Help! 3 Yo tummy bug and more liquid came out than went in!

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I usually wouldn't be concerned as much. But DH has just left for a business trip this morning and won't be back till Saturday. Tummy bugs in our house usually only last one episode. So this one is new and I have nobody around to find reassurance.

3 years old DS had his first episode at lunch time. Threw up the few spoonfuls of lunch, the Calpol I gave him (because he looked awful before that moment), his morning snacks and probably some breakfast and milk from the morning.

Then he felt better but remained on the sofa pretty much the entire afternoon. I begged him to drink water, diluted juice but in the end compromised for Ribena (probably a huge mistake, but I was willing to give any fluid as long as he drank).

By around 5 o'clock, he started wanting to lie down again. I asked him if he's hungry and he said yes. So I prepared some light bland food. Two spoonful in, he threw up again. More fluid came out than he took the entire afternoon. And when I checked his nappy, it's completely dry.

I then started feeling panic a bit: couldn't give him any more food, nor juice. After one dose of Ibuprofen, I managed to find a pack of Dioralyte which expired last month! But by that time, he's so tired and only wanted to go to sleep. So he only had about 50ml after I begged him multiple times.

I haven't coped with more than one episode sickness before. So with him so young and had kept barely any water down, how soon I shall be really worried about dehydration? He's asleep now. Do I need to wake him up in the middle of the night and offer some water?

I personally would try and wake in the night to encourage some water. Would he take an ice lolly? Or even eat some melon or other fruits that have a high water content?

It always happens when husbands are away! It's nice sometimes to share the mopping up.

Could you freeze some ribena in a bottle and let him sip as it melts. Hopefully that will be about the right rate - though children become dehydrated very quickly so it may not be enough.

DD and I both had norovirus before Xmas, just before she turned 3. She wouldn't eat anything but she did have little sips of juice, so I'd keep offering that. I slept in with her (hence probably why I ended up with it too ) with a bottle of diluting juice and when she stirred I would encourage her to have a few little sips. She couldn't keep anything down for about a day but the little/frequent sips helped to stop her being dehydrated and then it eased off. It's rotten but these bugs don't tend to last long at peak puke phase.

Use the rehydration sachets,they'll be fine

** shoot it down the back of his mouth with a syringe.

Ice lollies all the way the more sugary the better - just sip sip sip after 24 hours if dehydrated go to a and e

The dioralyte will be fine. Use a Calpol syringe to give really small amounts - little and often will keep them hydrated.

Ibuprofen isnt a good idea, its very harsh on the tummy, paracetamol is much better. Flat lemonade (no artificial sugar) works well as a rehydration liquid, and liquid with sugar and a little salt will help. I wouldnt use ribena if you can avoid it, blackcurrant is also harsh on the tummy. Lemonade ice lolly is a good idea.

I always thought anything he takes has to be bland, otherwise it induces more vomiting? So sugary drinks are actually fine?

I will try to wake him up every hour or so for water... 😭It must be awful to be waken up for something terribly uninteresting (drinking water)...

With him so sick, I can't go to the shop either! Will have to freeze some juice instead of ice lolly! (Just when his dad not around 😫)

Dd2 had a horrendous tummy bug one winter, I ended up getting cotton wool, dipping it in water and gently wiping her mouth with it. It needs to be fairly wet and not much actually goes in their mouth. But just doing this while she snoozed next to me made me feel a bit better. Then offer water when they wake up. I find very cold water in a cup with a straw went down best. Don't be tempted to offer food too soon, it will backfire on you! They will ask once they are feeling better.

Episodes in our house last days so I’m an old hand. Forget about food - the priority is fluid. Tiny amounts, 5 mls of water in a syringe every 10 mins if you can

When mine vomit I don’t offer liquids for a few hrs after, only give if they ask, otherwise it comes straight back up. They’ve never become dehydrated even when vomiting then having nothing all night til the morning. I think you are right to be attentive to the possibility and to keep an eye on it, but I don’t think they become dehydrated as quickly as you imagine.

Good tips and the syringe! Just went upstairs and ordered that before I have to throw the mix away (after the one hour mark). Thank you!

That's the difficulty to know where the line stands... If DH at home, I'd just let it be. But just stressed out because I'm alone dealing with it!

That must have made you worried immensely! Sounded a really tough time for both of you. Your Dd is lucky to have a mummy being so patient and caring.

I do now worry if I offered too much water. But his dry nappy just made me feel have to do something about it.

@Ohsugarhoneyicetea ,I usually don't like ibuprofen, as I myself had a really bad experience with it when taken empty stomach. But DS seems not responding much to Calpol. I always had to top up Ibuprofen to bring his temperature down. He started getting warm before bedtime. Hence I decided for ibuprofen to avoid having to top up if Calpol doesn't work...

I usually believe a night of proper sleep is the best medicine. But when I went upstairs to offer water, he was sweating a lot. More loss of fluid... 😩 Sigh... Can't make up my mind what to do for the rest of the night! Maybe offer water only every 3 hours?

Do you have ice lollies? They’re Good for dc to suck on to get some fluid!

please don’t worry that he’s been sick more than once, really horrendous big went round DC class, children were throwing up on average 10 times over 24 hour, the group chat was full of people updating every time their dc threw up again 🙈

I wouldn't wake him every hour, he needs to sleep. He's not going to become dangerously dehydrated overnight when he only started being ill this afternoon. Chances are he'll wake a few times during the night to cry a bit, offer him a drink then, and when he gets up properly in the morning start syringing in 10ml every 10-15 minutes.

Obviously if you're really worried ring the out of hours service though

2 episodes of vomiting isn't a massive amount. It's not nice but it's not awful.

Don't give him any more food until he's kept water/ juice down.

Get the capol syringe and fill it with whatever liquid you choose. Try half a syringe and then wait 5 mins and then try 1 syringe wait 5 and another syringe. If he vomits it up go back to whatever was the amount before.

Once he's kept down a good amount (like a glass) for at least an hour then feed him.

Honestly. I know it feels a lot because he's a baby and you're alone but think about it logically.

I think you should maybe call 111 or your out of hours DR to get advice.
The dehydration is worrying and thye can advise you what to do.

Yes syringe it in slowly over time

Obviously only do this when he's a wake. Don't wake him up to give him fluids after 2 vomits. Give him water if he's awake and half an hour after he's been sick.

He will probably wake up to be sick tonight so put towels by the bed and a bowl. Get a bin bag to put towels in and put them by the washing machine deal with them tomorrow.

Advices taken! Won't wake him up for water again, unless he wakes up for any reason.

I didn't put down any towel near bed. I do have waterproof liner for his mattress, but dreadful to think if his pillow gets soaked in vomits... Sigh...

I agree, sleep is so important when they’re ill. It’s highly unlikely he won’t wake on his own anyway. As long as he drinks something at least once overnight I’d say that’s enough. Then as PP said syringe of water and/or dioralyte in the morning every 10 mins.