DCG Threw Up

[AuntTami]

The little DCG I posted about the other day got sent home early today. She has this blanket that she SCREAMS for nearly all day long if she's not allowed to have it. I've told her she can have it, but it needs to stay on the couch. She's okay with that any other time, EXCEPT when it comes to eating.

I've been struggling to get her to eat ALL week. Most of the time she flat out refuses. But, the few times I have gotten her to eat, she throws up. She gets herself SO worked up and she's crying SO hard because she can't have her blanket in her lap while she eats that she throws up anything that I actually did get her to eat.

Yesterday afternoon I spoon fed her a few bites of mac and cheese, she threw up, but missed herself so I cleaned her up and let it go.

Today, she was whining and crying all through lunch, but it was much less intense than yesterday, and she actually ate most of her lunch. I thought "Oh YAY! She's finally getting it!" Then she puked...all over herself, my upholstered dining room chair, the table, and the floor.. I took her to the bathroom to wash her up and checked in her bag and low and behold- even though dad was TOLD to send her a complete change of clothes, theres no pants for her to wear. So, I call dad to come pick her up, which he agreed to do. Was I in the right here? I felt kind of bad calling, but she's puked EVERY day this week! Not because she's sick, but because she's SO worked up! When is enough enough?

I just texted dad apologizing for the inconvenience and explaining that I thought it was going so well. He responded with " It's okay, its the only time I can take off it was a good thing I had court if I miss any work or leave early without a court thing or doctors note I get fired and that wouldn't be good for either of us"
While I agree with him that it wouldn't be good for anyone, ultimately this is HIS kid, NOT MINE, and it's HIS responsibility to pick her up if needed...
Also, we DID go over the contract today, and he's aware of everything in my handbook. I sent him home with a copy to go over on his own, and we agreed on a higher rate for her, so that's good at least.

[NeedaVaca]

She's 2 1/2 right? I would not spoon feed her or make any comments about eating. Set the plate in front of her and walk away. If you are encouraging her to eat it's just adding fuel to the fire and probably working her up even more. She either eats or she doesn't.

Dad needs to make sure he has a emergency backup if he can't pick her up when you need him to.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

1. Set the plate down and let her choose. If she doesn't eat then she doesn't eat. But, at least you offered.

2. Any puking and the child needs to go home. You aren't a Doctor and are not qualified to diagnose WHY this child is vomiting.

3. He MUST have at least 2 emergency contact people written down by him who can come and get her if he is unable to.

[CraftyMom]

What do the parents say about her wanting to just sit with her blanket all day? Are they wanting you to allow it? Or do they want her to not have it all day?

[AuntTami]

I'll have to get another contact. I have grandma as an additional contact now. I texted grandma right before I called dad asking her if she could come get her. I knew dad was in court, and wasn't sure I would be able to get ahold of him. Grandma said she got off work at 3 and would come then, but I wasn't about to let her sit without clothes for over 3 hours. Fortunately, I got ahold of dad and he was able to come get her right away.

Dad is okay with her having her blanket. He allows her to carry it around and wherever she wants to take it. He said he puts it on the back of her chair while she eats, but that's not going to fly around here.

[Heidi]

Blankets are for nap time only. A child with a "lovey" like that can keep it in their cubbie, hug it once in a while if needed, and take it to nap. That's all.

Eating; as the others suggested. Offer food, keep it positive, and she'll eat when she's hungry.

[AmyKidsCo]

ITA about the feeding - provide the food then let her decide what to eat.

I disagree (ITD??) about the lovey. I let my children have their loveys whenever they want/need them. I figure that if I get twitchy when I don't have my phone how can I expect a little one to give up their security item?

I wouldn't let her have it on her lap while she's eating; I have the children put them on the floor by or under their chairs, or if they're really attached I lay them over the back of the chair behind the booster so it's right by them but not so likely to get dirty.

[AuntTami]

If she eats next time, and she pukes again, do I send her home again? If I send her home every time she pukes from crying, I'll be sending her home every day and I'm pretty sure that's not going to go over well with her family.

[Cradle2crayons]

If she eats next time, and she pukes again, do I send her home again? If I send her home every time she pukes from crying, I'll be sending her home every day and I'm pretty sure that's not going to go over well with her family.

Then maybe her family should teach her to deal with eating rather than dramatic tantrums that lead to vomiting?? This isn't your problem to handle except for the fact of the sanitary issue to dcg is making you clean up.

[Controlled Chaos]

I had a dck that age that would also FREAK out about the blanket. I found she did better when the blanket was out of sight. I would put it in the closet with the cots (in her cubby was even too hard) until nap, she would be sad for a second but then was fine. It only took a few days. She was also not a great eater but I second what everyone else says. Offer the food, but no pressure to eat it.

I had a habitual barfer when I first started. He grew out of it but he would often vomit if too excited, dizzy, ate too fast... The mom and I used the same pediatrician and I knew she was taking him in for it every free months, but there wasn't anything to be done. He had a crazy sensitive gag reflex and his mom as an adult even tossed her cookies easily and she was always willing to pick up if I asked but I would usually give him a "free" barf and I would call mom on the second or if he had other symptoms.

[jenboo]

1. Blanket is for nap time. Most children do better with it out of sight. It will be rough at first but she will learn.
2. Give her a plate of food and do not worry if she eats it or not. IRS not your stomach that's going to be hungry.
3. Send her home when she pukes and do not apologize. Patents need to deal with their child, not you.

[nanglgrl]

If I remember right this little gal is going through her parents breaking up and custody arrangements and in that case I would let her have her blanket and give her a little extra loving. Now normally I would put a blanket up as soon as a child arrived (if I allowed it at all) and just get it down for nap because I tend to look into the long term with behaviors but there are some special cases where I just have to take it day by day with a child because if their special circumstances. Does that even make any sense? Lol. I agree with the others also who just said to put the plate in front of her and then not to do anything else.

[AuntTami]

That makes sense ^^^^^ maybe she's losing it because it's the only constant in her life right now so it's a bigger deal than normal? That's never crosse my mind but would make sense! You're correct she just got places with her dad and had a neglectful mother so she's a special case, but is she going to ALWAYS want the blanket then if I let her have it for a while?

[AuntTami]

Tried putting blanket on the back of her chair today...That seemed to work better. She still didn't eat her lunch, but we made it through the day without puking and she ate an entire container of yogurt for snack without puking. YAY!

[Baby Beluga]

Tried putting blanket on the back of her chair today...That seemed to work better. She still didn't eat her lunch, but we made it through the day without puking and she ate an entire container of yogurt for snack without puking. YAY!

That's great!