick for about four days. She has had fever, vomiting and diarrhea. She now has sores in her mouth and her gums bleed easily. Her gums are also swelling up. We took her to the doctor and the doctor said she was fine and just teething, but the symptoms are getting worse and she is not wanting to eat. I really do not know what to do. I though it could be Trush or HFMD but she does not have those symptoms. Please help, our doctor says to see if it gets better but she is not eating or drinking.

Jan 15, 2010

Back to the doctor...
by: Baby Help Line - Paula

Hi,

If she isn't drinking she risks dehydration. I would take her back to the doctor if the condition has deteriorated. Have you tried any teething gel, or is she sore all over her mouth?

You could try letting her use a straw, try humid liquid, try liquid on a spoon...

In any case, if she really won't drink, you need help.

Wish you good luck,

Paula

Mar 12, 2010

22month old wont eat.
by: Sharee

Hi, I have a 22 month old daughter. She has an inner ear infection and a swollen throat. She hasn't eaten in 2 days now. she is still drinking milk and juice, just no food. What can i give her to make her eat something?

Oct 28, 2010

MY 6MONTH BABY
by: Anonymous

HI MY BABY IS NOT SICK, SHE SMILES AN PLAY LIKE ALL WAYS BUT SHES NOT EATING. I HAVE TRY TO GIVE HER BOTTLE BUT SHE JUST WONT TAKE IT

Jul 31, 2011

my baby keeps crying
by: lhorla

My baby is 6months + and has been sick for a week,she has temperature,vomits immediately after eating,and keeps excreting,whenever she wants to excrete she cries a lot,I took her to a doctor,and he placed her on antibiotics and paracetamol,pls help can it be toothache or measles

Sep 11, 2011

Stomach bug and other options
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi,

If your daughter throws up every time she eats and also has diarrhea, it sounds more to me like a stomach bug than teething or measles. But I am not a doctor.

When the pediatrician put her on antibiotics, didn't he tell you why? If think you should call up the doctor's office immediately and ask them.

Also, even if your baby is now on medication, you really have to watch out for dehydration, and make sure you give her liquid often, but very little each time (a couple of tea spoons) to prevent the vomiting. Keep giving her fluid every 5.10 minutes until she starts wetting her diapers again.

Hope this helps,

Paula

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