Kids puking in the middle of the night

[Anonymous]

DS (4) woke up last night with a stomach ache. He's not old enough to really know if/when he's going to puke, but I could tell he felt pretty awful.

We were in the bathroom for a while, but he was practically falling asleep in front of the toilet. I ended up making a little bed for him in the bathroom floor. He slept there for maybe 10 min, then woke up and puked. And then fell asleep there again for a while. Later on, he woke up and went to bed.

For some reason, I felt bad that he was sleeping alone on the bathroom floor, and felt like maybe I should have just sat in the bathroom with him instead of going to back to my bed to rest. The bathroom is close and I would have heard him wake up.

Anyway, since I was wide awake and bored in the middle of the night, I wondered what other people do in these situations.

[Anonymous]

I would have stayed in. DH would have just brought him to our bed if I wasn't home or slept with him in his bed if I was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have stayed in. DH would have just brought him to our bed if I wasn't home or slept with him in his bed if I was.

Oh and to add, what you did was fine. Not like he was calling out for you or crying.

[Anonymous]

Two kids jere. After the initial throw up we usually covered their bed in 2-3 layers of extra blankets (that were washable obviously) as well as the floor next to the bed - where we also put a bucket that they would sometimes use successfully. Generally we would sleep in the room with them if they were that sick simply because you might sense when they sit up that the volcano is about to erupt and grab the bucket in time. It makes for a rough night for sure.

[Anonymous]

I would have done exactly what you did, OP. My BR is close and I'll wake up when needed. These things are so unpredictable, close monitoring doesn't really help anything.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't have left him alone in there but don't blame you for doing so.

[Anonymous]

When this happened to us, DS and I moved downstairs to the couch, with a bucket, and managed to nap. I think what you did was fine, though. What specifically is bothering you?

[Anonymous]

I would have maybe tried the puke bucket, but also your kid is totally fine! And he puked in the toilet, so I'd consider that a huge win.

Hope he's feeling better today!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two kids jere. After the initial throw up we usually covered their bed in 2-3 layers of extra blankets (that were washable obviously) as well as the floor next to the bed - where we also put a bucket that they would sometimes use successfully. Generally we would sleep in the room with them if they were that sick simply because you might sense when they sit up that the volcano is about to erupt and grab the bucket in time. It makes for a rough night for sure.

We do the same. We cover the bed and floor with towels and set a bucket right next to the bed. I've taught them to grab the bucket and hold it under their chin as they head to the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

I let the kids sleep in their beds, but take steps to minimize the collateral damage of puke on things other than PJs and sheets.

When my kids seem off or I know a bug is going around, I remove most or all stuffed animals from their beds. I make sure the room is tidy with a clear path to the bathroom. I also make sure there is mattress protector on the bed. We actually have thick cotton bathmats over the rug next to their beds because of last winter’s 4 rounds of whole family puking. Once one kid pukes, I line their bedrooms from bed to door with beach towels. It’s fast and easy to put the puked on mats and towels in a garbage bag and whip out new ones. I keep trash bags, gloves, and a puke bucket in my upstairs linen closet for middle of the night clean up.

While one parent is cleaning the room for the sick kid, the other parent hangs in the bathroom with them. We make a “nest” with a few towels in the tub and let them sit there and watch the ipad - which we put inside a gallon ziploc bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I let the kids sleep in their beds, but take steps to minimize the collateral damage of puke on things other than PJs and sheets.

When my kids seem off or I know a bug is going around, I remove most or all stuffed animals from their beds. I make sure the room is tidy with a clear path to the bathroom. I also make sure there is mattress protector on the bed. We actually have thick cotton bathmats over the rug next to their beds because of last winter’s 4 rounds of whole family puking. Once one kid pukes, I line their bedrooms from bed to door with beach towels. It’s fast and easy to put the puked on mats and towels in a garbage bag and whip out new ones. I keep trash bags, gloves, and a puke bucket in my upstairs linen closet for middle of the night clean up.

While one parent is cleaning the room for the sick kid, the other parent hangs in the bathroom with them. We make a “nest” with a few towels in the tub and let them sit there and watch the ipad - which we put inside a gallon ziploc bag.

NP I am so sorry that you’ve dealt with so much vomit that you have an elaborate, established protocol, but I do appreciate your sharing these tips. The iPad in the Ziplock bag is genius.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let the kids sleep in their beds, but take steps to minimize the collateral damage of puke on things other than PJs and sheets.

When my kids seem off or I know a bug is going around, I remove most or all stuffed animals from their beds. I make sure the room is tidy with a clear path to the bathroom. I also make sure there is mattress protector on the bed. We actually have thick cotton bathmats over the rug next to their beds because of last winter’s 4 rounds of whole family puking. Once one kid pukes, I line their bedrooms from bed to door with beach towels. It’s fast and easy to put the puked on mats and towels in a garbage bag and whip out new ones. I keep trash bags, gloves, and a puke bucket in my upstairs linen closet for middle of the night clean up.

While one parent is cleaning the room for the sick kid, the other parent hangs in the bathroom with them. We make a “nest” with a few towels in the tub and let them sit there and watch the ipad - which we put inside a gallon ziploc bag.

NP I am so sorry that you’ve dealt with so much vomit that you have an elaborate, established protocol, but I do appreciate your sharing these tips. The iPad in the Ziplock bag is genius.

+10000 I love the beach towels in the hall.

I also have the garbage bags in the linen closet but don't have room for a bucket. So last winter I bought some of those disposable puke bags they give out on airplanes. I can whip that out of their bedside tables in a second, so it gives me a chance to make a run for the bowl, and they can carry it down the hall with them. Comes in handy in the car also with my motion-sickness prone DD.

[Anonymous]

We have a “puke bowl” (basically a big plastic serving bowl) that the kids get when they are sick. In op’s situation, I’d give the the puke bowl in their bed and put towels around him. We have a couch in ds’s room, so when he’s sick like that, I just sleep on the couch so I can tend to him.

[Anonymous]

Yes, if my kid was puking in the bathroom I would sleep on the floor next to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS (4) woke up last night with a stomach ache. He's not old enough to really know if/when he's going to puke, but I could tell he felt pretty awful.

We were in the bathroom for a while, but he was practically falling asleep in front of the toilet. I ended up making a little bed for him in the bathroom floor. He slept there for maybe 10 min, then woke up and puked. And then fell asleep there again for a while. Later on, he woke up and went to bed.

For some reason, I felt bad that he was sleeping alone on the bathroom floor, and felt like maybe I should have just sat in the bathroom with him instead of going to back to my bed to rest. The bathroom is close and I would have heard him wake up.

Anyway, since I was wide awake and bored in the middle of the night, I wondered what other people do in these situations.

Clean up his diet.