If your child threw up on the carpet in the middle of the night...

[TheBrilloPad]

Do you;

a) throw a towel over the pile of sick and deal with it at a reasonable hour

Or

B) get cleaning equipment up and clean up sick there and then?

For honesty's sake - I did A. 4yr old DD threw up in her bed at 2am last night, got out of bed to get me and threw up on the carpet, and then threw up again on the hallway carpet. I changed her bedding and put her back to bed, and put towels over the two vomit piles in her bedroom and the hallway, to deal with in the morning. She shares a bedroom with her 3yr old brother who was asleep and cleaning it all up at 2am, therefore keeping them awake longer, seemed like an insane idea.

We all woke at 8am, I text ExH to keep him in the loop that DD was unwell and I took them downstairs. Gave 3yr old breakfast, and fed 4month old baby. Had to do three loads of washing (she was sick again on the new fresh bedding at 4am too), and then ExH turned up at 10am with a load of toys from the toy shop (Disney dad), as I was coming downstairs with the carpet cleaner and bucket of zoflora etc etc. I answered the door and said "sorry - was just cleaning all the sick off the carpets", and he said "oh, has she just been sick again then ?" And I said "no, from last night". And he was DISGUSTED that I left the vomit there overnight. (From a man who has never cleaned/cooked/used a washing machine in his life ).

So my instinct was that he's just being a dick. I'm a single parent of 3 kids under 5, none of who slept well last night, I dealt with it as best I could. But now I'm doubting myself - would you/should I have cleaned it up there and then? FWIW it took me over 30mins this morning to do, that seems insane to do at 2am!

Cleaned it up straight away. Sod leaving it over night, it stinks 😷

I always deal with it straight away unless I am sick myself.

I’m not a super clean freak, it’s mostly because I think the longer it lingers the more awful a job it is.

Last time DS was sick I got the oldest towel and scooped it up and binned it. Then cleaned the laminate floor (go judge me posh people). I would have wept if it had been on a carpet though there was so much. So so judging here.

No judging

I do not judge you in any way for choice, but I would do B - I am a bit of a night owl anyway.

I've had this happen really badly (my children tend to vomit awfully, but just once) over two bouts of sickness; both times I spent an hour or whatever cleaning and disinfecting fucking everything. I have a bit of an issue with sickness bug contamination.

On at least one of those occasions I think my DH dealt with cleaning the DC who'd been sick. One time though I did everything.

Half and half - I'd have tries not to puke picked up the majority off the bedroom carpet with the icky bedding and fully cleaned up the puddle in the hallway with their door closed.

And start training the children to head straight for the toilet at the first thought of puking, then come and get you if you haven't heard the tiny feet stampeding. The majority can get there in all but the most exceptional cases.

Sorry I do think it’s a bit grim and I’ve just come off of a hideous week of vomiting (think 30 plus times for one child). The smell lingers even with cleaning so it must have been pretty pungent the next morning. It’s no fun doing the clean up but doing it there and then is probably less work in the long run than waiting and the smell makes me heave so I couldn’t ever leave it.

A dustpan and brush sweep it up then rinse out in the loo. I find that works with dog mess as well. I cannot afford to smell it though so breathe through mouth.

Happened to us the other week. One of us sorted child other scraped up as much as possible then threw towel over the rest and bought some carpet cleaner the next day...

Why would you let his bs bother you? He took an opportunity to make you feel bad the moment he found one.

OP you did what was right for you at that moment in time. Fast forward five years when you’re getting more sleep and the kids are older, you might have made a different choice. Don’t be hard on yourself. PS Sounds good that he’s your ex!

Singe parent with 3 kids, I'd have prioritised keeping them asleep. If I could clear up without waking anyone yes, but if not no.

When baby and I had norovirus and were cosleeping, she vomited onto my pillow and I just turned it over and went back to sleep ! (Little vomit so other side was dry). Completely grim but I was no shattered that I no other thought crossed my mind other than sleep.

My DD has done that. I let her dad give her cuddles, clean her face, get her water and settle her back down into bed, and I just get wipes and clean it up with some anti-bac quickly. Then properly scrub it in the morning.

You dealt with it the way that was best for you. I have been in the situation myself and personally I would clean up the sick and soak sheets and stuff or otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing what I'd have to deal with in the morning. No judgement though each to their own , I'd probably do the same if I was in your shoes. Would love to know what your Ex would have done though...whos he to judge