Parents: Do you teach your children how to vomit?

Posted by PracticeNo8733@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 38 comments

(When they need to - not how to induce it!) A recent comment mentioning emetophobia made me think of this. When I was young I hated vomiting (from stomach upsets etc) and experienced vomit up the nose, etc. It was only much later that I worked out (on my own) that it was trying to hold it in that made it so bad. I remember from (IIRC) QI that the original UK boy scout manual actually cautioned against this, but I haven't seen anything in modern times telling children about it like we do with things like tooth brushing. Do you teach your children about not holding it in, leaning forward, rinsing after but not brushing for a while, etc?

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38 Comments

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mu5tbetheone@reddit

No, newborns can do it without hesitation. It is not something that would need to be taught.

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Peskycat42@reddit

Hot take, but I believe the tendency to vomit is at least partly genetic. My son vomited twice in his entire childhood and as an adult, only the Norovirus has brought him that low. I havent vomited in over 35 years, and that was appendicitis. Its not that either of us hold it in, we simply don't feel nausea in the first place (other than exceptional circumstances). I know families who seem to vomit with every cough and cold.

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acnebbygrl@reddit

It’s a reflex so most people can’t hold it in. That sounds like a behaviour you picked up at some point?. Vomiting is usually subconscious and holding it in is conscious. Though there are some situations where inducing vomiting can be useful for example when you’re nauseous and dry retching. I’ve never heard of trying to keep it in though, sounds very uncomfortable and contrary to the sensation of nausea.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit (OP)

Yeah, from this thread it does rather seem as if it was just me!

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arenaross@reddit

Absolutely not.

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BaldyBaldyBouncer@reddit

Every morning I check this sub and every morning there is a post that makes me say WTF out loud.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit (OP)

I'm happy to have been of service.

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VolcanicBear@reddit

I'm not a parent but I always found vomiting wasn't something I needed to be taught.

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Over-Space833@reddit

Isn't it just a reflex? Like coughing and sneezing. When you need to, it just happens.

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

Am a parent. Can confirm babies don't have many instinctive skills, but vomiting is one they do have.

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

Am a parent. Can confirm babies don't have many instinctive skills, but vomiting is one they do have.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

As a parent, I can assure you that it does not.

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SpaceWomble64@reddit

I really couldn’t agree more 😀

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Biceratops1@reddit

Vomiting is a natural and usually involuntary response, trust me they will just vomit if they need to.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit (OP)

I'm not talking about the actual forcing-the-stomach-contents out mechanism, but the stuff around it (not holding it in, rinsing but not brushing after, etc).

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luckyowl91@reddit

I didn't have to teach my kids how to vomit I did however have to teach them to just go to the toilet if they felt it coming and not come to me say I feel sick then just projectile on the floor

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Perfect_Ending7@reddit

Is a reflex something you’re supposed to teach? Never heard of that one. When I ever needed to vomit it just happened and same for my children lol.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit (OP)

I don't mean the actual vomiting as that will happen either way, I mostly mean not trying to hold it in - but also not brushing your teeth immediately after (which was what I used to do).

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Perfect_Ending7@reddit

Oh - still a no then as I’ve never really heard of being told to hold it in and wouldn’t brush my teeth immediately incase it happened again and was a bug? I’ve never been able to hold vomit in either, it just happens so a little surprised if others ever got told to try do this. I suppose if anything then all I’ve said to my children is try run to the toilet or similar to do it if possible and I know if it’s all over the floor or bed then it’s because they couldn’t 😆

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PracticeNo8733@reddit (OP)

> and wouldn’t brush my teeth immediately incase it happened again and was a bug? More because the acid softens enamel so brushing may do damage (like brushing soon after eating acidic/acid-generating foods.) > it just happens so a little surprised if others ever got told to try do this. I don't think I was ever told to do it, but I got the notion that vomiting was bad/unpleasant and so tried to stop it.

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TSC-99@reddit

Erm no

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lollypop254@reddit

Im a parent, I have emetaphobia and no

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TSC-99@reddit

Me too

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iwannabeinnyc@reddit

How do you cope?!

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History_fangirl@reddit

No but I provide support and reassurance when my little is being ill. We also just clean it up without any drama including the compassionate care of cleaning teeth/comfort/meds etc. Someone in my family has a vomit phobia which can’t be helped but unfortunately this rubbed onto us kids as vomit = the worst thing you can ever do and has contributed hugely to my anxiety disorder as an child which still has consequences now as an adult.

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Hyperion2023@reddit

I have two kids who both got severely carsick at times, between about age 2 to 7, and they’re both ‘tidy’ spewers. They’re both unflustered, and just get it out and get cleaned up, wipe their face, sips of water, and get on with their day. As the family driver and emetophobe, I couldn’t be more grateful that they’re able to deal with it Side note- keep a supply of dog poo bags in the car, as they’re the perfect size for a minor spew and can be tied up and contained til you get to stop somewhere

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DameKumquat@reddit

I've said "better out than in" but that's about it. And when they feel hot and weird, that's time to run to the loo / shout to pull over the car. Thank fuck they've grown out of it. Car sickness in triplicate still haunts me.

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WordWizardx@reddit

Oddly enough, I’ve still never seen my 17yo vomit. He’s done it on my MIL twice! I presume he figured it out on his own :-P

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spynie55@reddit

No, my children were good at it from long before they could speak.

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hocfutuis@reddit

No, she's always managed to spew just fine in her own. I have taught her to wash her face with a cool flannel, and rinse her mouth afterwards, just to feel vaguely more human afterwards though

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GotAnyNirnroot@reddit

This must be a brand new sentence lmao

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Fickle_Pirate5617@reddit

With three children all in different places (nursery, infants, junior), I do not have to teach them to vomit. They are spewing forth in abundance all by themselves. Gifted.

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CindersHonner123@reddit

I've always coached them through it . But never considered I'd been teaching them. I also have solid bins in their room that can be grabbed instantly if needed.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit (OP)

I still use a solid bucket as a bedroom bin for the same reason, though as an adult non-drinker it hasn't been needed in a while.

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Current_Fly9337@reddit

I always advised mine to let it out, you can choke on it. I can clean the carpet.

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Suspicious_Force_890@reddit

not a parent but i remember being unwell and told to just let it out, breathe in between etc etc. i think i learned a bit later on not to brush your teeth soon after - this was always coordinated by my mum when i was very little

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LikeEveryoneSheKnows@reddit

I don't think I did, beyond saying to make sure you try to get to the loo. I think it's instinct to lean forward. They seem to have figured it out at any rate!

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