To not give my child anything for breakfast?

[heygoldfish]

At present, my 7 year old attends a small prep school and needs to get a bus. Initially I drove her but I am working full time now.

She is very travel sick, as am I, and is nearly always sick on a journey almost regardless of it's length (she once was sick on the way to our local garden centre which is less than three minutes away) but tends to only be sick once. Of course, we've tried tablets and sweet sucking but nothing much makes a difference - she's better in the front.

The reason I'm mentioning the food is because if she is ill, it's so much easier in the 'mopping up process' it's just water - not a combination of whatever she ate that morning.

I am thinking it's better for her to go out with an empty stomach and a banana to have when she's in school. She eats very healthily and doesn't really like eating very early anyway.

It sounds fine to take a packed breakfast. What about a sandwich and a juice box or anything your dd would chose to eat without prompting. It's not like she has to have all her vitamins etc in breakfast.

I wish I'd been allowed not to have breakfast. My mum is one of those who believed the world will end if you don't have breakfast.

She would make me eat it then I'd feel like shite for hours.

Well done for actually listening and finding a solution. Your idea is exactly what I do as an adult, don't eat. I just have a small glass of water, then I take a flask of black tea and a banana to work for when I feel ready.

She wouldn't really have time to eat a packed breakfast and I do want to avoid anything heavy or carb laden.

She has a mid morning snack of fruit, and a hot lunch at school which is of very good quality as a rule and includes a pudding. Then she has an evening meal later. Dd is a tall, very slightly portly 7 year old: slim arms and legs but plump around her midriff. I'm certainly not going to put her on a diet but just the same providing extra calories for the sale of it in the morning seems foolish.

Breakfast has always been a nod of obligation more than anything - fruit of some description.

I used to have breakfast as a child, certainly. I think I had boiled egg and soldiers. :)

I didn't when I started school as I left the house after my parents (the neglectful days of the 1980s!)

I do love porridge, toast with marmalade and a fry up though!

Breakfast is a non issue here. I could never eat in the mornings, nor can my son.

Why can't they save her a seat in the front for the journey to school?

(apologies if anyone has suggested this)

Surely, it would make life easier for the driver too?

Your poor dd! That must be horrible. I agree with you- no point giving breakfast for it to be thrown up again. Can you have a word with school and provide something quick - cereal bars, fruit etc for when she arrives ? I am sure they would be sympathetic if the bus driver confirms how sick she gets.

Tinks, it is the being on a bus. The design of it means there isn't a 'front seat' as such - apart from the driver - and it being a little more juddery and wobbly exacerbates the situation somewhat :)

I thought you said she's better at the front?

Of a car.

Sorry OP but you didnt mention that in your first paragraph. My son was also very sick in the back of the car and on coaches/buses and being at the front of a bus helped.

Would she eat some of those breakfast biscuits or a nutrigrain bar which would be easy to eat and transport? Or a carton of smoothie like the innocent ones you can buy in multipacks? I used to feel very sick on the school bus in the mornings so I stopped eating breakfast and started taking an apple and a nutrigrain bar before lessons started.

None of us are breakfast people.

We are all perfectly able to go about our morning business and eat at around 10ish.

The breakfast thing is a myth. And if she is going to Chuck it up anyway why bother.

Can you get her some travel sickness baggies?

I have found with my two that they are better off having a bit of water in their tummies to throw up rather than dry heaving a lot trying to empty an almost empty gut.

A banana in her bag is fine.

She undoubtedly would but I'm unsure of their nutrition compared to fresh fruit. Same with prepackaged smoothies - I don't mind an odd treat but in a daily basis they are very high in sugar.

A flapjack is easy to carry and quick to eat. If you made them you could vary the fruit, nuts, seeds etc. and be in control of the portion size if calorie intake is an issue.

Why a flapjack rather than a banana, though?

I am interested as the consensus is that I am not being unreasonable to not give breakfast to her, but should give something that isn't a banana?

No Goldfish, I think folk are just suggesting the other stuff for variety. Certainly the banana's fine. Re the front/back thing: my own carsickness is definitely less when I'm in the front BECAUSE I CAN SEE OUT THE FRONT. Can't your dd see out the windscreen from the front LEFT seat? Also, I feel much better with a driver who accelerates very steadily, and corners very gently, and I'd guess she's better in the car because you're doing that, rather than because cars are any better in themselves. Maybe the driver could try to avoid roadside stops by driving like that? (Although, good luck trying to suggest driving technique to someone who drives for a living!) And finally, what makes all the difference to me, is never to look at a book or my phone or a map or even an emery board!

I have a severe astigmatism that causes it due to my eyes not working together

Oh! I didn't realise that could trigger travel sickness. Would probably explain my horrendous travel sickness as a child!

Have I misunderstood, OP, or are you saying you have made travel and education choices for your 7 year old that mean she will usually vomit twice a day, every day for the rest of her education/ until she grows out of it? Surely this has huge implications for her long term physical health (damage to her digestion, oesophagus and teeth for a start), as well as the likelihood of being singled out for bullying as the kid who always smells of sick?
Sorry, but if she really is sick on pretty much every car or bus journey (rather than just occasionally) you need to rearrange your life so she can walk to school, imho.

well there is no point giving her breakfast if she is just going to vomit it up soon after i would say yes to the banana maybe a cereal bar some times

Missy yes, you have completely misunderstood. To be honest, I don't feel like going into a long post defending myself: suffice to say her father is a healthcare professional and am confident would have, were there any real danger, made a different decision along with me.

Given the rural location of our home, and the unfortunate yet unavoidable fact that we are not Catholics, there isn't a way around her not walking to school.

Furthermore, she doesn't 'smell of sick' - she is not sick twice a day, I collect her from school. It is only in the mornings when she needs to get the bus (and no she can't look out of the front for the poster who was eager to YELL at me that she should!)

Sometimes it happens. Other times it doesn't. But if and when she does get nauseous and needs to vomit, a bit of watery stuff is much, well, pleasanter for her and everybody else than part-digested Cheerios or whatever.

I was/am severely travel sick: you do learn to live with it. Dd has, admirably I might add. But sending her on an eight mile journey along a coastal road alone is a rather extreme way of tackling the problem.

The bossy and pompous tones on here do get a tad tedious at times.

She will smell of sick if not cleaned up!

Btw the other posters is right,it can have an impact.That includes damaging the teeth,if you won't change the plans just teach her to rinse her mouth with water and don't have her eating anything really sugary soon after the sickness.

Can't be very nice for her I hope the other kids don't end up picking on her due to it

For one reason or another I have spent more of my life puking than I would wish on anyone. I have much sympathy for your DD. My advice would be water in the morning (much nicer than anything else or dry heaving). And make sure she has access to fluids when she gets to school and a snack if she wants it. Freezer bags are the best too in that situation too maybe along with a solid coloured carrier bag to hide it and she can throw the whole thing away.

Well, if they did, that would need dealing with as per bullying policy, wouldn't it? :)

Oh sorry Heygoldfish, I didn't mean to yell, I just...really wanted to help. I won't do it any more.

I think your dd needs breakfast, especially if you are concerned about her weight (you sound concerned). If she can't eat before school, then get a letter from your GP and 'health care professional' dp and get the school to arrange 10 min for her to eat a healthy breakfast when she gets to school. Surviving all morning on a bit of fruit won't help her learn or maintain a healthy weight.