Baby survived by eating crumbs

[snopes]

Comment: Did a baby or toddler really survive by eating crumbs off of the
floor after it's mother lay dead in the house for several days? This is a
story that I remember hearing a long time ago but I do not remember the
source.

[A Cat Named Easter]

Hear that "ding" sound? See that lightbulb above my head? This must be what they call an epiphany!

When I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the UK during the first Gulf War, there was a story going around about a spouse at a nearby base who had died while her husband was gone. Because no one from his unit ever stopped by to check on her, their daughter died soon after.

I'm not proud to say I bought it hook, line and sinker. Thank the DOYC I didn't do anything to spread the rumor around even more. Funny how you can take something that horrifying in and not question it or even really think about it for years. Even after I learned about urban legends and all the hallmarks of those unverifiable rumors, I never made the connection until just now.

[Arriah]

Well this http://www.news4jax.com/news/2520257/detail.html actually happened.

Toddler Survives 2½ Weeks On Ketchup, Mustard, Dry Pasta
2-Year-Old Fends For Herself After Mom Goes To Jail

I could see the OP being this (or a similar) story after a quick game of telephone.

[TrishDaDish]

What's driving me nuts is I swear we discussed this a year or two ago, but I don't remember the specifics anymore. It was a toddler, although I don't remember the sex of it, and the mother had died and the toddler slept with their mom, i think it was only a few days. The toddler has scrounged for food. UGH! It's driving me NUTS to remembering this!