Mommies of 2 year olds ~ eating issues

Even before DS got his flu shot 3 weeks ago, he was beginning to be finnicky with his eating. After the flu shot, he developed a cold, started daycare and just stopped eating the majority of the things he used to love to eat. During the past three weeks he's been living on Pediasure, yogurts, milk, cereal, waffles, etc...he'll eat of course anything sweet that you give him. For the past few days he has developed diarrhea...now, even if he has anything to drink, it flies right through him. I called the ped and I'm waiting for a call back, but I'm beginning to get worried. He used to eat EVERYTHING! Even steak at 18 months! Now, I'm lucky if he takes a spoonful of oatmeal. I understand that toddlers enter this difficult stage of wanting to be independent and eat what they want to eat, etc. but I think there is a possibility that maybe he caught some kind of a stomach flu or something. He has no fever, but does have a runny nose and is very phlegmy...is it possible that this is all from the cold?

Message edited 10/19/2009 1:21:31 PM.

Re: Mommies of 2 year olds ~ eating issues

DS eats like this most of the time, but there have always been a lot of foods/textures he avoids, esp. meat. This does sound like a drastic shift even for a toddler, I think you would see a more gradual rejection of certain foods.

Perhaps DC has a sore throat with the cold? DSs appetite gets even worse when he has a cold, especially if his throat appears red. I would keep DC on soft foods until you hear he is fine, maybe he's having a hard time swallowing.

DC will be fine--DS eats like a pig when he feels better, hopefully yours will too.

Re: Mommies of 2 year olds ~ eating issues

my son did this. got sick right after his seond birthday (and he has blood sugar issues from birth) so he is up and veryt lethargic one morning. i checked his sugar and it was 49.. (normal is 60-120) needless to say, i was panicking... gave him milk, which he normally drinks, and a chcolate chip cookie which is one of his favorites. he's always been a picky eater. got the blood sugar back up to normal. and that was it. he stopped eating his normal staple foods, no baby food, no yogurt, no granola bars, no prezels... nothing.

took him to the ped (who granted was more worried about his low blood sugar) and he said to me "if all he will eat are cookies and milk, give him cookies and milk" when i spoke to his endocrinologist about it, she said try milkshakes, they have fat, protein, milk, etc... granted high in sugar, but they offer some of the things he needs. try the carnation instant breakfast or pediasure... just make sure he is eating and don't get nuts over it. if he wants cookies, let him have them if thats all he will take.

took about 4 months total for him to go back to his normal diet. it was probably 2 months of milkshakes, milk and cookies though. i offerd the other stuff and he just wouldn't touch it. then one day he took a yogurt again... then a few weeks lter he ate a grnaola bar... and by 4 months he was back to eating his normal diet, or close to it.

never had another episode of low blood sugar... but still eats a super limited diet and he's 6.5 now.

it will improve... as long as he's eating, don't get nuts over it. it'll just stress you out and stress him out as well.

Re: Mommies of 2 year olds ~ eating issues

My son was the SAME way. He is 3.5 now and right around 2 stopped eating many of the foods he once loved for no reason at all. His diet consists of only a few things and he refuses to try anything new. UGH, its a battle. It's totally normal though, I have a friend who is going through the same thing with her son. I was (and still am) a picky eater and I hope my son grows out of this quick. Hopefully this phase ends soon for you and me!!

Re: Mommies of 2 year olds ~ eating issues

When Christopher is sick he doesnt eat a damn thing. I know it is stressful but I'm sure he will be back to his old self in no time!