My friend does daycare. She looks after a 4 1/2 year old who hasn't been eating for the past two months. She vomits (with lots of phlem) at the sight of food. Her parents won't take her to the doctor because she (the little girl) "doesn't like to go there". This same little girl didn't speak until after her third birthday, but the parents weren't concerned and didn't go for help because her cousin was a late speaker too. I don't think that vomitting has ever been a concern before, but she is small and quite thin. Our whole family knows this family. My brother thought it might be an eating disorder, but I highly doubt that's likely. It sounds a lot like reflux to me! Perhaps she was an undiagnosed silently refluxer (without the pain), and has recently become a vomiting refluxer. What do the rest of you think? Unfortunately the family is refusing to go to the doctor...

I suppose it could be any number of things, reflux being one of them for sure! Does she ever exhibit signs of heartburn-like pain? Unfortunately, without the parents taking her to the doctor there is really nothing that can be done for her. Why won't they take their daughter who refuses to eat to see a doctor??

Good question, Roni! That's something we're all wondering! Unfortunately, I have been asked to not let the friend know that I'm aware of what's going on. I feel for the little girl, and hate having my hands tied. I think that at least part of it is behavioural. Her parents offerred her a really nice, large gift today if she would only eat for the sitter. As soon as she was alone with the sitter, she laughed and said that she's not going to eat her lunch. She never eats her snack at school either. We're not sure if or how much she eats with her parents. I don't know whether or not there are signs of heartburn-like pain.

That's so sad!

So, did they buy the little girl the toy even though she didn't eat? I find that to be a mistake many parents make, give these deals, the kids don't do what they are supposed and get what they were promised anyway. That could certainly lead to behavioral issues.

Please keep us posted on her.