How to Handle Vomiting

Vomiting can be caused by many things, most commonly gastroenteritis (the "stomach flu"). Vomiting (throwing up) can cause kids to lose fluids, salts, and minerals, so it's important to make sure these are replaced and kids stay hydrated..

What Can I Do if My Child Is Vomiting?

1. Don't feed milk products or solid foods to a child who has been vomiting.

2. Give small amounts of liquid:

• For babies: about 1 tablespoon (tbsp.) of oral electrolyte solution (ORS) every 15–20 minutes; shorter but more frequent breastfeeding
• For kids: 1–2 tbsp. every 15 minutes of ORS, ice chips, flat ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, clear broth, ice pops, or diluted juice

If your child vomits again, wait 20–30 minutes and start over.

3. Slowly increase the amount of liquids once there's no vomiting for 3–4 hours.

4. After 8 hours without vomiting:

• For babies: breastfeed as usual and, if used, gradually begin formula (1–2 ounces)
• For kids: serve bland foods (rice, applesauce, toast, cereal, crackers)

5. Go back to a regular diet after 24 hours without vomiting. Call the doctor if it starts again.

Get Medical Care if Your Child Is Vomiting and Has:

• signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, sunken eyes, decreased peeing
• trouble keeping clear liquids down
• vomit that's greenish-yellow, looks like coffee grounds, or contains blood
• a hard, bloated, or painful belly
• extreme irritability
• in a boy: swelling, redness, or pain in the scrotum
• in a newborn: forceful vomiting

What Can Help Prevent Vomiting?

• Wash hands well and often, especially before cooking or eating and after touching raw meat or going to the bathroom.
• Avoid close contact with anyone with a stomach bug.