Skip to main content
Go to homepage

Print Page

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.

Reviewed by: Yamini Durani, MD
Date Reviewed: Apr 1, 2023

Lea este articulo en Español

What next?

Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
There are 10 nurses in the picture.

And we have many more pediatric primary care providers in Northeast Ohio. You can meet some of them here.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The five differences are:
– Phone color
– Coat pocket
– Stethoscope earpiece color
– Stethoscope bell dot
– Clipboard paper color

Need help finding a doctor, choosing a location or getting a general question about Akron Children's answered? Call us or fill out the form and we'll help in any way we can.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The two matching doctors are 9 and 14.

With virtual visits, you can see our pediatric experts from the comfort of home or wherever you are.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The correct path:
The Correct Path
We offer many ways to get pediatric care all over Northeast Ohio. Use this page to find the right kind of care and the most convenient location for you.