To be dreading this journey tomorrow

[SamP85]

We (myself dh ds1 and ds2) drove up to Edinburgh on Friday for the bank holiday weekend and are driving back tomorrow. The problem is that ds1 has come down with very bad diarrhoea (it seems to be the start of a tummy bug)! We can't stay another night so have to face this 6+ hour car trip tomorrow. I am really at a loss on what to do to avoid him having an accident?? I will get him some imodium (if I can find it in his age range) in the morning but other than that I don't know.

How old is he?

put something throw-away-able between his bum and the car seat. Have 2 or 3.

Hope he is better soon!

why can't you stay?

I honestly would , call in sick to work, call off school ,let the poor mite rest

honestly whatever commitments you have aren't worth it

you don;'t say how far you have to drive?

Poor soul, that sounds awful.

Buy some Pampers bed mats to line his car seat with.

Get some pyjama pants?

Buy large size sandwich bags to seal soiled clothes in.

He is 11, driving to London (about 6-7 hours depending on traffic). Staying is just not an option, even if we could just call in sick wouldn't be able to find another hotel.

Just one point - you might not get a hotel in Edinburgh at this time of year but you'd get one outside of Edinburgh. You wouldn't have to go far to escape festival madness.

Stick him in pants. Buy some nappies and bags plus rubber gloves. Line his seat and feed him bananas.

Is he too young for Imodium?

London to Edinburgh is surely more than six hours?! It took us seven from Birmingham to Glasgow! Tena pants or pull up pants? And lots if stops. Ideally reschedule.

Inarightpickleandchutney it says not for under 12 but I think you can get it in a younger age range. noiwontstoptalking thanks for pointing that out but we really cannot stay, we will probably re-evaluate this in the morning, but right now taking Tuesday off work for both me and dh is not an option.

Pop him in some disposable pyjama pants, give him some Imodium (11,12, what's the difference really) and have a sick receptacle on hand. Tick him up in the car with blankets and bottled water and pray. Good luck grasshopper.

Well won't be less than 6, more like 7. We are leaving early to avoid traffic so hopefully will be quicker. I'm debating whether to offer him pj pants?

As he's 11 and the immodium says over 12s I'd give it to him anyway under these circumstances.

I don't think Imodium is available for under 12s.

Sam I would offer him pyjama pants, at 11 he's going to be so embarrassed going into a Service station with soiled trousers and you can't know you won't hit traffic. Lots of people heading down south after the bank holiday weekend. No one will know he's wearing them.

Pick up some flush able toddler wipes too - will help with any clean up required.

Can you get to a pharmacist tomorrow to get advice on the Imodium - they should be able to advise based on weight etc.

I hope your son is a little better in the morning , if not you should really think again about staying a day or two . If he has a bug it's highly likely Ds2, your husband or you could also come down with it.
Your son will be miserable , and it could be very unpleasant for the rest of the family.
My DD had the same on holiday in a hotel ( and that was bad enough), in a car, would be hellish for all concerned.
I also think 6-7 hours is very ambitious !

pyjama pants.
nappy liners
antibac hand gel
soapy paper towels
the disposable changing mats you get for babies nappies to put on seat.
portable potty and liners from boots. (will take several stone in weight)

all you need to do is find somewhere quietish to park, he can crouch on the floor of the back seat to go while you and dh stand at either window backs turned. take plenty of soapy paper towels for washing hands afterwards as soap is better then antibac gel for getting rid of germs.

The guidelines in the UK for imoduim is 12 years + (approved from 6 years+ In other countries) If you look at the NHS website it actually states the side effects listed are based on a control group of both adults and children under 12 years old and can be prescribed by a dr under the age of 12.

I know I will probably get slated for this it I think if it was my child then I would be very tempted to give him imoduim as a one off at 11 years old . I would go on the logic it's very, very close to the approved age - what magically happens on their 12th birthday that suddenly makes it ok anyway? Also it is approved from the age of 6 in other countries and can also be prescribed by the DR under the age of 12. Maybe this is just me though, I think if the child as 9 or even 10 I would be a bit more reluctant but an 11 year old could in theory only be a week or 2 away from being old enough for the medicine so I don't see the logic in making them suffer a horrendous trip when there is something that can help.

I normally would say to avoid diarrhoea medicines all together (adults and children) as the body is doing what it should do and getting rid of the bad bacteria but I think it would be very, pvery embarrassing for an 11 year old to have diarrhoea and be stuck in a car on a long trip with a huge potential of having an accident. As a one off I would go with giving medicine.

Failing that I would try to book a hotel outside Edinburgh for tomorrow night and make the trip home a day late once the worst has passed.

I would totally give Immodium to my 11 year old in your circumstances.

Best of luck with the journey.

Your poor DS, he must feel rubbish.

I should point out with regard to Immodium that he only turned 11 two weeks ago. I'm not ruling it out but am sceptical about giving it to him.

all you need to do is find somewhere quietish to park, he can crouch on the floor of the back seat to go while you and dh stand at either window backs turned. take plenty of soapy paper towels for washing hands afterwards as soap is better then antibac gel for getting rid of germs.

On the A1/A1M !!!!! Really, you don't normally get a lot of warning, when you have to go , you go !
Most of the A1 till after Newcastle doesn't even have Hardshoulder! Then there is approx 20 miles of 'average speed' roadworks with no stopping at all. Then the traffic gets really heavy as you get further south.

A68 -Slower, loads of places to stop, but not good if you feel sick, get stuck behind a caravan or lorry and it can be miles before you can pass. Then you still join the A1.

M6 a bit longer journey , Hardshoulder , can be very busy.

The roads will be busy as every one travels home after the bank holiday, it could easily take 8-9 hours . I really hope your son feels a lot better in the morning, for everyone's sake.

Dry toast and a hard boiled egg for breakfast. (Good binding foods.)
It might take longer, but I'd plan stops very hour or so for a toilet try. It will add time to the journey, but might save time in the long run if it prevents clean up time, and it might be easier on him.

A chat with DS2 might be in order too, I remember DD1 vomiting on the way down to London and DS1 spent the whole journey complaining very loudly about the smell.

Oh my goodness, good luck.

Sorry samP85 I just re read my post and it sounds a bit OTT. I think I was more on a defend of why I would give a medicine outside the recommend age range rather than thinking how it might come across to you. I can understand why you would be reluctant to give a just turned 11 year old imoduim.

This is a link to one of the dosage guidelines I was looking at for under 12's if that helps any.

Oh the poor thing. I would give immodium to an 11yr old to be honest, if I could get it down him. And lots of fluids - have him sipping water all the time.

Lots of stops, lots of towels, lots of changes of clothes handy, if you really can't stay.