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Original poster

Vomiting - 48 hour rule

44 replies

irishmurdoch · 17/01/2024 07:19

Do all schools insist you keep kids off for 48 hours if they vomit? I don't remember it being a thing when i was a school.
Very annoying when you know your kid isn't infectious eg vomiting because of allergy/anxiety etc.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Doyoumind · 17/01/2024 07:22

Yes.

fatandhappy47 · 17/01/2024 07:31

irishmurdoch · 17/01/2024 07:19

Do all schools insist you keep kids off for 48 hours if they vomit? I don't remember it being a thing when i was a school.
Very annoying when you know your kid isn't infectious eg vomiting because of allergy/anxiety etc.

Very annoying when a child is sent back while still contagious, then sends it home with another kid and it takes the entire family out.

Cheeesus · 17/01/2024 07:32

Yes. I have to say when I’ve known it wasn’t infectious, I’ve sent them in, eg car sickness.

ChaosAndCrumbs · 17/01/2024 07:35

Ours has said to me, it’s my call. However, ds has had anxiety issues and they know I keep him off after vomiting, but if no follow up or any other symptoms bar anxiety (or a cough if it was from a cough with no fever etc), they don’t have an issue with me bringing him back early.

1stWorldProblems · 17/01/2024 07:36

Yes. If you have medical proof that it is caused by an allergy (or in one of my pupil's cases, overheating) then provide it to the school & they should be allowed back in. Otherwise it'll be 48 hours as vomiting bugs can cause serious disruption if they spread in school (& are horrible for the staff to clear up.)

Tailfeather · 17/01/2024 07:39

My DS gets stomach migraines. Once he is finally sick he is fine, eats mountains of food and perks back up. I have a letter from the doctor to assure the school it's not contagious, so I can send him back in the next day. I would obviously keep him off with a stomach bug for 48 hours which presents very differently.

castawave · 17/01/2024 07:41

Are the school aware that it isn't a contagious vomit, and there's another cause? Can you get a doctor's letter to support this?

Longma · 17/01/2024 07:47

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Blessedbethefruitz · 17/01/2024 07:50

Primary schools are pretty reasonable about this stuff I've found. My ds gets diarrhoea for the full duration of antibiotics, so usually 10 days. After his attendance dropped to 60% because they were sending him home with it, I spoke to the head and she agreed if it's antibiotics for his strep/tonsillitis and no other symptoms, he can go in. Equally he's capable of coughing himself sick, so I use judgement on that. But random sicks or obvious bugs, 48 hour rule.

jannier · 17/01/2024 07:54

I've lost count of the number of times I've caught overeating, allergy, teething, overexcited, late night, too much fizz, travel and over heating sickness. It's amazingly spread to the other kids too.

ConflictedCheetah · 17/01/2024 08:11

My DS's primary has dropped the 48 hour rule this year, bafflingly.

ChaosAndCrumbs · 17/01/2024 08:18

ConflictedCheetah · 17/01/2024 08:11

My DS's primary has dropped the 48 hour rule this year, bafflingly.

Gosh, I’m surprised at that! I thought it was part of broader policy? (Clearly I don’t know that much about schools!) That must be a nightmare! Or is it just that parents stick to it even though it’s not a rule?

Clarabellawilliamson · 17/01/2024 08:28

My kids school is 24 hours if you think there is another reason for it, 48 if proper upset stomach/ both ends

Original poster
irishmurdoch · 17/01/2024 08:41

jannier · 17/01/2024 07:54

I've lost count of the number of times I've caught overeating, allergy, teething, overexcited, late night, too much fizz, travel and over heating sickness. It's amazingly spread to the other kids too.

Pretty sure no one's ever caught coeliac disease from my daughter as we stick to the 48 hour rule when she's been glutened. But very annoying to then get letters from the school complaining about her absence record.

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 17/01/2024 08:55

Issue is, too many people claim every time their dc vomits it is not a bug.....then everyone else catches the bug. Most cases if a dc vomits its a bug (unless they actually always get motion sickness and you are travelling when sick). Or for allergies if they eat the food they are allergic and then vomit. But you get some parents that say oh it was just food poisoning and send them in....

Hiddenvoice · 17/01/2024 09:00

Yes it’s a policy in all schools to protect other children
and try prevent staff shortage. If the school is aware of a medical condition that can cause sickness then they might be more lenient. I know my school allows children back in within the 48 hours if the parent has medical proof of the allergy/ illness. If the child has been sick in school though, then the office will always tell the parents that it’s 48 hours after they’ve stopped being sick as the office staff won’t know if it’s a bug or medical condition that’s caused the sickness.

MigGirl · 17/01/2024 09:08

Yes it's policy in all schools. I know it's annoying bit I'd rather that then everyone one try and clame it was something else and we end up with D&V all the time.

I once had to keep DS off after he vomited at breakfast club, because he couldn't stand the smell of the food the child was eating next to him. Honesty he's quite sensative about these things. He was absolutely fine afterwards and was actually rather upset school wouldn't have him back the next day. He seems to be the only one of us in the family that actually ever vomits.

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 17/01/2024 09:11

Those are the rules. Respect them. It is what it is.

NewYearNewMeMamma · 17/01/2024 09:16

A stomach bug isn't always multiple episodes of vomiting. My son vomited once and was fine. I caught it the day after, my husband the day after that. If I'd sent him in, he would've passed it on to a lot of people. There's a 48hr rule for a reason.

Pochacco · 17/01/2024 09:22

I only kept mine off for stomach bug related vomitting.

My eldest used to vomit at the drop of a hat (too much jumping on the trampoline, tasted a food she didn't like etc) and I just didn't tell school and sent her in. Otherwise she'd be constantly off, and the school would probably be accusing me off being a feckless parent who can't be arsed taking her in!

PuttingDownRoots · 17/01/2024 09:30

If I know for a definite theres a reason, I send them. Car sickness for example.
I was once honest with school as well... she drank a cup of milk quickly, started coughing and brought it back up. School accepted her (i was there dropping big sister off so was able to talk to them)

Your case... have you actually talked to the school? Is she being sick at school and being sent home, or sick at home so you don't send her?

Having seen a nasty stomach bug go round my kids school where they would become mildly sick, improve for 24-36 hours then it hot with an absolute vengeance I support the rule for stomach bugs!!

handmademitlove · 17/01/2024 09:32

My DD has coeliac disease and also anxiety related vomiting. Her primary school understood that we could tell the difference between vomiting from cd, anxiety and other bugs. And more importantly, trusted us not to abuse this! So she did go in where we knew the reasons were definitely not bugs, but if any doubt she stayed home.

I would say it depends upon your school and also on the relationship you have with the school!

If it becomes difficult, you can always get in touch with the school nursing team to meditate.

DogLover24 · 17/01/2024 09:42

Blessedbethefruitz · 17/01/2024 07:50

Primary schools are pretty reasonable about this stuff I've found. My ds gets diarrhoea for the full duration of antibiotics, so usually 10 days. After his attendance dropped to 60% because they were sending him home with it, I spoke to the head and she agreed if it's antibiotics for his strep/tonsillitis and no other symptoms, he can go in. Equally he's capable of coughing himself sick, so I use judgement on that. But random sicks or obvious bugs, 48 hour rule.

Not in my experience. DC's last school said "Well if any other parents saw us allowing a child to return after vomiting regardless of the cause, then they'll expect to be allowed to, as well"
This was after CAR SICKNESS! (DC daftly told teacher so was promptly sent home....!!)

DogLover24 · 17/01/2024 09:44

jannier · 17/01/2024 07:54

I've lost count of the number of times I've caught overeating, allergy, teething, overexcited, late night, too much fizz, travel and over heating sickness. It's amazingly spread to the other kids too.

I do get this, but conversely as a parent when your child is ordered to stay off school when they've been sick due to a migraine or bloody car sickness, that's equally as infuriating

jannier · 17/01/2024 09:59

DogLover24 · 17/01/2024 09:44

I do get this, but conversely as a parent when your child is ordered to stay off school when they've been sick due to a migraine or bloody car sickness, that's equally as infuriating

Edited
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But if you get a GP note saying x gets migraine with vomiting they will let them in.