Throwing up when upset (and not necessarily while crying)

[LiLStar]

There's been several incidences of ds (18 mo) throwing up from being upset, with or without crying. All within the last couple months. I should mention that none of these incidents were accompanied by any symptoms of illness, and he was immediately back to himself after. (at least, when i got back to him in the times when he was in someone else's care) He was a very spitty infant till around 7-8 months, if thats related.

1. dropped the kids off with my sil for a couple hours so we could unload our uhaul *quickly* and return it on time! When we picked him up she said he'd thrown up, and she thinks it was from crying so hard. 

2. Left with a babysitter at home, she said he was fine as long as she held him. But then she had to put him down in order to help dd with getting into her jammies and ready for bed. And thats when he puked. 

3. This one I didn't connect as possibly related until recently, but it might fit the pattern. I took him into the shower with me, and.. he didn't like it. But he did not cry at all. He clung to me like a little koala, was very quiet, still, tense. Was hoping he'd warm up to it after a few minutes and relax and maybe even learn to like it. I hardly even noticed it happen, but then I look down, and I'm covered in vomit! 

4. His first day in our church nursery (it starts at 18 months) I stayed with him a while, and he was doing great and really enjoying himself. So I told him, "okay, I'm going to go to my class now. I'll come right back if you need me" and of course he ran over and clung a little bit, I did hugs and kisses, a teacher called him over and distracted him while I walked out. He was playing when I left. Not 5 minutes later, someone comes to get me because he'd thrown up. They said he did start crying, but they were able to comfort him and he calmed down. He was not crying at the time he threw up. 

5. this was last night. dh and i divide and conquer at bed time. He was in the middle of snuggling when he got up to use the bathroom. I'm in with dd, going through our routine. Of course ds starts to cry. After not even a minute, he'd escalated to sounding REALLY upset so I went in to hold him till dh got back. He just snuggled into my lap, very sweet, calm, cuddly. Then out of nowhere throws up all over my lap.. ew!!! 

So.. what the heck? I really don't think he's doing this on purpose. The times I witnessed never involved any coughing, or fingers or anything in his mouth to gag on. Just spontaneous! All but the shower were due to being left with someone, or in last night's case, alone. And even me coming to him and holding him doesn't prevent it.. its like if he gets too upset, the damage is done and there's no preventing the inevitable? How can dh and I ever have a night out if this is his reaction to babysitters? I know I could hire a mommy's helper  he could still potentially throw up even if I'm right upstairs. And then how much money would I have to invest (all the while doing mundane things like laundry.. and I'd rather just pay someone to do that and play with my kids myself! lol) before he's actually comfortable with her?

[LiLStar]

Bumping.. do I really have the only separation anxiety puker? :(

[HopefullyMama]

Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone!

The little guy I nanny for is an upset-puker.  However, he has alot of other medical issues, too, that we have not figured out.  For example, he's almost 2 and weighs as much as an 8 month old....still hasn't even tripled his birth weight.  

What we have figured out is this: he does have a sensitive gap reflex (any little bit of coughing usually triggers the puking -- got that from his mom), and he has reflux pretty badly too (so sometimes, his tummy is just upset, I think -- got that from his dad).  Could either of these be an issue with your DS?  

Other than that, the parents and I are at a loss for what to do, so I have very little in the way of advice for you.  Just commiseration.  

Hope you figure it out soon!

[HopefullyMama]

Oh!  I did forget to mention one trick that we learned: 

When my guy gets "that face" that we know means he's going to puke, sometimes it works to startle him.  Like, clap your hands really loudly, or shout "YIPEE!!", or blow into his face.  Just something totally unexpected.  

This does not always work...but it does some times.

HTH!

[LiLStar]

Yeah, he was a VERY spitty infant. Think beach towels, not burp cloths ;) And when sick with even simple things like a cold, he often throws up. I assume its a post nasal drip gagging thing, because that would usually be first thing in the morning. And PND is always worse first thing in the morning! Sometimes in the middle of the night too. But he's definitely not having any trouble in the weight gain dept! He was 10lb 2 oz at birth, and has always stayed above 95%. At his one year he was 27lbs, I haven't weighed him since but I'm sure he's gone over 30 by now. 

I really want to go on a date with my husband! But not when "Can you babysit?" means "are you available to clean up puke?"

[physmom]

You're not the only one.  DD does the exact same.  When she first started with her babysitter she would trow up all the time.  I wish I had some good advice but I'm really pressed for time so I'll try and come back latter. 
 

[shnitzel]

DD almost never spit up when she was a baby. To the point where I didn't even bother with burping or burp cloths b/c they were completely unnecessary. She used to throw up every time she cried and went through a stage where she would make herself throw up b/c she thought it was funny and has random nights where she vomits, often when she is overtired. Now she just gags but doesn't vomit when she cries but does throw up every time I leave her with a babysitter (which I have to do tomorrow so I am completely freaking out). I keep a bucket by her bed and she know it is for throwing up, when I ask her if she has to throw up she always pretends to vomit into the bucket so she gets the concept.

I still remember being a little kid and getting stomach aches and sometimes vomiting when I was upset or anxious so I really think it is normal, just a very yucky reaction.