Vomitting toddler - help!

[Pickle]

Hi ladies,

I suppose I'm lucky to have got through nearly 3 years of children without this happening... but my 15 month old is unwell and I'm not sure which approach to take.

She started vomitting at 1.30am, after a bath etc. she went back to sleep and woke at her usual time. As she seemed fine I gave her a bottle, which came back in impressive style straight away. I tried giving her some toast and water for breakfast, as once again she wanted food, and this has also come back to see us.

My question is - do I continue to give her food when she asks for it? Or do I just give her water for the next few hours to avoid her being sick again? She seems absolutely fine other than the vomitting, is charging round the house in her usual style. I think it's going to be a long day (the highlight of which will be going to a laundrette to get cot bedding dry as we don't have a tumble drier - the first time I've ever wished I had one!!).

Thanks.

P x

[Helen GV]

I don't really know, but wanted to sympathise! I would be inclined to give her food if she is hungry (dry toast/rice cakes maybe)if only to avoid the distress of hunger. Perhaps call your GP and check?

Will you have to take her with you to the laundrette? If you need help I can take the sheets for you, my dad is here from NZ so can watch my little one.

Helen

[Fuschia]

I think it's recommended not to give milk but that can be easier said than done when they're not feeling well.

I'd give her fruit, toast, but only is he insists, lots of fluids. Avoid anything dark coloured that will stain when it comes back up again. put towels or washable nappies in her cot or anywhere she naps.

give her calpol. has she got a temp? sickness can be a sign of a uti in girls. take her to the dr if it goes past about 48h or she semms unwell.

[Fuschia]

ps two of mine are ill today

fever, malaise, tummy ache

[Pickle]

Thanks all, and thanks for your kind offer Helen GV - we all went to the laundrette, exciting experience for 2.5 year old and my little one fell asleep. Sheets/sleeping bags etc. are all dry now so at least I can relax on that front.

Of course we got home, seemingly fine 2.5 year old suddenly looked a bit strange and now he's throwing up too. Thankfully he's old enough to tell me something's not right so we made it to the toilet. They're both down for their naps now, little one ate a small amount of lunch, older one didn't want anything, so we'll see how it goes.

Do you think I can pull rank on Mr Pickle's plans to go out drinking after work tonight?! :X

[Fuschia]

Pickle Wrote:> Do you think I can pull rank on Mr Pickle's plans

> to go out drinking after work tonight?! :X

God yes!

[Helen GV]

yup, 100%

[Pickle]

Ha ha, good advice!

He keeps ringing for "updates" - I think he's hoping I'll say "yes, it's a miracle, they've both stopped throwing up so go out and have a lovely time, don't worry about us".

Either that, or I'll leave a stinking pile of clothes/towels/linen for him to deal with at whatever hour he stumbles in >:D<

[Mellors]

Poor you, it must be doing the rounds at the moment (Heidi's baby is also throwing up, and another friends daughter is the same).

When I rung NHS Direct with mine last time they did it (its been a few times, boo!), they advise no milk (germs breed on it), but try and get as much water down them as possible and only dry foods. If they don't keep anything down for 24 hours or more, or have a temperature you can't control with Calpol then straight to the docs.

Dulwich Medical Centre will have you in straight away if you ring for a baby (in my experience), although there has never seemed to be anything they can do about it, apart from give you the same advice re fluids/Calpol?

Its worth keeping an eye on her fontanelle to see if its depressed/she is dehydrated?

The one upside I have found is that they have always slept for England after an exhausting dau of throwing up - get 'em in bed at 6 ;)

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

xxx

[Pickle]

Thanks Mel. Thankfully they're both sleeping now, so at least I get a break from it for a while. The no milk thing is hard isn't it?! M will be expecting a bottle when she wakes up, so not sure whether to try it and hope for the best (in the kitchen, where any disasters are able to be mopped up!), or feel like a horrible Mummy for starving her. I don't think she'd accept a rice cake/toast instead, especially not now as "mulk" is her latest word so there's no disputing what she wants! And as many of you know from meeting my joyful bundle of toddlerness, she's not one to be messed with!

[Fuschia]

I would offer milk for the comfort.

[Mellors]

Half milk half water warmed up?

[iaineasy]

I would offer milk for the comfort.

--------------------------------------

mr pickle might think your taking the p**s if you pull rank on going out then offer him milk I'm afraid.

[Fuschia]

iaineasy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> mr pickle might think your taking the p**s if you

> pull rank on going out then offer him milk I'm

> afraid.

Don't some men pay for that sort of thing?!

[iaineasy]

Arrrrrrrrgh hahaha that's so depraved.>:D

[everywoman]

Don't call NHS direct, they will call you at 4am! not joking. Personal experience.

just water and no milk. and dry toast or bread. and loads of TLC.

good luck

[Pickle]

Thanks all. Having had an event-free afternoon I gave Mr Pickle his late pass... only to have daughter vomit just as I was giving her a goodnight kiss (covering me/cot/wall/floor). I then had to leave her in my son's cot while I tried to clean up and dealt with a complete melt down from son over the fact that I then dressed her in his favourite robot pj's (hers are all in the wash).

Finally got her settled and went to read son a bedtime story. As I was covered in puke I took my top off, only to have son poke my stomach, and say "look at your fat tummy Mummy".

And to think I actually wanted children?!

[Mellors]

Hahahahahahaha, sorry but thats really funny. Poor you.

[candj]

Poor you Pickle, I just saw your thread. Sounds like a gastro thing and wouldn't be surprised if you came down with it too (fingers crossed you don't) as you've been thrown up on so often today. Like everyone else recommended, lots of liquid so they don't get dehydrated. Hope it gets better soon.

Best,

-C x

ps- I have a tumble dryer if you ever need to use it!

[nicolemodesti]

Pickle it is really difficult and my 13 month old went through it recently. He would seem full of beans, would then become a bit limp and then do the most amazing projectile vomit! It lasted for a couple of days with a slight temp just before he vomited.This soon followed by severe diarrohea. Bless him as he really didn't know which way it was coming. He did seem interested in food so offered it to him, loads of fluid and his milk. Also gave him electrolade to replace any minerals. As candj has said, do be prepared for illness yourself as I came down with it severely for 2 days!!Really felt how my boy must have been suffering. Fingers crossed you don't. Also at my school we have had a nasty outbreak of vomiting and diarrohea in the nursery today.

[Moos]

Pickle, that's so rubbish, poor you. Oh, the rewards of motherhood....

[woofmarkthedog]

Pickle

I want to know what happened when Mr Pickle got back, was he three sheets to the wind?

God help him if he was.

It does become a slower but recurring theme the vomiting caper, we went out to an Italian restaurant, me the boys 9 & 5 year s old plus Mrs W**F. Oh it was lovely , we ate like kings Tom loved his pasta & mussels he really did. We all slept well until a very cheesy smelling child comes in and stands by my bed. "Dad" I don't feel well. The master of understatement is Tom, well I went into his room, there was "the dinner" everywhere, Jackson Pollack would have been proud I tell you. To top it all we have that Sea grass carpet which only a wet scrub & vac will clean. Funnily Sam the 5 year old didn't wake up through all this. Amazing.

Nice work at 4.00 am.

The future's bright , the future's orange (pasta sauce)

W**F

[buggie]

When kids are vomiting, consider what if feels like when you're ill - your stomach feels funny/empty and so can make you think you want to eat, but if you do eat it causes vomiting again - vomiting is the bodies way of flushing bugs/dodgy food out so it will con't until if feels that all has gone.

So, ease off trying to get vomiting children to eat - it will return quite quickly, if breast feeding then continue encouraging (is easily absorbed and will give them antibodies to help). If not, I'd suggest dioralyte/rehydration salts to the concentration recommended (in freshly boiled and cooled water), start with 5mls every 5 mins and increase quantity/decrease frequency as tolerated up to typical volume fed. Don't worry about rushing to restart food - fluid is more important initally - and once thinking about food, start with BRAT (bread, rice, (shredded)apple & toast - not all in the same meal!).

Plain water while keeping child hydrated will not give them any energy and they will start to break down their own energy reserves (same way the Aitkins diet works).

Sunken fontanelle is a sign of dehydration but by that time would prob have quiet a poorly child - easier and earlier sign would be number of wet nappies - if you get to <50% normal then consider seeing GP - or if you have concerns - trust your mummy/daddy instincts as you know your children best.

Sorry as prob bit late for Pickles but hope helps x