Child vomited

[Anon891]

Bit random question, child vomited and has a fever. Child went to parent A, cried that he is hungry and wants a carrot and juice.

Parent A got carrot,juice and toast.

Parent B says parent A is crazy and should not give child food until parent A finds out what caused the vomiting.

Whos BU- parent A or B?

B is unreasonable

The child is unwell they've seemed for fluids, a very plain root vegetable and bread.
The juice I wouldn't encourage having previously vomited orange juice, but may time DS was poorly he really wanted some juice and I really wanted to hydrate him so I heavily diluted some orange juice , or also served as a bribe to get him to take the "disgusting" anti sickness medicine he'd been given (we were on holiday)

And depends on the type of juice, I'd give a weak squash.

Carrot? Random

There’s going to be diced carrots, isn’t there!

I’d probably have gone with a very small amount of toast rather than (presumably uncooked) carrot, which is hard to digest, but the advice tends to be to go with what your body tells you, so I’m more with parent A than B.

I wouldn't give acidic juice after they've vomited. But water and toast would be fine. A carrot? Why not, I can't see how that would upset anything.
So you're probably both a bit right and both a bit wrong. Which means you don't need to argue about it anymore. 🥳

I'm surprised about the responses here. I wouldn't give a child who has just vomited any food. It's likely to make the stomach upset last longer. Much better to let the body deal with whatever has upset it and let the stomach settle down. Sips of water or other drinks but I wouldn't give food for at least 12 hours.

Both are a bit.

DD had a sick bug a few weeks ago. After she was sick she had a little water but that was it. It was in the middle of the night though. Then when she did eat we kept to plain, gentle food - so yes to the toast and carrot, no to the juice. If she'd be sick in the day then I would just have let her have water to start with to see if she was done being sick yet.

So many Bs?! I would say A was unreasonable. I'd give the child water to sip after they'd been sick, definitely not juice, and not food straight away either until I knew they could keep water down.

A.

Not really suitable for someone who was just sick.

Some water, in little sips, black tea for an adult, but no food or juice until it settles.

B.

The child's already feeling poorly. Withholding food and drink just results in a poorly child who's now also hungry and thirsty.

I'd probably have suggested water/squash and toast to start with, but what they were offered is hardly the worst thing in the world.

A is unreasonable! Regardless the ‘cause’ of the vomiting, a stomach that has been so irritated needs extremely mild bland food while it calms down. Fruit juice is acidic and not going to help at all.

*but no food initially just sips of water until confirmed they are not bringing anything else up

If they're not dehydrated and haven't lost their appetite, it's fine for your child to eat solid foods as normal https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/vomiting-in-children-and-babies

eat when you feel able to – you do not need to eat or avoid any specific foods https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

Actually, research shows that avoiding or restricting foods has no effect on length of illness and more modern research suggests that a restricted diet can do more harm than good by failing to provide sufficient nutrients.

Toast and water would have been OK. Rice is also good for stomach upset. Juice and fruit/veg not so much.

People saying they wouldn't give a hungry child any food- really? They probably were genuinely hungry considering after you vomit your stomach is empty.

Fruit juice is not recommended btw as it can prolong diarrhoea. Fizzy drinks do the same.

There's some evidence that for some people, a milder diet is gentler on the stomach after vomiting but the evidence still suggests that diet changes or restrictions have little effect on illness duration. With a child, it's best to give them what they are asking for if it's reasonable. Sweets? Probably not! Common sense probably works well.

Fresh juice or dilute? I wouldn’t give fresh juice (in case diarrhoea was imminent) but would happily give a sick child cordial in order to keep their fluids up.

I can’t see an issue with a carrot either.

Squash would be fine but fruit juice is too acidic for a poorly tummy. Otherwise eating plain foods is fine. My ds always asks to eat after being sick. We normally start with keeping fluids down, then toast and something like quavers. If the child is asking for a carrot then I would guess they are totally fine.

Both... one of my kids vomited carrot once... give em food that doesn't stain 😉

Both unreasonable.

Toast and water is what I would've given. They don't need to be starved, but I wouldn't add juice or carrots to a pukey tum.

Parent B. If child is hungry enough for juice and a carrot then they can't be that unwell.

How on earth do you propose to find out what caused the vomiting?? And why would it even matter?

How were they proposing to find out what caused the vomiting?

B

Although I'd probably have given something like water first to see if they can keep things down. But if a recently vomited child is asking for food/drink I'd see that as a great sign and wouldn't consider withholding beyond 'just have a cup of water first'.

As for waiting to try and work out the cause in this example, this is something that wouldn't cross my mind! And I say this as a medical professional, in an otherwise well appearing child who's vomited once I wouldn't perform any physical assessment just simple care measures as required.