I posted this in the feeding section but thought I might get a few more responses if I post in here instead...

My ten month old DD is almost completely refusing fluids.  I've tried all sorts of bottles, cups, straws etc plus syringing and spoon, all sorts of different fluid options etc etc.  In the last two days she has had about 120mls as a drink and anything else I have managed to get in has been via food.  This seems to be a behavioural issue rather than secondary to an illness so I'm not quite sure what to do (she has steadily been getting worse every time she's been sick and I've just shifted my expectations down each time).  Until the weekend she was taking about 300mls per day but now I'm really struggling to get anything in. 

Any tips? 

So far she is staying out of serious dehydration zone but I'm guessing that 60mls plus a bit in food each day won't keep us from that point for too much longer?

She's refusing the syringe too.  And I'm not sure how much to 'force' just because it doesn't seem to be related to illness now - it's just been getting gradually worse over time.  She not even eating the same amounts as normal - probably because most of what I'm giving her is slushy so that I can hide fluid in it!!

I'm going to make some jelly and iceblocks.  She will probably eat those.  But I really am at a loss as to what to do otherwise.  There isn't anyone else here to hold her down if I go down the forcing it in route and I'm not sure that will solve the issue anyway (well - would solve the immediate issue of potential dehydration but not the longer term issue of getting her to drink!).

I'm thinking I will try and get her in to see the GP tomorrow.  Healthline offered no advice - except to go to the GP!

That's a good idea re the pump bottle.  That is one I hadn't thought of so will give that a go.  She seems interested in cups etc - but not to drink - just to play. 

I just keep telling myself it's a phase I have to get through but you are right - the longer it goes on, and the warmer it gets, the more stressed I get about it (which I'm sure doesn't really help either!).

Thanks for the ideas.  Fingers crossed the pump bottle works!!

Well, she's had about 100mls of fluid today, plus breakfast, a very small runny lunch and about 1/2 a cup of jelly.  Hopefully that is enough to keep her going.  I phoned Plunketline this morning thinking they would be full of tips but they just put me through to Healthline.  The Family Centre is a great idea though - I will give them a call tomorrow.  I must admit that I forget they exist.

I've just been given a few tricks to try from a Paed Speech Therapist so will try those at breakfast time.  I might give the control thing some thought too.  That would absolutely fit her personality so I wonder if there is a way around it at this age.  She struggles to hold and control a cup of any sort but maybe actually letting her have a bowl of food to play with might help.  I quite often give her a spoon but she definitely wants the one with the food on it - maybe I can use that somehow.

She's had two semi wet nappies all day today so she must be fairly borderline but other than sunken eyes and being a bit more tired and grizzly than usual she is still going strong!

Haha - sometimes I wonder what Healthline does too!  I guess like all things it totally depends upon the experience / knowledge of the person you talk to.  Sometimes I have found they are full of useful advice but mostly they tell me what I already know and then ask what what I would have done if I hadn't called them (which makes me want to answer with all sorts of silly things)!

She has diarrhoea this morning and her skin is starting to look rather purple with big white patches where I touch her so we are off to the GP at lunchtime.  I'm not sure what he will be able to do - I can get in tiny amounts using all the strategies you guys and others have suggested but it's just not enough. 

She's been given until 4pm to start eating and drinking something - she's refused everything completely since this morning.

So it looks like we are off to hospital...can't say I'm looking forward to it at all!

I know...I completely identify with the sense of relief.  That's how I felt the last time she had an NG - just the sense that I wasn't totally responsible for her health anymore.  I know I will feel that this time too - and I'm hoping to get some plan started for the longer term issue once we are there too.

Thanks so much.  Sounds silly but the thing I find hardest is being the only adult with her.  For me - not for her!!  I know that it's just a hurdle and we will work our way out of it - I just hate doing these bits on my own.  But...all will be fine.  And I'll keep you posted!

Five days later and we are finally home again.  She had an ng (twice - they decided to remove it despite my scepticism and then had to reinsert it the same day!) and then yesterday they decided to starve her until she drank. Thankfully she had 180mls this morning so we are now on leave from the ward with a plan to discharge assuming that she stays hydrated over the next 24 hours.

It's very, very nice to be home!

oh boy...4 spoonfuls of dinner (which is food she would normally love) and she is on strike again.  Thank goodness I managed to get most of her antibiotics into those 4 spoonfuls because she is also refusing the bottle, cup, syringe etc etc etc.  What is up with my child?!?  She was at least eating solids and taking meds before we left the ward. 

Unfortunately they were only interested in dealing with the hydration issue - not the total picture so I wonder if we are just going back to the beginning of the cycle again.

haha - thanks!  I think I have everything crossed and double crossed now too!

I was actually thinking of Kiwilaurie and wondering whether I should get her advice.  Might PM her shortly.  I think the issue begins as sickness related (in this case an ear infection) but becomes behavioral very quickly.  I did try and discuss that with them but I think because even when very dehydrated she charms everyone in ED and then the ward they don't take it very seriously. 

Oh well...well get through the night and see how things are in the morning. 

Definitely still having issues.  She has just finished treatment (again!) for another ear infection but is pretty low again on fluids.  Yesterday she got enough through a mix of bottles and food so we'll see what today brings.  The GP checked her over yesterday (we thought we'd get in early to rule anything obvious out) and she is fine.

Juzzo it looks like our two are around the same age.  Do you have any ideas about reasons??  I feel like it takes over my life to a certain degree.  I feel the stress levels rise as soon as we have a few low fluids days!

No such luck.  When she refuses she really digs her heels in!  We've tried different adults, locations, spoons, cups etc.  Thankfully she is getting enough in at the moment but she is one determined little lady!!  Even her two year old brother attemped attempted to feed her at one stage - I figured it was worth a go given that she adores him but no luck!

I'm hoping that as her independance increases things will settle down a bit.

They're really only interested in treating the acute dehydration.  I'm just at that point where I have no idea what to do any more.  We've been under a Paediatrician each time and they really are only interested in the acute stuff.  I've had a brief chat to a paeds Dietitian and plenty of discussion with the paeds SLT.  I'm sure she'll grow out of it - or the fluid issue will become a wee bit less crucial - but in the meantime I jut feel like an idiot of a mother.

Sorry...very much in a sorry for myself moment here!