Q: My one and a half years old daughter is staying at my in-law's house with her mother for the past 3 months. I go and visit them regularly during weekends. But for the past one week, she is not playing actively and she refuses to eat. Her body temperature is normal and she has developed cough. The doctor has diagnosed URI. How can we increase her appetite? What is the reason for her inactivity? Is it due to my absence? She keeps on murmuring daddy, daddy during my absence.

A:Your daughter seems to be suffering from a medical problem for which appropriate treatment must be sought. It is also possible that she is sensing some insecurity due to being away from home and you. Since there must be valid reasons for your wife and child staying away from you, you must ensure that both are not feeling neglected and the child is not echoing the feelings of the mother. Lack of appetite and irritability in the child could be present temporarily because of the illness.