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Care at Home
  1. Sleep: Help your child go to sleep for a few hours (Reason: sleep often empties the stomach and relieves the need to vomit).
  2. For Bottlefed Infants: Offer Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS):
    • ORS (such as Pedialyte or store brand) is a special electrolyte solution that can prevent dehydration. It is readily available in supermarkets or drug stores.
    • For vomiting one or two times, offer ½ strength formula for 2 feedings, then regular formula.
    • For vomiting more than 2 times, offer ORS for the next 8 hours.
    • Spoon or syringe feed small amounts: 1-2 teaspoons (5-10ml) every 5 minutes.
    • After 4 hours without vomiting, double the amount.
    • After 8 hours without vomiting, return to regular formula. For infants older than 4 months, also return to cereal, strained bananas, etc. Normal diet okay in 24-48 hours.
  3. For Breastfed Infants: Reduce the Amount Per Feeding:
    • If vomits twice, nurse 1 side every 1 to 2 hours.
    • If vomits more than 2 times, nurse for 4 to 5 minutes every 30 to 60 minutes.
    • If continues to vomit, switch to ORS for 4 hours.
    • Spoon or syringe feed small amounts: 1-2 teaspoons (10-15 ml) every 5 minutes.
    • After 4 hours without vomiting, return to regular breastfeeding.
  4. For Older Children (older than 1 Year Old) Small Amounts of Clear Fluids For 8 Hours:
    • Water or ice chips are best for vomiting in older children.
      (Reason: water is directly absorbed across the stomach wall.)
      • ( EXCEPTION: vomiting with watery diarrhea needs ORS. If the child refuses ORS, use 1/2 strength Gatorade)
    • Give small amounts: 2-3 teaspoons (10-15 ml) every 5 minutes.
    • Other options: ½ strength flat lemon-lime soda, Popsicles or ORS frozen pops.
    • Give small amounts (1 Tbsp) every 5 minutes.
    • After 4 hours without vomiting, double the amount.

    • After 8 hours without vomiting, add solids.
    • Limit solids to bland foods for 24 hours.
    • Start with saltine crackers, white bread, cereals, rice, mashed potatoes, etc.
    • Normal diet okay in 24-48 hours.
  5. Avoid Medicines: Discontinue all nonessential medicines for 8 hours (reason: usually makes vomiting worse). Call if vomiting an essential medicine.
  6. Contagiousness: Your child can return to day care or school after vomiting and fever are gone.
  7. Expected Course: Vomiting from viral gastritis usually stops in 12 to 24 hours. If diarrhea is present, it usually continues for several days.
  8. IF your child becomes worse: Review Should I Call? recommendations.
  1. Symptom Description
  2. Should I Call?

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000-2008. Barton D. Schmitt, MD
Reviewed/Modified: Jan. 2008 by Intermountain Healthcare, Inc.


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