Have you ever had this happen with one of your children?

Question

Our son has not been hungry for the last few weeks, and he has been constipated (hard stools every couple of days) despite all of the fiber I can get down him. He is happy to eat, and will eat what I give him, but he doesn't have the sensation of hunger. His doctor looked at him and listened to him breathe and felt of his stomache. She thinks he's just stressed about our upcoming move.

Have any of you had kids go through periods where they just weren't hungry? How long did it last?

Thanks.

Answer 1

had an allergy to something i couldn't digest (milk). didn't eat for long periods and was a picky eater etc

monitor his diet (and the ingredients) see if anything sits in his stomach stopping him from feeling hungry.

Answer 2

Yes, stress can do that.  Carnation instant breakfast drink in the flavored envelopes provides easily digestible protein with all of the required vitamins.  Might work better than shoving full meals down him when his stomach is being stubborn about feeling hungry enough to produce the acid needed to digest the heavier meals.  The nutritionist at the local hospital will give you advice for free about how to adjust his diet to increase more "soft foods" that are easily digestible until the move is over, and the stress lets up.

Answer 3

One of my sons goes through period of not eating very much.  He will only eat a few bites a meal.  This lasts a couple of weeks then he will eat normally again.  He also goes through periods of never getting full.  His appatite really matches up with his growth pattern.  He grows up and then out.  He gets tall and skinny and then rounds out a bit.  he has been that way for most of his life though.  One doc that my son saw, did tell us that kids won't starve themselves.  They will eat when they need to.  I hope that helps you feel a little better.  Another thought is that when some kids get stressed they get exsessive acid in their tummies.  My son does, we give him an acid reducer daily and he is able to eat more.  Good luck with your move.

Answer 4

Yeah I thought I was the only Mum with this problem lol

I had my Son at the dietician, he is getting a bit better with his eating, but its all about routine and little and often.

I have started giving my son a small bowl of cereal at 7:30 evrery morning, a piece of fruit at 10:00 then lunch at 12:00 then another piece of fruit at 14:00 then Tea at 16:00 and a slice of toast at 18:00 before he goes bed.

I know it seems a bit extreme but its all about kick starting there appitite, Last week my son woke up at 7:00 and was really hungry.

Also my little boy had been poorly previously so I gave him a tonic which seemed to of helped too.

As for the constipation make sure he has between 6-8 glasses of water of cordial per day this will help.

Good Luck x*x

Answer 5

Hi, one of my sons has gone through a period like this.  In fact he was a really fussy eater as well as a small eater.  It lasted a few months and I ended up going to the health store and buying him a vitamin supplement that stated would help increase his appetite.  Good news for us was that it worked.  Perhaps give that a go.  Good luck.

Answer 6

he's not hungry because the constipation has him full.

Get him a laxative

Answer 7

My son's always been a picky eater and at times will say he's not hungry, but when the food he wants to eat is given, he'll have a 2nd or 3rd helping.  

You state that you're giving him fiber, but what about omega fish oil?  Fiber needs the oil to help slide through better.

Answer 8

Yup.  My kids sometimes go through their "anaconda eater" phases, where they eat little to nothing for a few days, and then turn into eating machines, packing away more food in a day than two full grown adults.  Normal?  Healthy?  I don't know.  They don't seem any worse the wear for it.  I'm a believer in trusting the human body to know what it wants, and if we just listen to it, we probably wouldn't need doctors.  When we're sick, we lose our appetite (fasting reduces energy used on digestion and diverts it to healing and "cleaning house"), and we get a fever (the body's way of "smoking out" the bugs in its system).  When we feel tense and stressed we want sleep, relaxation, and human comfort.  All of these desires are beneficial for optimal health.  Getting a massage, meditation, working out, getting your full 8 hours sleep... these aren't luxuries.  They're necessities.  My daughter is 13 and must be hitting a growth spurt because she sleeps like the dead, going to bed around 8 PM every night lately, and eats like a horse.  

Kids tend to listen better to their bodies than adults do.  I'd say that as long as your son is given healthy food choices when he does eat, he should be fine.  I would be careful with the fiber thing, though, if he's not getting enough liquids.  Psyllium husk (like Metamucil) only works if you take in large quantities of water.  Stress might be a factor, and occasional consitpation isn't a  big deal.  Will he eat prunes?  Or maybe prune nectar?    Works like a charm.  Also, maybe try a cup of coffee.  In some people it can stimulate the bowels.  

If the problem continues to be ongoing, and he has other vague, generalized or strange symptoms, try taking him to a chiropractor.  Seriously.  Misaligned spinal vertebrae interfere with the nerve impulses between the brain and all parts of the body, limiting the body's effectiveness in its daily functions.  Stomach complaints are common where the stomach is getting or sending the wrong signals because it's being over- or under-stimulated.  Look into it.

Answer 9

Mine did we were on a prescription form of a laxative MIRALAX which is now over the counter.  Worked perfect!  Depending on age (mine was 4) we had to retrain to go to the bathroom after meals.  So we would give him breakfast and then have him set on the potty for a few minutes...same after lunch and dinner.  Took about 2 weeks to get him straightened out.  GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 10

yep, it lasted till the next growth spurt.

Make sure your child is getting enough water and fibre and roughage. You can get a fibre thing called Phsylliam from a natural store and add that to stuff which will help too. I hope the doc also talked to you what to add to the diet for constipation. This is also why he would not be too hungry, he is all backed up. There is a product at the pharmacy called lactolose (other names too) which is for constipation. It is a sugar syrup thing . Talk to the pharmasist about it. It works well over a couple of months and not a chemical to his body. Get him cleaned out and he will begin eating again

Answer 11

i know I did this as a child,,,,as do my own kids (twins) now.  have healthy foods around to eat when he is hungry.  my mother got the advice 30 years ago with me,,,and i got the same advice from my pediatrician 8 years ago,,,,"no kid has ever starved HIMSELF,,,they will eat when they are hungry". and low and behold they do.  the kids are now 11 and they still have phases.  it can be a few days,,,it can be a week.  Take him shopping with you and see if there is something that he wants to try or is interested in.  you dont mention if he is actually losing weight or not.  my best advice keeping offering the good stuff,,,and try to wait it out

Answer 12

uhhhhm i dont have a kid but i guess u should go to the doctor...

Answer 13

How old is the child? We have moved a few times when our children were young and no never had that problem