Vomit smell on clean clothes nanny handled

[Anonymous]

So last week our nanny mentioned that she had thrown up the previous night due to something she ate. That day, she folded and put away my baby’s clean clothes. That night, when I went to change the baby for bedtime, I noticed all the freshly cleaned clothes smelled like vomit. So I rewashed it all over the weekend. Today, she folded and put away the freshly rewashed clothing and tonight I noticed the vomit smell again. I did many loads of laundry this weekend all in the same machines with the same detergent. Everything else has no smell except for the baby clothing that she handled. I also got whiffs of the vomit smell when I was rocking the baby tonight in the chair she used during the day. I have asked her how she is feeling ever since the first day she mentioned having thrown up (last Thursday meaning she threw up Wednesday night) and she continues to say she feels good and is not sick. She has been with us for a while and this has never been an issue in the past. We really like her and our baby loves her so I dont want to make her uncomfortable BUT I can’t stand this gross vomit smell and need to figure out how to make it stop. How would you address this?

[Anonymous]

Think maybe she's got bulimia?

[Anonymous]

You said this was a new issue…could it be like morning sickness or something? Not sure how to address it though..

[Anonymous]

Ive had nannies for seven years and thought I’d seen it all! The closest experience I’ve had is where our nanny occasionally had BO and I could smell it in my baby’s room after her shift. I ignored it as it was infrequent and I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

This feels different… bulimia, morning sickness, even alcohol could be explanations. I’d frame it that you are getting whiffs of vomit and it’s not a big deal but that you are worried about her and just want her to know she can talk to you about whatever’s going on. Hopefully she does.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how vomit smell would linger and be transferrable from her hands. The only situation I can fathom is if she's not washing her hands appropriately, and if that's true, I think you have far bigger concerns than just a smell.

[Anonymous]

She must have vomited on something else (towel, her own clothing?) and washed it with the baby clothes. Unless she soaked it well or used a deodorizing detergent or rinse (like Lysol sanitizer), the vomit smell might remain in the baby clothes, especially once it was dried. I’d be concerned she was ill.

[Anonymous]

Vomit can get all over—in your hair, neck, surrounding furniture, carpet, etc. Unless you get every bit of it, it will smell. It probably is on the rocker and the carpet in the nursery.

[Anonymous]

Nausea/vomiting can be a symptom of Omicron.

[Anonymous]

Does she smell? When she arrives and when you let her go for the day - do you notice vomit? Otherwise I think maybe the washer needs a washout?

[Anonymous]

Bulimia?

[Anonymous]

I agree possible bulimia or morning sickness.

I would tactfully let her know that you smell it frequently and tell her you are concerned about her.

[Anonymous]

Yes so when someone says they threw up from eating something bad you let them go home to rest not watch your baby . It could’ve been a GI virus that she could’ve passed to the baby . You should do a clean washer cycle but also discuss this with her because this would really gross me out to the point of firing the person . Maybe like others noted bulimia or morning sickness could be an issue here .

[Anonymous]

I’d be more concerned about her health than the need to rewatch clothes. Your nanny is pregnant or very sick.

[Anonymous]

nobody can vomit and think it is normal.