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General health

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Original poster

Extremely sick child - asking for water should I give her any?

74 replies

perceptionreality · 02/03/2012 10:15

She has been sick all night but says she's really thirsty. She is vomiting bile so I think it's best for her to have nothing for a few hours but she's begging for something.

Obviously I don't want her to get dehydrated - any advice?

OP posts:

Waswondering · 02/03/2012 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

minceorotherwise · 02/03/2012 20:11

And a biscuit for itsonlyaquestion

cheesesarnie · 02/03/2012 20:14

we do flat lemonade and ice lollies.

why would you think not to give her a drink?
if shes 8 she must have been ill before?did you not give her drinks then?

ds2 ended up on drips after a severe bout of d and v.he was massivly dehydrated and low blood sugar levels.that was with us giving him fluids!

ahhhhhpushit · 02/03/2012 20:15

Have to say I agree with itsonly - you withheld water from a sick child until she was begging???? errrrrrr....

I would get her to a hosp and get her on a drip immediately.

how utterly stupid.

mosschops30 · 02/03/2012 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

nkf · 02/03/2012 20:25

Give her some water.

leftmymistletoeatthedoor · 02/03/2012 20:27

To be fair someone on the kids health board here was asking the very same question the other day. I think sometimes people do genuinely think give water = aggravate tummy = make kid more sick.

OP is taking advice so doing her best?

4madboys · 02/03/2012 20:38

i was always told 5mls every 10mins when they being sick, just tiny amounts to help keep them rehydrated, dont let them gulp down a big drink as they are likely to just throw it back up but you MUST let a poorly child drink water!

ilovesprouts · 02/03/2012 20:40

small amounts she can even suck on an ice pop ice lolly

BertieBotts · 02/03/2012 20:47

It's good for them to drink water, gives something to sick back up which is probably going to happen anyway. Vomiting watery bile is a lot more comfortable than dry-heaving.

Don't you drink water when you are sick?

RedHotPokers · 02/03/2012 20:55

No need for the nasty comments to the OP.
She pretty obviously got the wrong end of the stick about how to deal with a sickness bug, but asked for and acted upon correct advice and is now better informed.

SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots · 02/03/2012 20:59

Open some fat not diet coke, and let it go flat so she can sip at it constantly. Little and often. Since she s 8 it's better than plain water.

Original poster

perceptionreality · 02/03/2012 21:24

Itsonlyaquestion - who do you think you are? Have you read the whole thread or have you come on here to stir up trouble? We're at the end of the day now and she's much better.

I didn't want to make her vomit more as she was nearly fainting from throwing up. MN is an increasingly nasty place to be when you can't even post a question asking for advice.

OP posts:

Original poster

perceptionreality · 02/03/2012 21:28

cheesesarnie - she has only had one sickness bug before in her entire life. No, I'm not joking. So I really am not used to dealing with them. My other kids don't get them either, as a family we don't.

OP posts:

yousankmybattleship · 02/03/2012 21:31

Good grief there are some cruel people on this thread. OP came asking for advice when she was worried about her child. She is doing everything she can to be a good parent. None of us know it all so it is sensible to ask for help when we need it.

GrimmaTheNome · 02/03/2012 21:33

I don't understand how anyone can write such vicious posts to an OP saying 'Obviously I don't want her to get dehydrated - any advice?' who has, before they got in their twopennyworth, received and taken good advice.

Sorry perception. Most MNers are capable of read-think-write.

Original poster

perceptionreality · 02/03/2012 21:34

Thanks yousankmyship, I think that person must have come on to cause trouble because I had already said she was better and thanked people for their advice and stated that I'd given the rehydration stuff.

OP posts:

minceorotherwise · 02/03/2012 21:34

Glad to hear she's feeling better perception, it's Friday... try to ignore

Catsdontcare · 02/03/2012 21:42

I think there's a big difference between child abuse and not knowing what to do for the best when your dc are ill. It would seem obvious to most to give water but the op didn't know and asked for advice and has taken it.

If dh had his way when the dc are ill they'd be wrapped up in layers of clothes and blankets "sweating it out". fortunately I'm around the beat such ideas out of him!

asdevil · 02/03/2012 21:43

Some over dramatic replies here!

it makes perfect sense to give your stomach a break when you have a bug. Do people really think repeated vomiting until your child is almost fainting is preferable to going without water for short period of time?

Fair enough for a baby/toddler (where dehydration is a concern), but an older child / adult will be able to go without water for a couple of hours

I always go nil by mouth when I have a bug, and get better really quickly. DC get ice cubes (if they are asking for water)

hmc · 02/03/2012 21:48

Perception - ignore the malicious comments. I'm glad most posters have been constructive. I hope your dd is feeling better soon

Littlepurpleprincess · 02/03/2012 21:51

YES!!!!!!!!! Stopping water will not stop her vomiting, she will continue to dry heave. Lovely.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect a parent to have basic common sense and be shocked when they don't have it. It is not acceptable. I do not mean that to put the parent down but I sincerely hope the OP learns from this mistake.

Original poster

perceptionreality · 02/03/2012 21:57

So, you're perfect I suppose Littlepurpleprincess?

Thanks to everyone who posted kindly. Tbh I don't care if anyone on here thinks I'm a bad parent since I know that I'm not. If you get sickness bugs a lot then yes you would know but as I said we rarely do. I myself have had only one in the last 15 years (just slept did not eat or drink anything at all) and my children very rarely get them - otherwise I would have known.

OP posts:

TuftyFinch · 02/03/2012 21:57

Littlepurple then I'm sure you are absolutely perfect in every single way. Comments like yours aren't helpful, they are spiteful.
OP I hope your DD feels better.

4madboys · 02/03/2012 21:58

actually children of the ops age can and do still get dehydrated, my ds2 had a stomach bug the other year age 8 that was so bad he was wretching and dry heaving, barely keeping donw sips of water and he nearly ended up in hospital on a drip. thankfully we got the rehydrating drinks from our gp and he took TINY sips of that every 5 mins or so, literally TINY sips and that over a period of an hour or so was enough to perk him up enough that he didnt need to go to hospital, all sick children should have water to drink, just a small amount like 5mls every ten mins is enough to stop the getting dehydrated, not eating fora while is fine, not drinking is not good, no matter what your age!

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