Vomiting is a common symptom that usually gets better after 12-24 hours.
How To Help Your Child
FLUIDS
Do Offer These Fluids
- Water is the best choice
- For brief episodes of vomiting, when the child is interested in drinking again, offer sips of water (10-15 mls) at a time every 10 to 15 minutes
- Breast milk (if available) is also fine to offer for infants/toddlers under 2 years of age.
- Diluted apple juice (half juice/half water) is okay for older kids but not better than plain water.
- Oral rehydration recipes:
- 4 cups of water, ½ teaspoon table salt, 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups liquid broth (not low sodium), 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons sugar
Don’t Offer These Fluids
- Pedialite or store bought rehydration solutions taste bad, cost more, are not better than water
- Don’t give the child sports drinks like Gatorade after vomiting
FOODS
Do Offer These Foods
When they are ready to eat again, protein and probiotics are best:
- eggs
- plain yogurt (no added sugar or fruit)
Don’t Offer These Foods
Avoid carbs, starch, sugars sometimes called the BRAT diet including:
- bananas
- rice
- applesauce
- toast
Listen for Belly Sounds
- Quiet belly = likely will vomit more if they have drank too much
- Noisy belly = child may be hungry
When to Worry
Contact us by portal, texting or calling 503 400 3852 option 2 if child:
- Also has really bad stomach pain
- Temperature 100.5 or higher
- Can’t hold down fluids
- Has not peed for more than 12 hours
- Can’t make tears
- Has a dry mouth
This advice about symptom relief is intended to equip you to help your child at home. If you have continued concerns please contact our office. If this is a medical emergency, please call 911 and us. We can also help during an emergency.
If you are not a Small Town Pediatrics family, please contact your child’s medical office or click Accepting New Patients to register your child with us.
