Seeking Others Ideas/solutions for Child Throwing Up

My friend is the same way and she lets her kids sleep in a sleeping bag by the bathroom when they get sick. That way they are close to the toilet and they never make messes with puke.

This is much more common than you might think. I used to have a strong gag response to others tossing their cookies. I could still easily go there if I let myself.

I knew a biology teacher who would prepare the class for dissections by telling us that the only reason people have a nausea response to smells is because we use the sense of smell to detect what is eatable and what is not. He said the reason surgeons can do this everyday is because they never think of tasting what they are looking at. I suppose the reason feces and regurgitated matter evoke the gag response is because it contains matter that was eaten. So, I learned to think of such things the same way I think of spoiled or moldy foods that stayed too long in the fridge. It isn't a pleasant smell, but it is just food that has progressed to the stage of fertilizer. In other words, it is now meant to feed plants instead of people. Somehow, that change of attitude actually helped me. I just categorized it differently in my mind.

Some surgeons and medical examiners also use a little trick of dabbing something like Vick's Vapor Rub above the upper lip to prevent smelling what is in front of them. This can work remarkably well to inhibit the gag response.

If these approaches don't not work for you, you may be dealing with a subconscious response mechanism that is difficult to change with mental tricks like the one I used. In this case there are a number of things you could try. I am a therapist that practices advanced methods of acupressure for neurological integration. In short, we reprogram the brain's software and have been largely successful in moderating such subconscious automatic responses that can cause things like learning difficulties and coordination problems.

Although seeing someone like a Brain Integration therapist, an Integrated Healing therapist, or even a hypnotherapist might be helpful for you, there is a technique that combines a simple combination of self hypnosis and acupressure that you can learn to do for yourself. It is called Emotional Freedom Techniques. I have taught this to many clients so they can use it whenever they need to in order to get control of emotional and physical responses that were once out of control.

You can learn EFT from a practitioner or go to the www.emofree.com website and download a free manual to learn it for yourself. You are welcome to visit the EFT page on my website as well, http://www.thelearningbrain.me/Site/EFT.html.

And, one more practical tip. There are vomit clean up kits you can order online. Some include odor covering absorbent granules that you can sprinkle on immediately to make the cleanup processes less challenging. You might also go to a pet supply store for ideas. I even saw something online called a 'yak pack' to keep in the car. One product that I found is particularly good at getting odors out of carpets is called Odo-Ban. But, I remember the janitors at the school using sawdust to help absorb and deodorize vomit so it was easier to clean up.

Good luck!

I work in the medical field, and throw up makes me throw up. When they start heaving I do too. My husband's a nurse and it doesn't bother him at all, so if he's home, he's sweet enough to handle it. The best way to get it out of carpet is by putting kitty litter on it to soak up the liquid (and the smell) and then vacuum it all up. I just ball up the dirty sheets and throw them in the washer. The less contact I have with the vomit, the less it bothers me, so if its on the floor I put a bunch of paper towels over it to soak it up, put my hand inside a grocery bag and wipe it up quick. As for the child with vomit all over him/her, I put them in the tub and let them soak. Most of the vomit goes down the drain.

Don't feel bad, we're mommy's but we're not superwoman. I can deal with poop, pee, snots, but vomit is my kryptonite.

I'm not sure how old your dd is, but there is an anti-nausea medicine called Emetrol, we got it from Walgreens and it helped our dd when she was throwing up over and over all night.

From carpet, I would use Spot Shot, which is what we've used on ours for the kiddo and the dog vomit. (our dog makes herself sick if she has an accident, and I wish she wouldnt. I'd much rather clean up pee/poo than vomit any day!)

From linens, I shake it into the toilet to get any chunks (this is the part that usually makes me want to vomit myself, but at least the toilet is nearby!) then throw it in the washer with the new tide stain release stuff and regular detergent. It does the trick, usually no pretreating (except the time we had pink vomit, then I pretreated and used the stain release).

Don't feel bad Brenda. There is just nothing to like about what happens when someone gets sick except the part when they finally get well!
When my kids are sick I put a trash can by their beds with one of those trash bags with the pull and tie (drawstring type) handles in it. Make sure to fold the bag over the outside of the trashcan. If they feel sick and don't have time to make it to the bathroom they can use the trash can lined with the bag and then I ask them to pull the string to close the bag. It's easy for them to do and makes it much easier for me to just go in and get the bag and take it outside. This way you don't have to see anything and the smell is contained.
Good luck, and again, please don't feel guilty. In the grand scheme of things, this is small stuff. :)
God bless!
Christi

UGH! I am the same way! I have the worst gag reflexes ever. Watching something nasty on TV or like you , just thinking about it can/will make me vomit.

The only way I have dealt with it is by having my DH clean it up:)

I have been home alone and had to deal with puking on my own and it sucked...I ended up puking too! I have no solution for you...I am sorry. I try to talk my way threw it, by telling myself I can do it...and NOT focusing on the mess.

I have found that Dove dish soap and warm water work the best for my carpet (it's wool? don't know if that makes a difference?) Linens I just throw outside and spray w/the hose (who am I kidding, DH does this part) and then throw'em into the washer w/some borax type cleaners.

Start here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emetophobia
It's REALLY common. When I was younger I wouldn't eat for long stretches of time for fear I might be sick even if there was no reason to believe I wouldn't. I've gotten better over the years, not totally but I'm able to function pretty well even when there are sick people around. I think it helped a little knowing I wasn't alone.
There are a number of websites devoted to cures and support, I can't recommend any in particular as I'm not a member but it might help.

You shouldn't feel bad for this..It's not your fault and it DEFINATELY does not make you a bad mother. There's nothing you can really do about the sight and hearing it...But maybe keep some candles lit and a can of air freshner in arms reach... But just don't let it get you down... It's nothing to be ashamed about and like I said it does not make you a bad mom..It's just you and that's all your child needs...I hope eveything works out for you. Cheer up :)

You are not alone. I have a friend that is exactly the same way. She is a WONDERFUL mommy, as I'm sure you are too! Not sure if you have a husband or significant other, but my friend and her husband have a deal - he deals w/ vomit, she deals w/ diarrhea. Hope this helps! Chin up!

You have no reason to feel ashamed. What this is is a phobia, and yes there are some medications that you can take to overcome these feelings. It is very common honey, and you are not a bad mother for having a phobia. I myself am terrified of the dark, so much so that I will not go out any where if I can not make it home before it becomes night fall. Your doctor will be able to help you deal with this, and then you will feel better and more calm.

Updated

You have no reason to feel ashamed. What this is is a phobia, and yes there are some medications that you can take to overcome these feelings. It is very common honey, and you are not a bad mother for having a phobia. I myself am terrified of the dark, so much so that I will not go out any where if I can not make it home before it becomes night fall. Your doctor will be able to help you deal with this, and then you will feel better and more calm.

Vomit and urine. Cannot stand them. Potty training was the most effective form of birth control that I know. Needless to say, I only have two kids!

This does not make us bad parents, this makes us humans. Please don't be embarrassed!

This may sound disgusting, but we have the throw-up dish. It's an 88-cent plastic bowl from walmart and the kids keep it close to them when they are queasy. Once the deed is done, I throw a paper towel over the top so I don't have to look at it and flush it all down the toilet. This has saved our carpet on more than one occassion.

Should they not make it to the dish, I take a deep breath and hold it, try to clean as much as I can and get the spot-shot out. And I do try not to throw up myself.

I'm getting nauseous just thinking about all of this! Anyway, hope it helps!

My husband has the same problem. He could deal with anything but vomit. It's just an aversion so don't feel bad. He's in the medical field too. He can watch the hammering of bones but not vomit. LOL!
The best thing that I have found to clean anything off of carpets is a product called Folex. I have only seen it at Lowe's. It comes in a white bottle and has purple writing on it. It is in the cleaning aisle. Bed lines, I usually rinse off in the sink first or double wash them. For the large comforters I would take them to the laundromat if they don't fit into your washer.
Don't be embarrassed! We all have sights or smells that make us crazy!
Don't tell anyone but I am deathly afraid of moths!! :)

First you should know you are not alone. I have a very weak stomach in this area and every time my girls get sick I get physically nauseaus too. I am lucky that my husband can handle this kind of situation and he does if he is home. If they get sick in the night he takes care of them while I gather up the sheets and pj's if need be and throw them in the wash. If you don't have that luxury the only thing I can say, what I've had to do when he's not there, is suck it up. You're the mom, do it, feel sick and get over it...that's what I do b/c I haven't found another solution. I can say that Fabreeze Car spray works really well to take the smell away, better than the regular Fabreeze or the flowery spray things. If your daughter is old enough give her a plastic trash can to keep beside her if she's sick so she can grab it in case she can't make it to the bathroom. Or double layer a couple of plastic shopping bags and have her keep them beside her, then they can just go out in the trash and you may not have to see or smell it.