Birthday party and poorly DD....

[Poledra]

DD2 has a birthday party tomorrow - the first one where her older sister is not invited and I was not going to stay with her. She's been looking forward to it for ages.

Now, she was sick twice yesterday evening. All seemed fine today, she ate lunch and dinner. Then, about 4pm, she started complaining about a sore tummy again (I've had a dodgy tummy today too). She was sick once while I was out (collecting the Chinese), has since then eaten some toast and gone to bed.

Do I

a) tell her she cannot go to the party
b) take her to the party but stay with her to whisk her out in case of any tummy problems (this assumes she's fine all night and tomorrow morning)
c) phone the birthday girl's mum tomorrow and ask her what she wants me to do?

My gut instinct is not to take her, but it's breaking my soft little heart to disappoint her.

She's 4, BTW.

You (and your dd) won't want to hear this, but she should be kept away from other children until 48 hours past the last episode of vomiting (or diarrhoea if applicable)

She could have a virus. It may be minor to you and her. There may be more vulnerable people at the party who could become extremely unwell (e.g. young babies, pregnant women etc)

In your position I would ring the other mother in the morning and explain you can't go. See if you can arrange an alternative treat for your dd to look forward to, such as having the birthday girl over for tea next weekend or similar.

i think she probably ate too much today.. 'lunch and dinner' and that started her off again, if it was me i'd probably take her as long as shes ok tonight, what time is the party?

i'm going to get flamed for being irresponsible aren't i....

but if it makes you feel better, i had to keep dd from a party once, a fairy party, ith fairies and fairydust she cried but got over it

*with

You can't do c) as that's abdicating responsibility - the hostess won't know whether your DD is infectious.

If she's been sick this eve, I wouldn't take her. But I'd line up a separate treat for her and the birthday girl later in the week, or a trip out for the 2 of you so she gets the one-to-one time she was looking forward to.

Oops, sorry that should have said breakfast and lunch, not lunch and dinner

onepiece, that's what I feel is the right thing to do, I'm just getting all soppy about my poor little girl missing out.

But I do understand that my little girl does not take precedence over everyone else's children, in case that's looking a little selfish there........

you really can't take her, due to the 48 hour rule. Sad for her, but the best thing for everyone - she may well not be up to it anyway.

Do line up a treat for the birthday girl and her later in the week though, for her to look forward to.

Ok, look at it another way. How would you feel (fast forward to Monday/Tuesday) if you hear that another child who (unbeknown to you) has immune system problems and was admitted to hospital with severe vomiting.

Or you find out that the "bug" has spread gradually through the school nursery over the next 2 weeks.

Or, your daughter pukes all over other people tomorrow. That would be horrid for you and for her.

I'm with onepiece - my DS has been hospitalised with vomiting bugs so I'm always really cross if people don't observe the 48 hour rule, it is so unpleasant and disruptive and avoidable if people are sensible.

It is hard though - my much tougher DD will be sick, then be fine and prowl around the house looking for mischief for the next 47 hours....

Thanks all - you've basically confirmed what I deep down knew was right. It's difficult to organise something else with the birthday girl this week as I work, but I'm sure we can sort something out (maybe for next weekend, when DD1 has a party herself, so I'd be freer to do something with DD2 and her friend).