The most important thing a good parent needs to remember is that nobody knows their kid better than they do. Natural instincts factor in, but more than that, you are the one who has seen your child through every bump, scrape, and illness. You know how they respond to shots, teeth, ibuprofen, and strawberries. You know what breakfast foods settle their stomach on the day of a big test.
No matter what the general rules are, you know what exceptions exist for your child.
Case in point, two of my three children are "pukers."
As infants, Joey and Max suffered from acid reflux. After three months of colic, Joey settled into what his pediatrician referred to as being "a happy puker." My chubby boy would sit in his toys, jolly music playing or the TV on in the background, and about twenty minutes after eating his tummy would erupt and regurgitated milk was everywhere.
No matter what I tried, all of his white shirts were ultimately stained brown at the collar and often down the front. Needless to say, those never made it as hand-me-downs to Noah.
Max, on the other hand, was a decidedly unhappy puker. From the first week he came home from the hospital, he struggled to eat at all. After a (very emotional) few weeks, the pediatrician hugged me and prescribed him medicine. Without that medicine, I don't know if Max ever would have eaten or slept as an infant.
Perhaps infant reflux is something lots of babies grow out of. Mine did not. No, they don't explode after every meal, but I find that this predisposition to overly acidy tummies manifests itself in other ways.
Stressed?
Puke.
Headache?
Puke.
Too much ice cream?
Puke.
Dehydrated?
Yup, you guessed it.
Here are 10 truths I've learned to accept as part of my general reality:
1. Ginger ale should be on hand at all times. Key words: TINY SIPS.
2. The difference between just a normal bout of the pukes and an actual GI virus can be determined by the acceptance/desire for ginger ale.
3. Dry cereal is a great go-to for settling things after a bout of vomiting.
4. Oyster crackers are a close second, but a gentle beverage is necessary (tiny sips!).
5. Hydrating is a great way to head off a later bout of the pukes.
6. If a headache is coming on (and whether or not it's connected, both Max and Joey are prone to migraines), treating the headache early can prevent stomach upset.
7. Keep their bowels healthy and regular. If they throw up, it's one of the first things I question: when is the last time you pooped?
8. On a hot summer day, avoid acidic fruits and spicy foods. Hydrate with water and popsicles. Monitor them while swimming; they become dehydrated more quickly than other kids. (I suspect this is due to the high level of acid/pH of their tummies.)
9. If they say they feel nauseated, teach them to go to the bathroom immediately. It's not a drill! Kids who are prone to puking will throw up at least 85% of the time. Keep a stool in there for them to sit on, and bring them ginger ale. Do not just sit on the couch to "wait and see."
10. Other people will judge your parenting and your child(ren). They will roll their eyes and assume that you have somehow encouraged your child to vomit. As the person who must CLEAN UP, you know this is not the case. However, other people's opinions of you are not your problem. Even when it's difficult, try to close your ears to this negativity (because seriously, you're dealing with pukers so you don't need that $h!t).
Do all children vomit due to any/all of these causes? Probably. But my truth is that someone is throwing up in my house at least once a week, and it's not due to illness. It has been a long haul for me to accept this, but also a kind of relief. Once you know this is just part of who they are, it's easier to just relax, follow the routine, and help them through whatever the trouble is (today).
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