Really could use some help! Re: eating & diaper rash..

ertopp

DD is almost 18 months and she BARELY eats all day.  I have completely cut out all junk, chips, etc because I would get so mad when she would eat a stack of chips but wont eat lunch. So we took all snacks and junk away (my parents did too once they realized I wasn't being dramatic and she really doesnt eat) Anyway, this has been going on for months.  This is our day:

When she gets up I give her water - then about 35min later she has breakfast. I will make eggs, or oatmeal or waffles or toaster struddel(sp?) etc.  I like to give her different things until I know what she really likes.  She will maybe eat 3-4 bites of egg and some cheerios but then is standing in her highchair saying "all done" The minute I put her down she immediately runs to the fridge and whines because she wants her sippy of milk.  She will have that milk gone in an instant.  Breakfast is usually around 9 or 930am. 

Around noon I will try lunch. Somedays she will share some mac n cheese with me or eat a few bites of a chicken strip but thats really all. Then she rarely eats dinner - Like yesterday she didn't have any dinner because she wouldnt eat any of it. I even tried different things to eat but she just wanted to run around.  She doesn't act sick, and she has so much energy. My mom says "she's too busy to eat"

I talked to the Pedi about it and she said to make her sit in the highchair until she eats. HA! For my sanity I just let her run around while I eat.

Does anyone elses child eat like this? Do you think I should cut down on her milk intake? Within a whole day she has like 5 sippys of milk because I feel she should have something since she wont eat!

 

-Now the rash. This month alone she has gotten 2 very horrible diaper rashes. The first one lasted 5 days and was actually getting blistered.  But then it just cleared up on it's own.  She has also been getting the diarhea (sp?) with it which I know is making the rash much worse.  This morning she has another one.  I do the soothing bath treatments like the dr said.  Kylie has never really liked juice - she is more of a water girl so that cant be making it worse.  Any suggestions for what this could be?

I have noticed that when she gets the rash she maybe eats 2 bites of food. So last time we did the BRAT diet and that seemed to help.

 

Sorry for this being so long - I just don't know who else to ask.  I have searched online and asked her pedi, but I don't seem to get any real answers.

Brewtowngrl

Move her to a booster where she is strapped in.  Ask her what she wants to eat.  They will eat when they are hungry.  getting 1-2 meals a day with a toddler is normal. 

Coat her butt with vaseline after every change to give her a protective coating.  Give her air time between diaper changes.  When DS gets really bad I CD till he clears up. 

 

NiniJ55

How much milk is in those 5 sippy cups? 5 sippy cups of milk seems excessive to me.  I wonder if she is full on milk and does not have room for food.  How about snacks between lunch and dinner?  Maybe she might like some fruit (banana, grapes, ect... not necesarily pureed), cherios or granola bar -- something else to get her munching. 

I would not let her eat while running around -- I really would keep meal times to the high chair unless it's just not possible.

On days that DS does not want to eat I do make exceptions and feed him while he is running around -- but that is not very often at all (usually only when he is sick I have this problem). 

Good luck.

ETA: I forgot to address the diaper rash issue.  While she has a rash I would use Desitin... to prevent rashes I use A&D oitment (you can also just use vaseline like PP mentioned, I would not use anything scented, though.) at every single diaper change. 

ertopp

Brewtowngrl:

Move her to a booster where she is strapped in.  Ask her what she wants to eat.  They will eat when they are hungry.  getting 1-2 meals a day with a toddler is normal. 

Coat her butt with vaseline after every change to give her a protective coating.  Give her air time between diaper changes.  When DS gets really bad I CD till he clears up. 

 

 

We have both a booster and highchair. When it's just her eating she uses the highchair. When we eat as a family she goes to the booster at the table but HATES it lol. 

I heard about putting the protective barrier. So you use vaseline.. hmmm I will pick that up for sure!  Thank you!

snicksnack

My DD follows a schedule for the most part but if she is hungry before I offer her a meal she goes to her chair and says eat.  With the exception of breakfast my DD is usually eating with other people and I think that makes a difference because she is a great eater and she likes doing what we are doing; also I am not a short order cook so she eats what is offered, although I do give her choices before making her meal especially at snack time.   She has three meals a day and one snack no junk I only give her whole foods for the most part so for example lunch could  be beans and veggies or a grill cheese and veggies. Since she has not had chips etc? she does not know what she is missing. Also, no toys or running around at the table I don?t allow it if she throws a fit she throws a fit, for the most part she does not since this is all she has ever known.  It is going to be hard but I think you need to start setting some ground rules before she gets out of control.  Your pedi is right by having her sit at the table you are teaching her that is where you eat.  I would tell her you eat at the table and set a time limit.  Once she stops eatting and the time has passed I would put her food away and let her down but no running around with food. Also, as the PP said, a booster may be your best bet since it allows her to sit at the table like you and be a big girl. 

 

As for the rash it could be the milk.  A sign of a dairy intolerance or allergy is diaper rash I would talk to your pedi.  He or she may have you try an elimination diet.

ertopp

NiniJ55:

How much milk is in those 5 sippy cups? 5 sippy cups of milk seems excessive to me.  I wonder if she is full on milk and does not have room for food.  How about snacks between lunch and dinner?  Maybe she might like some fruit (banana, grapes, ect... not necesarily pureed), cherios or granola bar -- something else to get her munching. 

I would not let her eat while running around -- I really would keep meal times to the high chair unless it's just not possible.

On days that DS does not want to eat I do make exceptions and feed him while he is running around -- but that is not very often at all (usually only when he is sick I have this problem). 

Good luck.

 

she drinks probably 26 ounces of milk a day (which her pedi said is perfect? - she is a whack) anyway, I give her that much because when I tried to NOT give it to her to try and get her to eat she woould just be cranky because she didnt want to eat and she was hungry. Maybe it's her gums too?

I also do snacks. She LOVES fruit and cheese. So we do things like that during the day

snansley

I would cut down on the milk personally.  All doctors are different, but I know ours suggests 12-16 ozs a day.  We serve lots of yogurt and cheese as well. I don't know if it makes a dfference, but we serve our milk with meals or a snack (he has to sit in his highchair to eat).  Maybe she is holding out for the milk? 

If she's having good snacks, I wouldn't get too concerned about her meals.  Just make the snacks "count" and serve mini-meals at snack time.

Bare butt time, baking soda baths and A+D orginal ointment help clear up rashes on DS.