Two year old has a potential stomach virus and I have a 2 month old too...please answer?

Question

My two year old has had three loose stool diapers this morning, each one a little worse than the one before. I'm starting to think he's coming down with something, but I'm not sure yet. He did have some rich new foods yesterday, but again I'm unsure. I have been taking proper precautions and washing my hands after handling him and pretty much any time I touch my 2 month old. I'm afraid he could get our infant sick too, so I have placed him in his room with a TV and some movies to watch until I can be sure he isn't sick. I'm also breast feeding which means if I get sick I'll have a hard time feeding my baby. On top of that what if he has a messy diaper and it's running out of his diaper while I'm tending to my baby? He has yet to have a p**p that it is running out of his diaper, but they've all been pretty pasty yet somewhat formed. What should I do? How can I handle this without losing my head??

Answer 1

Welcome to the world of mothering more than 1 child!  I was so fearful of my older daughter passing on colds to her baby sister that I withdrew her from preschool a month early.  

It is worrisome when the baby is that young but if your son isn't very lethargic or feverish, it will be hard to keep them apart.    Hand cleaning is great, enourage your 2 year old to either wash or sanitize them regularly too.  You do have it going for you that the baby is too young to be putting stuff in his mouth so he will pretty much be at your mercy.  He shoudl be ok.  

If you get sick, you will still be able to breast feed.  You just get through it somehow.  Try not to panic or stress about it.  It will make your 2 year old feel he is not wanted around the baby.  Be sure you tell him you need him to help you keep the baby healthy by washing hands, not touching the baby's face, etc.  

Good luck but you will get through this and  countless more illnesses!

Answer 2

Don't even worry too much about it.  If he is sick and happens to get you or your 2 month old sick just look at it this way, it will give her the opportunity to build up some immunization to common illnesses that everyone gets.  It won't kill her, although it will make her uncomfortable, and really, who wants their baby to be uncomfy?  But there isn't much you can do about it.

If he happens to have an ick diaper that's running down his legs while you are occupied with other baby duties, just keep your cool and realize that it also is not going to kill him, and you WILL be able to take care of it in a timely manner.