Eventually it will happen. You will be woken up by a kiddo who is not just scared or having trouble sleeping, but instead has a dreaded tummy bug.
I don’t know what scientific principle comes into play here, but 90% of the time if one of your nuggets gets sick it is in the middle of the night. This post is to get you as prepped as you can be for this dreaded event.
First, whatever ends up dirty (blankets, sheets, jammies, towels), do NOT listen to your first instinct to get it into the washer as quickly as possible. Instead get it outside. Next, while one parenting is tending to the child (comforting, rubbing back, getting redressed, etc.) the other one should hose off the soiled articles. The reason for this is that the washer is not made to handle this situation (enough said). To get really prepared, either leave a hose hooked up or at least keep it in an easy to access location. It is best to have one of those sprayer handles attached. Finally, lay things out on a fence or somewhere similar to dry or you will track gross water through the house. The next day at some point they should be dry enough to not drip on their way to the washer. Some of the newer cycles have a “sanitize” setting, but either way wash on as high a temp setting as possible.
Second, resist the kiddos request for water. Water contributes to tummy sickness. Yeah… wish I had heard that one a few years earlier than I did. (enough said again). The next day once they start to feel better you can get Ginger Ale, Pedialite, Gatoraid to rehydrate.
Third, as kiddos get older train them that if they ever feel sick to go to the toilet. Not the sink, not the bathtub, not the trashcan. This does not come naturally to a kid (enough said again).
Fourth, follow the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) or something else similar. This is not going to be a kid favorite at all, but it is better than the alternative.
Finally, in my experience this is usually one of those things you just have to get through. It is not normally a doctor visit thing. Just bunker down, quarantine, sanitize, do your best.
This is an aweful experience, but in a weird way it can be very bonding. For a child to have both parents there for them in this very hard time is special. Those moments where you lay the kiddo back down in clean jammies (and pray with everything you have it is the last time you see them that night) are very sweet.
Good luck. : )
p.s. I will probably follow up with all of the stuff Christina thinks of once she reads this. : )