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My first born daughter, Daisy, was born in March 2016. The first few days of her life were amazing, with her being a great sleeper and feeding really well. After that, on April Fool’s Day, Daisy surprised us with her first bout of projectile vomit. Since then Daisy has been diagnosed with FPIES.
FPIES is an allergy syndrome that causes Daisy to have projectile vomiting episodes when she is having a reaction to a food she is allergic to. Today I want to share a slightly light-hearted look at what it is like dealing with a poorly child – by talking about 5 places my child has vomited.
Some of this post was written several years ago, before we found out that her sleeps after reactions were actually a sign of a potentially dangerous health issue, so please take it with the light hearted pinch of salt that it was intended if you’re an FPIES parent, or sufferer, yourself!
At soft play
Negative
There is net at soft play. This does NOT stop the sick…! It is probably one of the worst ever places that Daisy has had a projectile vomiting episode if I am being honest…!
Positive
Soft play has is designed to be wiped clean. This was great as it meant that when I offered to help, and I always do, it was really simple. Daisy was also left to play alone for quite a while afterwards, probably because everyone was worried…! Thankfully it was one of her less severe episodes, so she still felt well afterwards.
I’m sure a LOT of parents have had some sort of bodily fluid incident at a soft play. I’ve witnessed a few myself. Nothing moves parents and children out of a soft play area quicker than a child vomiting though I can tell you that much!
In a restaurant
Negative
People are eating nearby. Not ideal when people are enjoying a date night, or a family meal, but it isn’t deliberate is it!
Positive
People leave pretty sharpish afterwards. This meant I could enjoy my lunch in peace while Daisy had a much needed sleep afterwards.
Once when out to lunch there was a REALLY loud family behind us. You know the type. 5 kids. All shouting. Anyway, they rapidly left after Daisy vomited. Probably because the Mum was rude about Daisy being ‘ill’ and I bit her head off in return.
It can be hard enough to have a poorly child, without people being judgemental when they are taken ill while you’re out.
On a rude person
Negative
Rude people are really expressive. Particularly when covered in vomit.
Positive
Next time someone tells them not to touch their child because she is feeling unwell they may just listen to the parent or caregiver.
We were out shopping one day and a woman was giving me unsolicited parenting advice. I was nodding along, being polite, as you do, and then I spotted the signs that Daisy was about to vomit.
I asked the woman if she could stand back, and tried to explain why, as I was confident Daisy was about to be sick. The woman continued to make a comment about parents today and their need for personal space and WHOOSH. Vomitville. Still, at least I was right..!
In a shop
Negative
If your child vomits in a larger store there could be literally £100s of products on the shelf. Often in fancy cardboard packaging. These will NOT fare well if you try and clean them after a vomiting episode. As we learned in Boots when trying to clean up!
Positive
People often feel really sorry for you in stores and have the facility to give you free stuff. Which is always nice!
Daisy has had a few vomiting episodes in stores, fortunately not for a year or so now. Most stores don’t have carpet – so that is one benefit at least! Also, large stores always have cleaning supplies on hand, so at least it is simple for us to offer to help, and have the right products on hand to do so.
On the Doctor
Negative
If you laugh you will look like a terrible parent, and person.
Positive
The Doctor will FINALLY listen that your child is unwell and the amount of vomit produced is not that of a healthy baby.
Daisy has had a few hospital visits now and initially, we’ve had people who try and fob us off. When she was small they would say it was normal for babies to vomit, acting as if I was over-reacting from the sheer amount of vomit that a 10-day old baby was producing. Once your baby covers just one Doctor in vomit that puts paid to any mention of over-reaction.
