Find it so hard when they're not well :(

[Taler]

DD (17 months) was sick this morning. No idea why (also find that hard not knowing!!). She usually wakes approx 7 ish most mornings but today it was 8:45! Knew then something weren't right! Other than being a little dazed she just didn't seem herself and also felt quite hot.

She was sick around half hour after her bottle and think that helped to make her feel a little better (plus she didn't feel as hot after throwing up either).

Ive fed her little and often today in terms of solids. She's eaten in total one and half bits of toast with thin layer of butter, one whole (small) banana and a very small amount of porridge with a bit of banana in it.

I only offered her 5oz of her milk tonight and semi skimmed as opposed to full fat. HV once told me that sometimes when they are sick the full fat milk can be quite rich for them.

She's definitely teething as she holds the dummy in her mouth in an odd way (sort of biting the plastic part) and when she hasn't got her dummy her fingers are in her mouth.

She's also very snotty.

I just hate it when she's not well. Find it really upsetting. How on earth do parents cope when it's something serious?!?!

She's sleeping now but has been fairly unsettled since going down after her milk. Just praying she has a peaceful nights sleep. Sleep in itself will help her feel better!

There have been no more sick incidents thank god and hoping it stays that way.

Am thinking I'll offer her semi skimmed milk again in the morning and assuming we have a day of no more "incidents" maybe go back to full fat tomorrow night?

That sound ok? And other advice?

I know, I get so anxious when my DD is ill.

That was weird advice from the HV though. Standard advice is to avoid milk with any sort of D&V bug as it usually makes things worse. Semi-skimmed versus full fat is unlikely to make a difference.

Yes I agree with pp. can you give very dilute squash or boiled water instead? Mine used to like weak herbal tea actually!

When they are poorly fluids are more important than food, kids can actually eat pretty much nothing when ill, they have fat reserves and milk contains calories. Fluids are also more important if they are being sick/ have temp.

I would and do the following with my two:

Offer fluids very regularly. Small sips every 15 mins, milk, squash, anything else. If she's happy eating and appetite is back then feed whatever you would normally but if she's off food don't push it too much and it's totally fine to offer jelly and custard for breakfast if that's the only thing she can stomach!

There's also a little list of foods you're supposed to offer after vomitting. I think it helps settle the stomach and balance blood sugars/other stuff. It's Banana, Rice, Apple Sauce, Toast, Yoghurt. I know some parents who swear by this.

Give calpol. If she's unsettled then she's uncomfortable and calpol will ease this. Sometimes infant ibuprofen is better for teething type pains.

Lots of cuddling up watching tv, lots of snuggly stories. Everything else goes out the window when they are ill.

Oh I know how you feel! I am contemplating sleeping on my sons floor as he has been sick twice today and has a fever. Doesn't feel like a d and v bug as he hasn't got diarrhoea and has only been sick twice four hours apart, so now I'm worrying it's meningitis!
I also did slightly diluted semi skimmed milk before bed ( he is two!) good luck. It's so horrible when they are sick overnight!