Vomiting can often be a sign of a stomach bug and 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.