My son is 3 (4 in about 2 months) years old and weighs in at a whopping 34 pounds, at least he did until a week ago when he got sick - as of yesterday he was down to 31. We know he’s not eating because he feels terrible, but want to get him to gain some of that weight back quicker than slower. What are some suggestions for some high calorie foods/drinks that we can get him to start eating/drinking when he feels like eating again? We’ve been pushing anything and everything at him, he just won’t bite. Literally and figuratively. We’ve done smoothies thinking that it would feel better on his throat, the whole toast, soup, bland foods thing, etc. He actually ate a doughnut - we were all excited, then about 2 hours later coughed so hard he chocked and threw it up. I don’t care if it’s considered healthy or not at this point, we just want him to gain some weight and once he starts eating again, want foods that pack a punch both in calories and fat to help the little dude (of course he’ll get the regular healthy stuff too).
What suggestions you got for the little man? TIA
ETA: We have been to the doctor and he is now on Antibiotics, since Wednesday evening. He’s got a double ear infection, strep throat and bronchitis (with a mention of possible pneumonia). So hurts to eat, coughs so hard he throws up - this has only happened a couple of times - and just generally doesn’t want to eat. Got him to eat a granola bar this morning. Only thing he said he wanted. At this point, what he wants, he gets! And yes, we are pushing fluids as much as possible, this is just more for when he does start to eat again - we want to fatten the kid up.
Sorry to hear the little guy is struggling. From your message it sounds like he’s still sick? If so, I wouldn’t worry too much about getting the weight back on unless you think he is dangerously thin in which case you should be getting medical advice. Our toddler is a bit younger (2 and a half) but whenever she’s been a bit sick and slimmed down a bit, it seems to be followed by a period of eating everything put in front of her (even the vegetables!) and she soon fills out again.
While he is still sick, if he’s got a sore throat and is coughing up the solids, lots of liquids are good. Soups and smoothies. Guess you could try some milkshakes. How about those shakes they do for diet plans (Slimfast?)? They’re supposed to replace a meal so at least he’ll get some nutrition.
Hopefully he’s at the tail end of it. Had to hit up the doc and get on the antibiotics as he just couldn’t kick any of it by himself (ear infections, strep throat and bad bout of bronchitis (with possible pneumonia mentioned). It’s the first time he’s ever really been sick, so the first time he’s just stopped eating for so long and lost any weight. I’m assuming he’ll start eating everything, including the kitchen sink when he’s feels like it, I’d just like to fatten him up without his knowledge while he’s at it!
We made him a milkshake last night - didn’t go over very well and it went down the drain - neither my hubby nor I are willing to share those germs! Maybe a McDonalds shake would do it. Anything mom didn’t make!
I’m going on the assumption here that you’ve seen a doctor, if you haven’t, do so. All to often kids can be really sick but since they don’t really have the experience with sickness, don’t know how sick they are.
That being said, as other stated, until he’s well don’t worry about it. As long as you’re not looking at a fatal disease the body has a way of adjusting itself.
The biggest concern is always hydration rather then calories. Our son is diabetic so we have to struggle with blood sugars as well when he gets ill. His endocrinologist suggests simply giving him Gatorade, full boat, which he never gets because it has way to much sugar. We even water it down because it’s to sweet for him. Life water, pedialite, pediasure or anything that has a lot of fluids mixed with electrolytes. I’ve found a mixture of a diet clear pop and Gatorade type drinks seems more appealing to sick kids as well. Might have something to do with the carbonation, not sure.
If the illness is a stomach flu, diarrhea vomiting etc we try to get something down him with an active culture that helps replace the bacteria. Yogurt, Kiefer and other similar products. Kiefer is a drink and is easy to get down if you find the flavor the kid likes. For me personally I’ve found that eating that kind fo food with a stomach flu cuts off a day or two of stomach pains, gas, cramps etc which of course brings back the appetite sooner.
I would not do anything but the fluids and sugar, not fat or protein, calories on any stomach illness until the majority of the illness has passed and recovery is well on it way. Fats and proteins are harder to digest and if the kid is sick I’ve found that they just end up coming back up.
Hopefully he’s at the tail end of it. Had to hit up the doc and get on the antibiotics as he just couldn’t kick any of it by himself (ear infections, strep throat and bad bout of bronchitis (with possible pneumonia mentioned). It’s the first time he’s ever really been sick, so the** first time he’s just stopped eating for so long and lost any weight.** I’m assuming he’ll start eating everything, including the kitchen sink when he’s feels like it, I’d just like to fatten him up without his knowledge while he’s at it!
We made him a milkshake last night - didn’t go over very well and it went down the drain - neither my hubby nor I are willing to share those germs! Maybe a McDonalds shake would do it. Anything mom didn’t make!
The comments in bold above, bother me. How often do you weigh your kid? why do you want to fatten him up without his knowledge? Whats wrong with mom making something?
Maybe I am reading to much into this, but sounds like there is more to this story.
Yes - you are reading too much into this and no, there isn’t not more to the story. He’s 3. But to address your concerns:
He doesn’t ever get weighed unless he’s at the docs office. This is the first time he’s been sick, so this is the first time he hasn’t eaten for a whole week straight. He’s lost 10% of his body weight in a week and I feel a 3 year old needs to know nothing about it. So if I want to “fatten him up without him knowing about” - I’d like some ideas of some high calorie foods or combos that other kids like.
And seriously - we eat out of the house about 1-2 times a month. Anything mom doesn’t make is a huge treat because it’s SPECIAL!
Now - off to play crashing planets with the boys before they destroy the living room.
My 12-year-old son had a two week bout of pneumonia last fall. He’s pretty trim to begin with and so I was very concerned by the loss of weight that came with the illness. Similar story as yours – he just couldn’t keep anything down and at the worst of it, didn’t want to eat at all. I bought some high calorie Ensure which seemed to help a little. Once he was well, he gained the weight right back. Good luck; it’s scary when kids are sick like that – they are so not themselves.
I would abandon nutrition guidelines and just prepare kid foods that taste good - mac n cheese, chicken tenders, tater tots, mashed potatoes, grilled cheese sandwich, those Smuckers crustable PB & J’s, etc.
He’ll snap out of it soon. Sorry, that sounds like a horrible combo of illnesses at once. I probably wouldn’t eat either.
She’s worried about weight loss also. I am a father of three and I know from experience that when you have a sick child that what is obvious to other’s, such as having utilized two differently calibrated scales, may not be so obvious to the parent who is worried about the sick chid.
Our three year old recently made an er trip where he weighed 30. 48 hours later, at the pediatricians office he weighed 33.
You’re being an ass. She has a sick kid. She’s worried. Cut it out.
??? Not sure why he’s an ass. I’ve had the same problem with nurses being inconsistent. One time the nurse will weigh me with my shoes on and the next time in socks, then the doctor will ask about weight loss, and then say shoes, socks, it doesn’t matter. My kids even noticed when it happened to them with boots and then socks.
No; felt like he was trying to tell her that her kid’s not that sick / that she’s imagining things. Apparently I misinterpreted. Sorry, am tired from cycling perhaps.
Sorry to hear that your son is sick but you shouldn’t worry too much. Your son will bounce back pretty fast once he is well again. Compare it to when you got sick with a lengthy flu or a really bad cold and you didn’t feel like eating much. You dropped 7-10 pounds and once you started eating and drinking again your weight came right back. Your body won’t cut fat or muscle off that fast, if it did then everyone would enjoy being sick for a week As said in another post, keep him hydrated, pedialyte and some sort of child ensure just for calories if can hold it down, shoot any fluid he enjoys, like you said whatever he wants he gets. Most of the weight he is losing is water going out and not as much going back in. Once the drugs work their magic he’ll bounce right back.
As said in another post, keep him hydrated, pedialyte and some sort of child ensure just for calories if can hold it down, shoot any fluid he enjoys, like you said whatever he wants he gets. Most of the weight he is losing is water going out and not as much going back in. Once the drugs work their magic he’ll bounce right back.