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

It’s not just about him though, what about everyone else’s holiday you are going to ruin?

I'm sorry you were poorly.

The thing is though, how do you know this didn't happen to that woman too? She might have been feeling fine and then came down with a bug, or she might have been pregnant/ hungover/travel sick. You don't know you caught something from her.

Highly unlikely to be be regular d+v though .. nothing to do with local/hotel food/water/dinks/ice/local bugs? .. also not many from a flight actually stay in the same hotel, they’re usually dotted about all over the resort. And as a pp said, flights aren’t just random recirculated air - it passes through filters/cleaning/bacteria systems. The fact remains, 1 child who has just recovered from d+v is not going to infect a full plane of passengers for an entire week. It really is that simple.

It isn't about your son OP. It's about all of the people you might spread the illness to by taking him on this flight. You'll ruin everyone else's holiday. There's a reason schools say to wait 48hrs before sending children back to school after D&V.

I think if they have been sick since the weekend it is highly likely not to be contagious by Thursday. Some children just don't tolerate eating or drinking well after a stomach bug as they don't restrict what they eat until they feel better (I usually survive on crackers and bland food for a few days after a stomach bug). DS who is 12 insisted on a pizza the next day as he felt better and lo and behold was sick again! I think what is however far more like is that the OP or her DH/DP might come down with it before the flight and be too ill to travel. I'm so sorry OP. Kids always get sick at the worst times.

I do think there’s an element of catastrophising..(?sp) from some quarters.

Short haul crew can end up flying maybe up to 500 sectors a year, Longhaul maybe up 200, immersed in what some people think and portray as some sort of germ soup.

They certainly come into contact with thousands of passengers, some with hidden conditions, yet AFAIK sickness rates generally aren’t that elevated verses the general population - I know they can be elevated a bit but that’s mainly because some relatively benign conditions such as head colds mean they shouldn’t fly.

If the OPs son was so infectious that just sitting near him for 2 hours was a high risk to the bulk of adults, then the OP and her DP would be unwell.

From what she’s posted, there’s a good chance the boy is already over the most infectious period, and while might still be a risk, it’s considerably less than if he was still throwing up today.

if he’s not vomited again by tomorrow morning, that’s 36 hours since last sick. 2 full days would be better, but I’d take 1.5 days as would most airlines. As others have said, a stomach bug can leave a sensitive stomach and loose poo for a few days after recovery, it doesn’t mean he’s still infectious.

if he throws up today, holiday is off, if not, go. Definitely worth speaking to the travel insurance today to find out if it would be covered / what evidence they want to pay out.

But this isn’t school. Germs at school spread throughout due to children playing/touching/sneezing on each other, touching toys, books, toilets etc, children’s immune systems still being immature. The 48 hour rule doesn’t even apply in all schools. It doesn’t apply in many workplaces, public buildings etc. OP’s child is also already on the mend.

@frazzledbutcalm I didn't say that was the rule for airlines. I said there is a reason for it to be a rule in school. It's easy to expect an adult in the workplace to wash their hands and keep their distance while unwell. As you rightly pointed out, children touch things and have no sense of personal space. Do you anticipate OP's child not touching anything the entire time they're on the plane or in the hotel? I think that's unrealistic.

I expect the OP will prevent her child from walking around the plane randomly touching everything and everyone, yes. I expect the OP will also take her child to the toilet and take all measures there too. The child is already on the mend. There will be many other children at the resort who also have germs/viruses of some kind. And of course locals. 1 child in the aftermath of a bug is not as dangerous as some are making out. 🙄

@frazzledbutcalm I don't consider being sick overnight and "very loose bowels" to be on the mend. I would consider that to still be unwell. I don't think one child being unwell is dangerous, I'm just saying I wouldn't take my child on holiday if they were unwell.

You say that, but most ppl probably including you would still go if you thought your child was thru the worst. And it's not because you're trying to be selfish it's because you think your child is probably going to be OK by the next day . When your child is really ill and the symptoms don't let up, then obviously you know you can't go.. but when they are up and down, it does make you not sure what to do.

Don't assume you know what I would do. It's selfish and stupid.

So you didn’t read the update then?

How is your little one doing now @Worried8263839 ?

This is why I haven’t flown for many years. My immune system is compromised and I know that (understandably) most people won’t cancel a flight for a minor illness.

@freakinthespreadsheets thanks for asking. He has been absolutely fine all day, no more vomiting or diarrhoea. He's asleep now and we are due to leave at 5am. His last bout of sickness would have been 30 hours before the flight, if there's no more vomiting tonight. Fingers crossed but if there is, we of course won't be going.

Thanks everyone for your opinions, it's been helpful.

Good, glad to hear it. Perhaps pop a pull up on him just in case and bring a bag with you for any air sickness as he might feel more peaky than usual x good luck and enjoy your holiday

To be honest, if I didn't think it was a bug I'd be even less likely to take my child because 5 or so days of vomiting without a contagious cause would worry me that something was going on that might get worse.

Enjoy your holiday phew ;)

Im immunosuppressed too. Flying is the safest form of travel due to the HEPA filters

Far safer than trains or buses. Obviously, if you are sitting next to someone contagious there is a risk but the air is circulated quickly in an aircraft and you are more at risk at work in a staff room

Hurlingnovice · Yesterday 11:14
Whattodo1610 · Yesterday 11:13

It is hyperbole to say than hundreds of passengers will be affected for an entire week - when in your life have you ever actually heard that happen?

Do you have children?

I imagine they do and wouldn’t hesitate on taking a child with a bug on a plane.
Would have hoped that people would be more thoughtful just a couple of years after a pandemic. Virologists warn us that there will almost certainly be another in the not too distant future. It could begin anywhere.

But no, we’re not going to delay our holiday, sod everyone else!