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Original poster

Toddler sick only at night for last 5 nights

65 replies

dippywhentired · 08/01/2012 12:52

My 21 month old DD woke at 3 am Wed having been sick. Cleaned her up and she went back to sleep until am. Next day seemed fine, ate normally, etc. Same thing every night since, between 2 and 3 am. On Fri she did seem poorly and just wanted cuddles, felt slightly hot but not raging temperature. By yesterday afternoon, seemed much happier, was playing with her sister, etc. She has had a cold, so wondered if it was post-nasal drip making her gag, but I felt nauseous for a couple of days as well so likely to be a bug. But why is she only sick at night? It's not like any sick bug my other DD has ever had where she's been sick repeatedly for several hours and that's it. Am just giving her toast to eat today and see if she's any better tonight. Anyone else had this in their DCs?

OP posts:
livvymummy · 08/01/2012 21:47

Is it brought on by coughing? My ds can be sick following a coughing bout, it can trigger the gag reflex.

Original poster
dippywhentired · 09/01/2012 08:09

That's what I thought the first night, but last night I was awake and heard her cough as she was being sick, but it wasn't a coughing fit that turned into puking. It's now been 6 nights, just once and then goes back to sleep. Am taking her to the doctor's this afternoon.

OP posts:
firesoup · 11/01/2012 06:19

what did the docs say about this, this is excarly what is happening with my ds. he is sick in the night then waking early starving and fine all day. am v confused (and tired!)

VerityClinch · 11/01/2012 06:39

I've had a couple of weeks of this with my DS, 13 months. It started as a cough, cough, puke thing, but he was also throwing up as he turned in his sleep. It was mostly mucus and his last milk feed coming up. Did two weeks of sheet changing, pj changing, grobag changing at all hours and he's fine now.

I think if they are snotty the mucus collects and then as they move around, comes up.

Vicks on his chest helped a bit as he could breathe more easily. But I don't think there's any real answer other than waiting it out

frowner · 27/02/2012 19:57

Sorry I know this is an old thread but just wondered if anyone had any advice on this as my 4 year old daughter is going through something similar. She has been sick for the past 3 nights but not in the day, she has only eaten toast and water and is complaining of a sore tummy. I will be contacting the doctors tomorrow but any insight would be much appreciated.

HumphreyCobbler · 27/02/2012 20:05

my four year old son had this and it turned out to be tonsillitis. He never tells me accurately what hurts though.

frowner · 27/02/2012 20:30

That's interesting thanks. She is not complaining of any throat pain, just tummy.

PandaNot · 27/02/2012 20:34

My ds did this for years - he had asthma. Inhaler prescribed, no more vomiting, stopped within a week.

frowner · 27/02/2012 20:39

Were there any other signs that it was asthma causing the sickness?

jumpyjan · 27/02/2012 20:44

DS had a tummy bug like this last spring. He seemed absolutely fine in between being sick and it lasted about a week. The doctor advised it sounded v typical of a bug that was doing the rounds.

frowner · 27/02/2012 20:53

Perhaps just a tummy bug then, just seems strange that there is no sickness at all in the day. Keep thinking she's over it then it returns.

TiggerHappy · 27/02/2012 20:58

frowner - dd (3) had similar symptoms about a month ago, was ill Saturday - Tuesday one week and Wednesday - Friday the following week. She was fine all day, even eating some food, and would then start complaining of her tummy hurting (sobbing and flailing around, not like her) in late afternoon/ evening which would finally get better when she vomited. I took her to the doctors a couple of times and he gave an anti-spasmodic which seemed to help but didn't ever diagnose the problem. But I then got a d&v bug a couple of weeks later which followed the same pattern, not bad most of the day and then lots of stomach cramps later on. Talking to other people, it seems to be a bug going around.

frowner · 27/02/2012 21:09

Thanks for your reply. That does sound v similar, what a horrible bug. Just hoping she is better soon as she is so tired and weak and I feel v helpless.

TiggerHappy · 27/02/2012 21:16

It was really awful, just seeing her in so much pain and nothing really helps. I wouldn't have worried so much if I'd known it was just a bug, not appendicitis or something! Hope your dd gets over it soon.

frowner · 27/02/2012 21:30

Thank you and glad your daughter got through it ok. It's so hard seeing your little one unwell.

leftmymistletoeatthedoor · 27/02/2012 22:42

Just wanted to say - tummy pain can often be the glands up so referred pain. Ds is 5 and complains of tummy pain when his ears/throat etc are sore.

geniuswater · 27/02/2012 23:01

My little boy was like this a few weeks ago - he is 14 months and it went on for just over a week with a 2 day break in between, he was only sick at night, had no diarrhoea (sp?) and some nights was just retching but nothing coming up. I was v.worried but Dr said it was prob a bug that had caused some inflammation and it did go eventually. Hope your little one is better soon.

frowner · 28/02/2012 08:10

Didn't know about the glands so thank you for that information. She isn't complaining of pain elsewhere. Just over a week is a long time for a little one to be ill, glad your son is better now geniuswater.

frowner · 28/02/2012 13:00

Just back from the doctors. V traumatic as my daughter refused to be examined and got so upset she was sick everywhere. Checked her tonsils, ears, temp and all ok. Got to go back again this afternoon with a urine sample and to see if they can examine her tummy as they couldn't do this this morning. Not feeling too optimistic.

Itsnoteasybeing2 · 28/02/2012 19:35

My Dd is the exact same fine during the day, sick @ night. Fine for a few days them starts all over again. Doc suspected an ear infection, prescribed anti biotics, which she has since thrown up! been going on for a couple of weeks!

Itsnoteasybeing2 · 28/02/2012 19:36

Any tips on how to get a urine sample from a nappy wearing toddler greatly appreciated. Bribery to do a wee in the potty not working :(

frowner · 28/02/2012 20:12

After another traumatic doctors appointment the doctor said she has mesenteric adenitis, inflamed glands in the tummy caused by a virus. Apparently we just have to let it run its course, has anyone else experienced this, it is awful seeing her so ill?

When I previously got a urine sample from my daughter the doctor told me off for getting her to do it in the potty as apparently it has to be a clean catch. I did out of curiously ask how this would be achieved with v little ones and was told that you just have to leave their nappy off and wait for them to wee and try and catch it in the sample bottle, hmm easier said than done!

geniuswater · 28/02/2012 21:25

Really hope your little one gets better quickly it's so awful when they are poorly and you feel helpless x

frowner · 28/02/2012 22:02

Thank you, that really is appreciated.

Itsnoteasybeing2 · 28/02/2012 22:12

Thank you frowner will give that a go as didn't realize the potty thing. dippywhentired hope your dd gets better soon, feel your pain.