My 2.5 year old son was sick last week and barley ate anything

[Guest]

I’m new here and am looking for some much needed advice..

He’s feeling much better now but still will not eat. Today he ate half a bagel and 3 cookies - that’s IT. When I try to get him to eat he says I don’t want it and gets really frustrated/mad if I offer him ANYTHING.

I don’t know if it’s a mental thing now - I just don’t know what to do but I am so stressed out and wish he would just eat!

Any advice is so much appreciated.

[Denise]

I know when I've been sick it takes several days for my appetite to come back, so I expect the same to happen with my kids. Keep encouraging fluids and his appetite will catch up.

[Aly]

My daughter was sick last month and it took a couple weeks after her symptoms improved before her appetite came back.

[Hannah]

My son was sick about 2 weeks ago, he didn't eat much the days after. He wasn't eating tea or eating a few pieces of plain pasta (his safe food) and saying his tummy needed a rest, I just went with it. He is back to his normal now.

[Kristy]

Can you keep a bowl of pretzels/goldfish (or whatever he likes) out in a bowl in his play area? He might nibble at a few in his own time.