Tonight we have:
:: One mama sick with a long term health condition and bad flu
:: One little boy who has the stomach flu
:: One little girl who has the stomach flu
:: One little boy’s bed covered in evidence of the stomach flu
:: One little girl’s bed covered in evidence of the stomach flu
:: One bathroom floor covered in evidence children have stomach flu
:: One upstairs hall covered in evidence children have stomach flu
:: No other adult in the house
Edited to add: the bathtub is now filled with evidence children have the stomach flu!
Any tips? Suggestions? Commiserations? I don’t know where to start and really should be in bed myself.
How long does stomach flu last in children? Please say no more than 2 hours? I know, I know, that is what one calls wishful thinking.
I’ve always heard no longer than 24 hours, and true to form my boys never lasted beyond that. How I wish you lived closer I would stop over to help. Do you have extra towels? You could put them down in place of the sheets until you can get the laundry done. I sure hope you feel better soon.
You poor, poor things! I will pray for you! My mother always gave us each a pan (big saucepan or mixing bowl) to take to bed so that we could upchuck without losing it on the way to the toilet, and I found it helpful with my DD. Ice chips to stay hydrated and settle the stomach–use a blender or roll them in a dishtowel and smack with the bottom of a skillet. Serve in a cup with a spoon. Stay hydrated yourself. Prioritize the bed linens–all else can wait!
Usually not more than 24 hours is what I think too….Praying for you. This too shall pass!
I’m really sorry you’re going through this…I hope it passes quickly. It shouldn’t be more than 24 hours, though, and likely the worst of it will be over a good bit sooner than that – a lot of people I know seem to get quite sick for a few hours, and then it’s mostly tired and achy and feverish. It’s not fun, but it’s a lot more manageable.
My mom used to lay towels on the floor beside the bed with a basin or bucket on top. It makes for much easier clean up, and we never got sick on any of our blankets with this set-up because we never had to move very much. She also used to wrap towels around our pillows, just in case.
If you have ginger, you could soak some in water to drink – it may help with the tummies a bit. Keeping everyone hydrated (but not too much) is really important.
Sending lots of healing thoughts your way that everyone will feel better soon!
Oh, I’m so sorry! I think every family goes through this at some point. I put towels under their (and my!) sheets to protect the mattress. I found the worst passes in a few hours, then frequency is much less until 24 or so hours, then it’s over.
get a couple of buckets and some towels. get the kids and you in your bed with the towels overthe bed in case of acccidents and keep the bowels there. sty warm and let the children sleep. It usually doesnt last more than 24 hrs. The washing and cleaning can wait . when they feel up to it ice lollies – fruity ones are good for rehydrating. Thinking of you lotsxxxx
I wish I was closer!!! If you can just roll the sheets up and put them in a far corner and throw a blanket or something on the bed for them to sleep on. Send them all to bed with a bucket(though mine rarely it the bucket). As for the tub dont worry just clean it with some bleach when you wake up. Your going to have to shake the sheets outside anyway since your washer wont be happy! Now go to bed hopefully its will pass by tomorrow. Just remember to wipe down all the door knobs and bathroom fixtures when this passes
Oh you poor things! I hope you all feel much better soon x
You poor thing….used to always happen in my house when hubby went away for work and it was sooooo horrible!!!
Like others have said, I use large bowls or buckets for each child and a towel over their pillow.
Raspberry cordial (preferably with at least 25% raspberry juice) helps if you happen to have some. Just make a weak mix and let them sip it. It apparently helps upset stomachs and the kids seem to prefer that to plain water so at least they will drink something too!!
Please look after yourself and only do the bare minimum for now. I hope you all get better super fast!!
Towels… lots of towels. Put them on top of their sheets so that you don’t have to change the whole bed if you get there quick enough. Containers where ever you can place them to catch the spew. Small amounts of water regularly so they have more chance of keeping it down and being hydrated. When my 2 year old couldn’t even keep down water I was syringing 5ml every 5 minutes or so – she kept that down longer than a glass of 40-50ml.
I hope it’s all over by the time you get this advice anyway. Prayers going out to you.
Buckets, and keep everyone hydrated. Once, when my nieces were little, we were visiting New York City and staying in a friend’s apartment who was out of town and both nieces, my sister and I all had stomach flu. The 2-yr-old niece and I basically camped out on the bathroom floor and just took turns. Hope you all get better soon!
Oh, you poor things! A nasty stomach flu bug is miserable! I don’t have anything to add to everyone else’s recommendations, I’m just commiserating with you. Realize that this is an “emergency” stituation and that normal daily rules simply do not apply. Do the best you can, and rest assured it is enough. There will be plenty of time for catch-up later on. Take care of yourselves!
Hugs from Illinois, where this author is camped on the couch with a miserable head cold
This too shall pass.
Be grateful that it is Friday at least? Hopefully you and the kids will be better by Monday. Bowls/buckets and sips of water as have already been said. Arrowroot biscuits (if you can get them in Canada!) when they feel better – my Granny swore by arrowroot when recovering from an upset stomach. Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask for help….from anyone! Praying for you hon xxx
Agree with all the above advice and just hoping and praying that you all feel better really soon xxx
Oh dear. I hope you are all feeling better by now. I just can’t ‘do’ (oh, I don’t even want to type the word) vomit. I’ve been known to throw away sheets if it’s really bad. I keep small wastebaskets by each bed lined with a plastic shopping bag with a couple of paper towels in the bottom of it. That way I don’t have to pour out and rinse. And when everyone is feeling better, have some drills on how to reach for the wastebasket and carry it with you to the bathroom…seriously, it helps them know what to do so you don’t have all the clean up later. And if one is running from both ends, so to speak, or if the bathroom is already occupied by another, it will be needed! None of these suggestions are in the least bit ‘green’, but when it comes to times like this I just don’t bother with anything but survival and feeling better!
Don’t have a meal as soon as you are all feeling better…be kind to your tummies by sticking with toast or crackers and clear broth for awhile first…Jello,..clear liquids, tea, ginger ale, 7Up, or Sprite. Then maybe later some rice with sugar and cinammon. Eventually toast and egg.
Big hugs and a kiss on the forehead to each of you!
Can’t add anything to the advice that’s already been given, but I’m sending good energy, commiseration, and wishes for fast recoveries for all three of you. That’s just cosmically unfair!
Our experience is: it lasts about 24 hours, then the children will be as good as new, and you’ll be exhausted and sick for a few more days…
Drink lots of herbal tea, nettle tea for instance, with a bit of honey.
My best wishes for the three of you!
Nicki
Lots of helpful tips here! I’ve heard of (in winter) throwing the sheets outside or putting them in the freezer to then shake the frozen chunks loose (I hope this is not too gory!). Soup crackers, ginger ale, pudding, whatever might appeal to the kids should be tested in small doses. I know that white grape juice is supposed to rehydrate babies quickly, I’m sure it would work but whatever you have on hand. Good luck, hope everyone gets some restful sleep!
i hope you are all feeling better soon.
Ugh! What misery!
Oh hon what terrible misery for you all! No advice (good stuff given here though) just prayers that you all feel better soon!! Judy xx
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So sorry you and the kids had to go through this stomach bug!
I try to always keep some electrolyte liquid (Pedialyte,etc) and various electrolyte packets that can be mixed in water on hand for any health issues can cause dehydration in kids or adults.
Other than that, you can get apple sauce freezies (those that do not have any color or other ingredients) and freeze them and let the kids suck on them during stomach bug or fever or cold.
Popsicles with mild juice mixed with water would help too. Dry Soda crackers are good to have on hand.