To take a sick toddler on holiday?

[Worried8263839]

Myself and DH aren't sure what to do...our 2.5 year old has been sick on and off since the weekend. Since Monday it has been once or twice a day. Generally in himself he seems fine, although has been a bit more tired and lethargic. No temperature. Yesterday he seemed good, hasn't been sick since early morning but was sick again overnight. This morning we now have very loose stools.

The problem is that we are due to fly to Spain early Thursday morning, less than 24 hours away.

AIBU if we try and go ahead with the flight? I feel that it's wrong to and think it would be best to change our flight. DH disagrees

This.
Anyone traveling with a compromised immune system will be SO thank for your vomiting bug on the plane and in the hotel too 🙄

Yes they will. We claimed years ago when dh had the same. All the insurance company asked for was a receipt to show we’d bought some Imodium. They paid out fully within 2 weeks. OP take your ds to a pharmacy/gp to get checked over, then you’ll have a record for the insurance.
FWIW, he could be completely better by tomorrow.

I think that it would be irresponsible to take him when he’s still somewhat unwell. Perhaps you can move the flights or claim on your travel insurance?

it’s bad timing I know, but unfortunate and cannot be helped.

unfair to other passengers as well - this is how these illnesses spread.

I agree with people saying it would be selfish. I also agree with people saying that a lot of people would do it anyway, which I don't think is ok.

I'd also consider you and your husband - it wouldn't be that surprising for one or both of you to start vomiting in the next day or two.

Definitely do not take him on a plane! Not fair to other passengers or him.
I hope you can rearrange and still get your holiday at some point.

Meanwhile in RL that's incredibly selfish.

If most people would go ahead then most people are selfish.

@LadyFeatheringt0n

Meanwhile in RL ive taken plenty of flights where people are vomiting all over.

Nobody is disputing people go on planes when they're ill and vomiting.

That doesn't change the fact that knowingly going on a plane with a vomiting / diarrhoea bug is selfish and irresponsible.

Imagine not caring about spreading it and potentially ruining the holiday of dozens of other people.

You'd be happy to do that would you?

I was on a plane with a vomiting woman a few weeks ago. Guess what I came down with a few days later? Luckily it was my return flight so didn't ruin the holiday. Please don't do this.

Whether he feels himself or not, you know full well that he's harboring some sort of gastro bug, so taking him on a plane full of people & into all manner of other public spaces is just irresponsible of you. You could potentially ruin other people's holidays!

If my son felt ill then we would cancel without a second thought.

He is ill. He has had days of vomiting and was sick again only hours ago.
Just because your son isn’t lethargic doesn’t mean he isn’t contagious to other people.

I would see how he goes from now. Anymore sickness or diarrhoea in the next 24 hours and I'd probably postpone. It won't be fun especially if you or your dh pick it up too.

We go abroad soon and this is my main worry.

As well as what everyone else has said, if your toddler is still vomiting/having loose stools do you really want to take him into 50 degree heat?? Poor lad.

We cancelled our holiday because DS1 had a vomiting bug. My mum said we were mad and we should just take him. It was just as well we did because he took a turn for the worse and ended up in hospital on a drip, with dehydration, when we should have been at the airport.

The travel insurance paid out and we got a late deal a couple of weeks later when he was better

I've had a toddler fall ill on a plane and it is really difficult to manage. There's no space to get them changed and clean properly. Vomit over me as well. The smell was awful. Seat and seat belt needed wiped down so then it was wet for remainder of journey. Went through the 2 spare pairs of clothes so DS had to wear one of my jumpers. Really wouldn't recommend it. At that age they have no concept of trying to be sick in a bag. That's just the purely practical side, then there's also the guilt for the other passengers and the responsibility of trying not to spread whatever bug your child has.

No holiday for you guys. Call the insurance company.

That sux, but your poor kid. All they probably want to do is lie on the couch or in bed. I think if they're still sick you'll need to cancel.

Because taking a child with d&v onboard a plane to a hot country is a recipe for disaster. At best other passengers get it at worst passengers and guests at the hotel get it and the OPs child ends up in hospital with dehydration.

I’d say contact the insurance company and find out if they’d pay out, or if your holiday could be moved.

you’ve got another 24 hours and if he’s not thrown up since last night and seems well, he’s probably on the mend, but as others have said, there’s a chance you could get it. (Although if he’s been sick since the weekend and you haven’t yet, you might not.)

I am always surprised though about the comments about immune suppressed people on flights - the people I know with immune suppressed people in their families would never get on a flight, given how likely it is you’ll pick up a bug.

Toddlers can go downhill fast.

I would not take him.

Sorry, it’s awful but you have to cancel and claim back on insurance.

What would you do if he deteriorated and went downhill when you got there? Aside from possibly passing it on to other people, he’ll already be dehydrated and higher temperatures and unfamiliar food won’t help him.

Would you like to fly if you were having vomiting and diarrhoea? I wouldn’t.

DS always seemed to react badly to dairy after a stomach bug and it would prolong the symptoms and cause diarrhea. We always had to switch to lacto-free milk for a good few days.