Advice about 15 month old please!!

WelshLamb

Hi, couldn't find a parenting board so thought I'd put this here -although nothing to do with moneysaving, although it would cut down on my washing!!)

My 15 month has been ill for the past week, vomiting etc. The past few days he's been getting better, no vomiting at night or during the day. However the last couple of mornings when I check on him there's vomit in his cot (I check on him several times a night and have the baby moniter on but he's fine) e.g this morning 5am he was fast asleep and nothing in his cot. He started to stir and make noise 7.30am so I went to get him- and there was vomit in the cot!

To add, he's started to have monster tantrums - normal apparently at his age - and I let him get them out of his system, and once they're over and he realises Mummy's not giving up, he's back to normal. However, mid tantrum yesterday he strted to stick his fingers down his throat to try and make himself sick, and he did the same this morning when things didn't do his own way.

I'm horrified at the idea, but do you guys think he might be making hismelf sick for attention?(I did pamper him a bit when he was ill - asyou do - but it's not that I ignore him now!!!) Would a 15 month old be this wise? Any ideas or similar situations by anyone?

I've been on a few parents comminuty boards, and will contact the HV for advice tomorrow, but just wondering if anyone has any experiences or advice abot this?

fsdss

welshlamb

if he's still getting over his sickness it can be usual for night time sickness, you could relieve the pressure on his tummy by putting a pillow under his matress just to raise his head when sleeping (under the matress because you dont want to be washing it every day)

right tantrums - normal behaviour for a child of 15months, making yourself sick is also normal as they have learned that once sick they will be given some attention etc. what i suggest that you do is if he is making himself sick, ignore him and turn your back, if someone else is in the room talk to them out in full view. its very difficult to ignore a child whose running around with puke all down their front but once everythings calmed down wash and change them without mentioning the sick etc.

it'll take 2-3 days of this technique (ignoring technique) to change his behaviour providing that it is done correctly.

if this is as clear as mud its bcos its sun morning and im half dead from last nights do...

WelshLamb

Thanks, yes I've put a pillow under the mattress for him, but I really think the night sickness has passed...

Right so he probably knows what he's doing with this fingers down throat. Because he isn't walking yet, I keep thinking he's still a baby, but I did think that he knew what he was doing. They're a lot wiser than we give them credit for aren't they? I've started telling him "yuck" and "no" firmly when he does it then ignoring him so if I carry on with that, hopefully, he'll eventually forget about it.

Thanks for confirming that for me fsdss;)

stardoman

A registered childminder friend of mine used to look after a little girl who did this. The little girl was a bit older than you child as she was 2. My friend looked after 3 children under the age of 5 and this little girl did not like any of the other children getting any attention (she was a much loved only child). If Fiona spoke or played with any of the other children then this little girl would make herself sick. Therefore, she was doing it several times every day.

Fiona did it the way the other poster suggested. She told her that if she was sick she was too poorly to play and the little girl had to sit on the sofa and watch for a few minutes before being allowed to rejoin the play. As this girl was older, she had been doing it for longer and unfortunately it took months before she stopped doing it altogether. It got to the point where my friend was considering giving notice as one of the last times she did it was in the car and she leant over one of the other toddlers and was sick over him.

Having said all that, he's probably just realised that he's getting lots of panicky attention when he's sick and is not 100% yet

HTH. Mandy.

hardpressed

Sorry to ask but how has a 15month old learned to stick his fingers down his throat to make himself sick? Has he got older siblings who have shown him this trick? It's possible that he has something irritating his throat and is trying to get rid of it, might be an idea to get the doctor or health visitor to check.

Counting_Pennies_2

I too would say just get it checked with the GP in case.

If not it is a case of getting on with whatever you are doing and ignore it. When my son was about this age he decided to have a tantrum every time I tried to put him in his push chair. He would cry and cry until he gagged. I used to get horrid looks from passers by. Just ignore it and carry on, don't even say yuck as even that has given his action attention. For me it was a case of one knee on him to keep him sat while I strapped him in (didn't help with the passers by comments!) No harm was done to him, the tantrum finished as soon as the strapping in the pushchair had happened and it was all nice, even if mummy was a little flustered!

This only lasted a week, they move on when they realise they get nothing in return for the tantrum!

fsdss

Counting_Pennies wrote:

I too would say just get it checked with the GP in case.

If not it is a case of getting on with whatever you are doing and ignore it. When my son was about this age he decided to have a tantrum every time I tried to put him in his push chair. He would cry and cry until he gagged. I used to get horrid looks from passers by. Just ignore it and carry on, don't even say yuck as even that has given his action attention. For me it was a case of one knee on him to keep him sat while I strapped him in (didn't help with the passers by comments!) No harm was done to him, the tantrum finished as soon as the strapping in the pushchair had happened and it was all nice, even if mummy was a little flustered!

This only lasted a week, they move on when they realise they get nothing in return for the tantrum!

exactly and well done, children learn by using their mouths, he has obviously realised that by exploring with his mouth he can make himself sick and get some rewarding attention from it. i wouldnt go to the gp with this at the moment, however i would ring your HV just for reassurance.

WelshLamb

hardpressed wrote:

Sorry to ask but how has a 15month old learned to stick his fingers down his throat to make himself sick? Has he got older siblings who have shown him this trick? It's possible that he has something irritating his throat and is trying to get rid of it, might be an idea to get the doctor or health visitor to check.

He hasn't learned to be sick off anyone way as far as I know. He has been ill a while lately, first he has broncitis, then developed a bad cold as he had 4 teeth coming through, and to top it off he's had this stomach bug. I think he might be putting his fingers down his throat as he seems to have a lot of mucus in his throat and when he is ill a lot comes up.

Will see how he goes next couple of days and if he still throws up will take him to see the DR but will give the HV a ring this morning for a chat.

Thanks for the advice about the tantrums, that is something I can be sure of!! Been perserving all weekend and he seems to be getting the message - bless him...those big brown eyes;)

jellyhead

awww, poor little sausage has been very poorly recently. just wondering is it possible that he's teething again or has a throat infection? it's a natural reaction when feeling pain around the face etc. area to put their hand in the mouth, they can't do much else about it. my baby puts his fingers too far down his throat when he's teething, and makes himself sick so i try to make sure he has teethers etc. and a dummy helps. one of his colds lasted for ages and i thought he mnight have a sinus infection, although the doc says babies don't have sinuses. but he needed antibiotics toi clear up whatever was causing the temperature etc. and all the snotty stuff coming from his mouth when he coughed. ick!

he might just be being a pickle though. i remember my first was having proper tantrums by this age and my 8 month old has started already! he'll be 15 months old when my baby arrives and i'm dreading it because he's so strong willed and stubborn :rotfl: people forget how clever and manipulative such young children can be, but i still feel sorry for yours because he's had such a rough time, little sweetheart (and for you, it's a nightmare when they're poorly).

Becles

My youngest had terrible tantrums.

I found the best way was grab hold of him and hold him to me chest to chest. Then I'd cross my arms round his back and hold the his upper arms so he couldn't move his arms. He was really strong and tried for a minute to break free, but then he'd realise he was stuck and go limp and start crying. I'd relax the grip into a hug while he composed himself, then we'd have a little chat about his behaviour and why I didn't like tantrums. That worked!

likabu_2

My 18 month old has terrible tantrums also. If he doesn't get his own way or is told "no" is either bites his forefinger or pushes his hand down his throat until he gags.

He does this for attention because the 1st time I saw him do it he had a reaction from me. The more I ignore this behaviour and give attention to his older brother while he does this the quicker he stops. He is gradually doing it less frequently.

The tantrums are still horrid!!

Lisa