Help! My toddler won't eat or drink!?

Question

My 3 1/2 daughter has not been eating well for a whole week and lately for the past two days rarely drinks more than 3 oz of liquids each day, I'm really scared she is getting dehydrated. She refuses to drink anything anymore. I already took her to the doctor yesterday but they told me there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her. She says she's hungry and her tummy hurts but when I put food (even tasty junk food) in front of her she refuses to eat it or drink anything. I'm more worried about the liquids than the eating. Does anyone have any suggestions??? Thank you.

Answer 1

Your daughter said her tummy hurts...  Is she going to the bathroom ok?  I'm surprised the dr said it's nothing if she's complaining of pain...  Check her mouth and gums for sores, that might make it painful for her to eat/drink.  

I'm sorry, that sounds really odd...  a toddler saying she's hungry but refuses to eat, and complains of tummy aches.  I'd take her to another doctor if I were you, just to be safe.  

If it really is nothing, you can try taking her on a special trip to the supermarket and have her pick out something new to try.

Answer 2

How are her BM's?  A similar thing happened to my daughter.  She stopped eating and drinking and had diarrhea.  She had a fecal impaction(even with having diarrhea).  Most kids present with constipation.  Have her checked out again, even if you need to take her a G.I.

Answer 3

Has she had a p**p lately? She sounds constipated to me.

Edit: When she does drink, give her prune juice - sweeten it with sugar if you have to. Put it in a fancy glass with a straw, make it a big production. If worse comes to worst, you may need to get a glycerin suppository. You could also put a heating pad on her tummy and then give it a massage - to get stuff moving.

Answer 4

Maybe you're child is annoyed with something, and she wants you to fix it? This one girl i had to babysit wouldn't eat or drink or anything because she didn't get what she wanted.

Answer 5

At this age you need to remember that if she really needed any more liquids then she would be drinking them.  Is she eating alot of really juicy fruits that my be supplementing this need?  If not and she is just being stubborn to get your attention then you need not let  her know that it is working!  If her actions are successful now then you can imagine that there will be bulimia or anorexia in her future that she will use for the same purpose?