How long to keep a toddler quarantined after being sick?

[FrankNCock]

DS (2.2) was at a birthday party this morning and we went out to lunch afterward. Just after 1pm he spectacularly threw up all over himself and DH and we had to grab our swim towels out of the car to wrap him in and get him home.

He hasn't been sick again, but he is a bit subdued. Napping now. He is supposed to go to another party tomorrow morning at 11am.

I've texted the other mums from the party to let them know, in case they've caught whatever it is off DS. Should I be cancelling going to the party now, or wait and see if he is sick again? And if he's not sick again, is 22 hours long enough for him to stay away from other kids? (will the other mums look at me in horror, snatch their children away, etc?)

Ugh, because it was a one-off (I think?) I'd be minded to think he shoved his finger down his throat or choked on something.
But you sound like you're describing an ill child, not someone who did something daft, otherwise.
At 2.2yo he really won't mind not going, so safest bet would be not to go. Especially since you've given everyone heads up that he might be contagious. They won't you to chance it.

He'd finished his sandwich and cookie at Subway, and was drinking some juice. He had been sticking his tongue out a bit and pulling bits of food off (because he' does grim stuff like that), but I didn't see him putting his hand way into his mouth and he didn't make any sort of choking or coughing sounds.

I think it depends on whether it's an over-indulgence vomit or a bug related one. If there are no further episodes and he keeps down all food and fluid I think he be ok tomorrow. If he's sleepy and acting out of sorts and has further episodes I'd keep him at home until 48 hours after the last vomit.

If it does turn out to be a bug keep him away from other children for 48 hours after the last upchuck or bout of diahorrea. Poor little sausage.

You will be social pariah extraordinaire if you take him along and anyone else thinks their DC caught something off him, and yet you knew he might be contagious.

Take care of yourself, too, ultra hygiene measures. Catching tummy bugs off your kids sucks big time.

Most schools and nurseries have a 48 exclusion period after last bout when there vomiting. This seems to have become engrained across the board as the accepted rule of thumb. So I'd keep him in for another day.

Thanks for the replies. I'm actually starting to wonder if he has a tomato allergy. He had a rash around his mouth which he does get when he has raw tomato, but not cooked. It seemed worse today than before. And thinking about the symptoms of a food allergy, I wonder if all the sticking the tongue out and touching it was because it had gone tingly?

He was a bit clingy and cuddly the rest of the day, had some dry toast for supper, and hasn't been sick again. Actually seemed mostly back to normal by bedtime!

The one person in our group who is quite germ-phobic won't be there tomorrow, but I probably should still keep him home. Just a shame if it turns out it is allergy related!