Vomiting

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Vomiting in children is most often caused by a virus and is frequently accompanied by diarrhea and fever. While it is one of the worst illnesses to see your child go through, it is also one of the most frustrating to treat since there is no medical therapy for viral illnesses. Most vomiting caused by viruses is worse for the first 24 hours and then gradually improves. In cases of excessive vomiting where the child is at risk of dehydration, prescription anti-emetic suppositories can sometimes be used at your doctor’s discretion.

In order to prevent dehydration, it is important to rest your child’s belly for about an hour after the most recent bout of vomiting. Then, offer small, frequent amounts of clear liquids (Pedialyte in babies; water, Gatorade or flat soda in older kids). Your child might only be able to tolerate several tablespoons of liquid every 15-30 minutes, but this will help prevent dehydration. Gradually increase the volume, and rest the belly for another hour after each episode of vomiting. Restart with the volume of fluid that your child was tolerating before they threw up again. For breast feeding babies who won’t take a bottle, offer one breast at a time for only 5 minutes, gradually increasing the time as the vomiting improves. Once clear fluids are well-tolerated, resume your child’s normal liquids; after they have gone without vomiting for 6-8 hours you may slowly reintroduce bland foods (rice cereal, applesauce in babies; toast, applesauce, dry cereal, crackers, soup, etc. in older kids).

Call us right away if the vomit has blood in it or is dark green or if your child is less than 2 months of age. Also call if your child is excessively tired, seems very ill, the vomiting persists for more than 2-3 days or if your child exhibits signs of dehydration (no urine in 8 hours, no tears with crying, dry and sticky inside the mouth, sunken soft spot in babies).

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