What to Do When Your Child is Vomiting

Diagnostic Findings

Vomiting is the forceful ejection of a large portion of the stomach’s contents through the mouth. The mechanism is strong stomach contractions against a closed stomach outlet. By contrast, regurgitation is the effortless spitting up of one or two mouthfuls of stomach contents, which is commonly seen in babies under one year of age.

Cause

Most vomiting is caused by viral infection of the stomach or eating something that disagrees with your child. Often, the viral type is associated with diarrhea.

Expected Course

The vomiting usually stops in 6 to 24 hours. Dietary changes usually speed recovery.

Home Care for Vomiting

Clear fluids for 8 Hours. Offer child clear fluids (not milk) in small amounts until 8 hours have passed without vomiting. For infants, you should use one of the oral electrolyte solutions such as Pedialyte.

Start with 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, depending on age, every 10 minutes. Double the amount each hour. If your child vomits using this treatment, rest the stomach completely for 1 hour and then start over but with smaller amounts. 

After 8 hours without vomiting, your child can gradually return to a normal diet, though best to begin with bland foods.

For babies, start with foods such as applesauce, strained bananas, and rice cereal. If your baby only takes formula, give 1 or 2 ounces less per feeding than usual.

Usually your child can be back on a normal diet within 24 hours after recovery from vomiting.

Diet for Breast-fed Babies: The key to treatment is providing breast milk in small frequent feeds. 

If vomiting occurs three or more times, put your baby on an oral electrolyte solution like Pedialyte. As soon as 4 hours elapse without vomiting, return to nursing, but again with smaller than usual amounts for 8 hours.

Medicines: Discontinue all medicines for 8 hours. Oral medicines can irritate the stomach and make vomiting worse. If your child has a fever over 102 degrees F, use acetaminophen suppositories. Call our office if your child needs to be taking a prescription medicine.

Common Mistakes in Treatment of Vomiting: A common error is to give as much clear fluid as your child wants rather than gradually increasing the amount. This almost always leads to continued vomiting.
Hand washing helps to prevent spread of viruses to other family members.

Signs of dehydration include dry  mouth, the absence of tears, a reduction in urine production (e.g. none in 8 hours), and a darker, concentrated urine.  If your child has these signs you should call us immediately.