Your child is sick. It’s the middle of the night. You’re fumbling in the darkness. Make scenarios like these much simpler to handle by creating a DIY emergency sick bag kit!
Groggy, I roll over and notice my husband stumbling out of bed.
Someone is crying.
I follow him, fumbling through the darkness to my youngest daughter’s room.
She’s sick.
The handfuls of chives that she had snatched from her grandfather’s garden apparently didn’t sit well with her stomach.
I immediately start gagging and dry-heaving from the smell.
Yes folks, I’m no Florence Nightingale. In fact, I’m a bit of a hypochondriac, so taking care of someone else who’s sick often makes me feel sick.
My husband, still stumbling around in the dark tells me to fetch things… he was going to clean up the puke.
Hallelujah!
I scramble around the house gathering supplies, but meanwhile my daughter gets sick a couple more times.
Can I ask a serious question here? Do you have any idea why when kids get sick, their first round of puking ALWAYS occurs in the middle of the night?! I mean you’re groggy, confused, and can’t process what’s up and down, yet THIS is the time they get sick….
While we’ve only encountered scenarios like these a few times, I just knew there had to be a better way to quickly and efficiently manage moments like this.
Enter my brain child, our Emergency Sick Bag Kit (otherwise fondly called… The Puke Bag).
Every family needs this emergency sick bag kit! Check out how to assemble one of your own! Click To TweetThe Emergency Care Bag Kit
The first thing you need for your sick bag kit is a bag. We used a duffel bag that has a broken shoulder strap. Repurposing at its finest!
You want to include all the necessary items in your emergency care bag kit. Here are some ideas of what to place in your bag:
- puke bowl(s)
- extra sets of bedding
- extra sets of pillowcases
- drawstring see-through or recycle bags (for soiled laundry)
- plastic bags for garbage
- a flashlight (so you don’t have to turn on the bright overhead lights)
- old facecloths and towels
- a roll of paper towel
- face masks (especially if you’re like me and can’t tolerate the smell of puke)
- rubber gloves
- Clorox disinfecting wipes
These are some basics but if you would like a more comprehensive kit, you may also want to include:
- ginger chews
- ginger ale / electrolyte drink
- puppy training pads (these are great if you don’t want tons of laundry)
After gathering all your supplies load them into your bag. We store our bag under our bed, that way it’s easily accessible when we have one of those middle-of-the-night emergencies.
Do you have a puke bag kit? If not, I suggest you make one… although I hope you don’t have to use it much!
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Definitely couldn’t agree more with all you included in your emergency sick bag, just hoping not to have to use one for a bit here though to be honest. Although with kids it is honestly inevitable. Hugs and have a wonderful week ahead now!! xoxo
I hope we don’t have to use ours for a while… I hate dealing with “tummy issues”!
I need to have one of these handy. I’ve never thought of having an emergency sick bag. I have a first aid kit and that’s about it, along with items for when the kids are sicks such as tylenol, motrin etc. However this is a great idea and all these items will be right at hand without me looking everywhere for them. So sorry to hear about your little one but you were prepared. BTW I don’t know why they get sick in the middle of the night either, what happened to during the day when we’re up and about? :)
Ours is relatively new, so I haven’t actually used it yet. I imagine after its first use, I’ll be making some additions/adjustments.
Do you think it’s a kid conspiracy that they must get sick at night?! lol
Great post! I put something similar together, but my toddlers insist on tearing it apart every chance they get, haha! – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
LOL – oh my, trust the toddlers to negate any sense of organization and preparedness!
Ugh, why oh why must puking always happen in the middle of the night or after a child has eaten something red like pizza?!
Your sick bag is brilliant. After a “clean up the puke” session in our house I always we wish we had a robot like on the Jetson’s to clean it up :) Keep wishing right?
I know right?! It’s totally a conspiracy Jen. LOL
I’m delighted you enjoyed my “puke bag” and I would totally dig having Rosie the robot do all the clean up too!
It’s true – why does puking happen in the middle of the night? Is there a science to this? I must know!
I’m no Florence Nightingale when it comes to puke. When it’s colds and fevers, I’m the best mom ever. Otherwise? I think I need to put this together. Those bugs go through the schools like crazy!
Yeah, schools get nailed in cold and flu season… but stomach bugs are THE WORST.
I wish my puke bag looked “happier” lol – but I used what I had.
What an excellent idea that I never even thought about or considered before.
Thanks Valerie. What can I say? I’m all about efficiency… even in the worst situations. lol
“Puke bag kit” – I like that! I have a kind of first aid kit, but I’ve never thought of having a puke bag kit (I really like that! :-) ) I guess it’s always good to be prepared, just in case… I like the ginger chews and electrolyte drinks idea.
I’m delighted you like this idea Ana. I’m love that I have this. I’m ready to face flu season… (although wishing we’ll dodge it). lol
No, I hadn’t thought of it but this set is great! What a smart idea.
mainy
#SHINEbloghop
Thanks! I’m delighted you liked this idea! Hopefully we don’t have to use ours for a loooooong time. *wink*
This is certainly an interesting and useful thing to do. Thankfully, we haven’t really had and puke episodes, but I can see it happening one day! :)
We haven’t had many episodes either – but I like to be prepared!
Okay this is a realllly good idea! I never thought to have some of these things in the car but it makes total sense. Will be updating our car kit very soon!
Yes! One for the car is a great idea! I delight in being prepared (even if it is for icky stuff)!
I have never thought of this! But yes, how smart because kids DO like to choose the middle of the night for their puking sessions. And then I’m stumbling all over the house looking for whatever I can find. Love this idea!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this idea! I really can’t handle puking but stumbling around at night looking for stuff we need to cope with it is almost as bad as dealing with the puking. Yes, I’m a be prepared nerd. lol
One trick I learned is to put water in the bottom of the bucket so the vomit is flushable.
Well, I’ve never thought of that before! Great suggestion Naomi!