On Monday DD and I arrived at the museum where DD has a parent-toddler science class early. We live an hour away, so I parked and got out feeling smug about getting there early. Then I opened the back door and heard DD whimper, in the most pitiful little voice, "Mamaaaa!"
She was covered in vomit. The back seat was covered in vomit. The TRUNK of my SUV was covered in vomit. The back window, 4 feet away from DD's car seat, was COVERED IN VOMIT. I opened my mouth to say something reassuring to DD, but instead I vomited. And then I was covered in vomit, too.
I comforted DD and cleaned everything and us as much as possible with baby wipes, since that was all I had. Thank god I had a change of clothes for both of us. We were an HOUR away from home, so we hung out at the museum for a while so I could see if she was sick or just got car sick... Thankfully, DD was perfectly fine.
When we got home (after driving an hour in vomit scented car) I popped on TV for DD and proceeded to deep clean my car and the car seat. I machine-washed all the car seat covers and laid them out to dry overnight. Then the next day I realized... I had no freaking clue how to put it back together. The manual's pictures and directions were useless. I looked up videos on youtube. DH helped when he got home and found me sobbing over a barely assembled car seat. Eventually we got it put back together.
There is now an emergency vomit clean-up kit in my car. Everyone do yourselves a favor and put one in there now. And be smarter than me and take a video of yourself disassembling the car seat when the time comes to clean it.
@precious88 OMG I'm so sorry you had to deal with all that! Now I'm thinking car seat covers will be a good investment.
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
@chucksmom15 This was actually the first time I've ever cleaned up vomit haha. So I googled what to use. It worked really well.
baking soda
spray bottle of water/vinegar solution
bottle of water
baby wipes
wash cloth
small towel
EXTRA CLOTHES!!! (adult and child)
tooth brush and tooth paste (or mouth wash)
Baking soda. You sprinkle it on wet vomit and it absorbs the moisture, making it easier to clean up. I had already removed the chunks (sorry, gross), so I sprayed warm water all over the seat and sprinkled baking soda on it and let it sit and dry for 30 min. Then I wiped/vacuumed it up. It absorbed the smell really well.
Spray bottle of vinegar and water solution. After cleaning up the dried baking soda, I sprayed that over the seat and let it sit for like 5 min. Wash cloth. Soak it with the vinegar/water, then scrub any areas where you can see discoloration (or where you know vomit was sitting).
A small towel and water. Soak the wash towel with water and press it over the area sprayed with the vinegar. It soaks up the cleaner and any leftover vomit residue. Don't scrub, hold it over and press for like a minute.
After all that I used a carpet cleaner for good measure. Maybe wasn't necessary after the vinegar... but it made me feel better haha.
@precious88 Omg that sounds like a nightmare! Glad you had new clothes for both of you, I never think to have a change for myself. Now I'm thinking of all the things I should stock my car with for various emergencies with two small children...ahhh!
Married 6/1/13
BFP #1 7/2013 MMC 9/17/13
BFP #2 5/2014 MC 6/15/14
BFP #3 11/13/14 (Found in ER with ruptured cyst) Diagnosed MC 11/15/14
BFP #4 4/2015 MC 7/1/15
BFP #5 10/21/15 EDD 7/3/16 Praying for our rainbow!
@precious88 that is like something from my worst nightmare. Yikes. Just a side note to anyone reading the vomit clean up instructions, make sure you do not use any of that stuff (baking soda, vinegar, carpet cleaner etc.) On the straps for the car seat. This stuff will deteriorate and compromise the straps, just warm water and scrubbing for those bad boys
DD born Oct 2011 - DS#1 born Jan 2014 - DS#2 born Apr 2015 - DS#3 born Sept 2016 - LO#5 due Feb 7, 2018
@sabriel1 Thank you, forgot to mention that. Everyone should read their car seat manual before installing it... both of mine had that right in the beginning.
I ordered new straps because they got nasty and I don't trust that water got it out. For anyone who doesn't know, you can order new straps. Need your model# and manufacture date.
It really is annoying that they can't come up with a solution for that. I mean those straps on the infant carriers in particular get spit up on them on a consistent basis
DD born Oct 2011 - DS#1 born Jan 2014 - DS#2 born Apr 2015 - DS#3 born Sept 2016 - LO#5 due Feb 7, 2018
Im currently on my way to a big family dinner at my parents' house with my siblings, in-laws in from out of town, and a random collection of family friends. I'm over-tired, irritable, and carrying 4 bottles of wine I can't drink.
Re: Monday B*tchfest | 9.18
On Monday DD and I arrived at the museum where DD has a parent-toddler science class early. We live an hour away, so I parked and got out feeling smug about getting there early. Then I opened the back door and heard DD whimper, in the most pitiful little voice, "Mamaaaa!"
She was covered in vomit. The back seat was covered in vomit. The TRUNK of my SUV was covered in vomit. The back window, 4 feet away from DD's car seat, was COVERED IN VOMIT. I opened my mouth to say something reassuring to DD, but instead I vomited. And then I was covered in vomit, too.
I comforted DD and cleaned everything and us as much as possible with baby wipes, since that was all I had. Thank god I had a change of clothes for both of us. We were an HOUR away from home, so we hung out at the museum for a while so I could see if she was sick or just got car sick... Thankfully, DD was perfectly fine.
When we got home (after driving an hour in vomit scented car) I popped on TV for DD and proceeded to deep clean my car and the car seat. I machine-washed all the car seat covers and laid them out to dry overnight. Then the next day I realized... I had no freaking clue how to put it back together. The manual's pictures and directions were useless. I looked up videos on youtube. DH helped when he got home and found me sobbing over a barely assembled car seat. Eventually we got it put back together.
There is now an emergency vomit clean-up kit in my car. Everyone do yourselves a favor and put one in there now. And be smarter than me and take a video of yourself disassembling the car seat when the time comes to clean it.
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
Baking soda. You sprinkle it on wet vomit and it absorbs the moisture, making it easier to clean up. I had already removed the chunks (sorry, gross), so I sprayed warm water all over the seat and sprinkled baking soda on it and let it sit and dry for 30 min. Then I wiped/vacuumed it up. It absorbed the smell really well.
Spray bottle of vinegar and water solution. After cleaning up the dried baking soda, I sprayed that over the seat and let it sit for like 5 min. Wash cloth. Soak it with the vinegar/water, then scrub any areas where you can see discoloration (or where you know vomit was sitting).
A small towel and water. Soak the wash towel with water and press it over the area sprayed with the vinegar. It soaks up the cleaner and any leftover vomit residue. Don't scrub, hold it over and press for like a minute.
After all that I used a carpet cleaner for good measure. Maybe wasn't necessary after the vinegar... but it made me feel better haha.
Did not know that @sabriel1. Thanks for the heads up!
I ordered new straps because they got nasty and I don't trust that water got it out. For anyone who doesn't know, you can order new straps. Need your model# and manufacture date.
Im currently on my way to a big family dinner at my parents' house with my siblings, in-laws in from out of town, and a random collection of family friends. I'm over-tired, irritable, and carrying 4 bottles of wine I can't drink.