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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there's no way you can't dodge a stomach bug your DC has?

49 replies

ASnowballsChance · 12/05/2019 20:14

DS (5) started with V bug Friday night, still not well but only one V today. I've tried my best to keep everything bleached, hot washed and contained (all V caught in bin linered receptacle ready prepared for such occasions!)

AIBU to hope me, DH and other DS can escape this horror?! I'm pretty much frazzled and can't bear the thought of the rest of us getting it. I need positive stories! (Even for some false hope!)

OP posts:
GetRid · 12/05/2019 20:16

You can easily escape it with good hygiene. We are a family of 5 and it's rare that d&v ever strikes more than one or two of us.

coffeeandpyjamas · 12/05/2019 20:17

I would imagine that if you haven’t caught it yet, you’ve probably escaped it! My experience of bugs when my DS has been ill, if I’m going to get it, it’ll be within 24 hours of him first showing symptoms (ie, after the first bout of sickness!)

Hope you and the rest of you family remain healthy and your DS recovers soon!

DCIRozHuntley · 12/05/2019 20:17

Our 3 DDs had an awful stomach bug over Easter. D, V, high temps and lethargy, they were each really really poorly - and managed to spread it over 8 days in total by coming down with it one after another. DH and I were fine (as was the baby but I think that's because he's too little to touch /eat anything).

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 12/05/2019 20:18

Wear rubber gloves when going anywhere near him and clean all the door handles (and anything else he might've touched) with anti-bac spray.

I believe I've avoided a few bugs due to my Marigolds, which are binned of course as soon the infection dies down. Grin

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 12/05/2019 20:18

I've never caught a stomach bug from my kids. It does go through all of them, but I never seem to catch it despite being the one to clean up

MustardScreams · 12/05/2019 20:18

I tend to catch dd’s bugs, but we co-sleep and she likes to sneeze directly into my eyeballs frequently.

Good hygiene should get you through. The number one thing is to wash your hands extremely well and antibac door knobs and toilet handles etc.

Original poster
ASnowballsChance · 12/05/2019 20:19

Some encouraging posts. Have been using rubber gloves when possible. Quite worried about him coughing in my face after being sick though.....

OP posts:
Raindropsonroses27 · 12/05/2019 20:19

Dettol spray is your friend in times like these!

If you're being careful with hygiene you can escape it. My ds has had some truly awful sickness bugs over the years, some I've caught others I've avoided. I think sickness bugs are rarely airborne, you just need to keep hands and surfaces clean.

BrillyPribble · 12/05/2019 20:20

I've never caught a stomach bug from my kids or my DH. (Touch wood!)
we've not had very many in the family but good hand hygiene (from everyone), hand sanitiser and thorough cleaning of bathrooms/toilets has been perfectly adequate. We actively avoid using any antibacterial cleaners normally.

DerbyRacer · 12/05/2019 20:20

I find it strange that I never catch the illnesses ds has and vice versa. Hopefully you will be ok.

PQ77 · 12/05/2019 20:20

Gloves and bleach - if you’ve the space, separate bathrooms! Wash every towel and sheet as hot as possible. The only time I’ve caught a bug off the kids in recent years was when my baby vomited into my open mouth. There was no dodging that one!

Myusernameismud · 12/05/2019 20:21

In the 12 years I've been a parent, I've caught the sum total of 1 bug from my kiddos. And actually thinking about it, I probably gave it to them as I work in Early Years and it went through the nursery first. DCs were both sick and then within an hour so was I. So realistically, they caught it from me!

In all honesty though, I could count on 1 hand the sickness bugs we've had. We just don't really get them.

DelurkingAJ · 12/05/2019 20:22

This is where a steam cleaner is amazing. DH uses that and antibacterial spray and usually the adults avoid it. Not if the toddler has thrown up at me (that was not a good Friday night) but otherwise there is hope!

And at 5 I found they could usually throw up in the loo rather than at random...which helps!

SoyDora · 12/05/2019 20:22

Of course you can! I’ve only once caught a D&V bug from one of my DC, I’ve escaped unscathed from a fair few! The one I caught was down to DD2 vomiting over my face...

Stylemebabyonemoretime · 12/05/2019 20:23

In coslept with DD last time she had a stomach bug, she managed to simultaneously sick and poo on me and despite both DH (medication) and I (pregnancy) having lowered immune systems we were both fine.

Original poster
ASnowballsChance · 12/05/2019 20:25

Styleme that sounds dire!

OP posts:
bobstersmum · 12/05/2019 20:28

Out of at least 6 or 7 bugs I've only caught one. It was norovirus before Xmas but even though I part co sleep with dd she didn't catch it. And neither did dh. I think you'll be fine op, you'd have it by now!

Stylemebabyonemoretime · 12/05/2019 20:32

She was only two and not used to being poorly but yep it was pretty awful. I wiped DD and I down but I think DH had the worse job of sorting out the bedding. After that DD did not want to sleep so we spent 90 minutes watching Peppa Pig in bed in the middle of the night which was much worse.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 12/05/2019 20:36

Dh has never caught a stomach bug from the children and I've only had 1 or 2 (when they've maybe had 7 or 8 between them through their childhoods).

Millie2013 · 12/05/2019 20:38

I seem to be immune to ?rotavirus/most stomach bugs, but I do have a excellent infection control skills from growing bastarding human liver cells, which were immune to bugger all Confused

Blueeyesdarkhair · 12/05/2019 20:41

There’s been a few times I’ve dodged it. A couple of months ago DD vommed all over the bathroom floor, which I cleaned up, then she slept next to me, and I cleaned diahorrea off her too. I was convinced I’d get it. I didn’t, even though I’m immunosuppressed. Sometimes you can avoid it! 🤞

newjobnerves · 12/05/2019 20:45

My kids are 8 and 5, it's been years since I've had a bug off them. I can't remember the last time one of us has given another a big. DS who is 5 was ill last week and it's not spread. Last bug I had a couple years ago came from nowhere seemingly and went to no one else.

When kids get older they can sick in bowl and not projectile vomit (well mine can thankfully!) meaning the virus is contained more. Was a different story when they were babies/toddlers.

I cleaned everything as soon as they've been sick and DH tends to deal with the first major episode as he NEVER gets ill anyway.

newjobnerves · 12/05/2019 20:46

Anti bac is no good for stomach virus, wash hands with soap and water.

megletthesecond · 12/05/2019 20:48

You can usually avoid them, with ruthless handwashing and separate handtowels etc.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 12/05/2019 20:53

I caught a bad one of DD2 recently... However DD1 escaped it despite mixing with DD2 plus loads of other kids that caught it at school. Usually the girls share their illnesses but don't pass them on to me or DH.