Kids' Health Managing Vomiting and Diarrhea in Kids By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD Facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 29, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Lyndsey Garbi, MD Medically reviewed by Lyndsey Garbi, MD LinkedIn Lyndsey Garbi, MD, is double board-certified in pediatrics and neonatology. She is an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and chief pediatrician at Blueberry Pediatrics. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Parents often can't decide how much and which types of food and drink to give to a child who has been vomiting and having diarrhea. Kids can get dehydrated and thirsty when they are sick, but they may also throw up or have diarrhea right after eating or drinking. Here are some quick guidelines that will help you as you take care of your child when they have the stomach flu. Paul Bradbury / Getty Images Treatments for Vomiting and Diarrhea In general, when your child is vomiting a lot or has diarrhea from something like a stomach virus (gastroenteritis), you should: Give them fluids to avoid dehydration or help them get rehydrated. Once the child is able to keep fluids down, resume feeding to provide nutritional support. Avoid antibiotics as a treatment, because gastroenteritis is commonly caused by viruses, which aren't treated with antibiotics. Avoid antidiarrheal medications in young children. Zofran, an anti-vomiting medicine is an option for some kids who are vomiting to help avoid dehydration. Recommended Fluids for Vomiting and Diarrhea Parents often give water or juice to their kids when they have diarrhea or vomiting, and you can also use an oral rehydration solution (ORS). Oral rehydration solutions have a good mix of sugar and electrolytes. The high amount of sugar and lack of sodium in fluids like apple juice might actually make your child worse. Similarly, Gatorade's high sugar content makes it controversial when used for diarrhea or vomiting. The World Health Organization Oral Rehydration Solution (WHO-ORS) is the gold standard for managing acute gastroenteritis, and many parents and pediatricians use commercially available solutions such as Enfalyte or Pedialyte. They are available in most supermarkets and drug stores without a prescription and come in good-tasting flavors. Your child might prefer some flavors over others. How Much Fluids to Give a Vomiting Child If your child is vomiting frequently, limit fluids to a teaspoon at a time, using a syringe, medicine dropper, or a teaspoon to measure the dose. You can gradually increase the amount you give at each time as your child begins to keep it down. A good starting point is a teaspoon (5ml) or tablespoon (15ml) of fluid every five or ten minutes for the first hour or two, increasing to a few tablespoons at a time once the vomiting decreases and your child is keeping the fluids down well. If your child can't or won't drink anything else, a Pedialyte popsicle can be a good alternative to prevent dehydration. The total amount of fluids you should aim to give depends on how dehydrated your child is. Children with: Minimal or no dehydration 2-4 ounces of ORS for each episode of vomiting or diarrhea if they are less than 22 pounds4-8 ounces if they are over 22 pounds One ounce is the same as 30ml, so even if you are just giving your child one tablespoon (15ml) every five or ten minutes, you can very quickly get up to 4 ounces (120ml). Mild to moderate dehydration, with decreased urine output, dry mouth, decreased tears, and a 3-9 percent loss of body weight 25 to 50ml (a little less than 1 to 2 ounces) of ORS per pound of body weight over 2-4 hours.In addition, they will also need 2-4 ounces of ORS for each episode of vomiting or diarrhea if they are less than 22 pounds4-8 ounces of PRS for each episode of vomiting or diarrhea if they are over 22 pounds to replace ongoing losses. Severe dehydration, with greater than a 9 percent loss of body weight, fast heart rate, deep breathing, parched mouth, deeply sunken eyes, absent tears, minimal urine output, and cold mottled extremities, will need immediate medical attention and IV fluids. They can then be changed to ORS once they start improving. When to Seek Medical Attention Gastroenteritis can typically be treated at home.You should call the pediatrician if your child:is less than 6 months oldrefuses to drink Pedialyte or other oral rehydration solutioncontinues to vomit frequentlyhas severe dehydration or feverexperiences a change in mental status (like being lethargic or irritable)has bloody diarrheacontinues to worsenis unable to be cared for at home Feeding Through a Stomach Virus It is often recommended that parents offer a BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) when they are sick. Many children will crave water and crackers or other bland foods when they are sick, and it's usually ok for them to take sips and eat small bites whenever they feel like they can. If your child just has a few episodes of diarrhea and/or occasional vomiting, you should: Continue to breastfeedContinue to formula feed your infant, using full-strength formula, once they are rehydratedIt's best to avoid dairy for a few daysAvoid foods with a lot of added sugars, like fruit drinks, fruit juice, and carbonated soft drinks Once they start to feel better, your child can get back to an age-appropriate unrestricted diet as soon as possible. Frequently Asked Questions What can you give a child for nausea and vomiting? Dehydration is the biggest concern when a child has nausea and vomiting. You want to keep your child hydrated and comfortable with small sips of an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte.Sipping on cola may help to ease nausea. It contains phosphoric acid, which can help quell nausea. Ginger tea may also help.If your child is vomiting and at risk of dehydration, the pediatrician may prescribe the anti-nausea medicine Zofran (ondansetron). When should you worry about diarrhea in a baby? Babies’ stools are naturally loose. Diarrhea occurs when there is a sudden increase in the number or looseness of stools. In general, three or more watery stools are considered diarrhea.Diarrhea in a baby is concerning because of the risk of dehydration. Signs of dehydration include reduced urine output, dark urine, very dry mouth, and no tears. Call the pediatrician if your baby shows symptoms of dehydration, has bloody stool, vomits three or more times, has 10 or more watery stools in 24 hours, or has a fever over 100.4 degrees F in babies less than 12 weeks old or over 104 degrees F in older babies. You should also call if diarrhea lasts more than two weeks or if loose stools are a frequent problem. What is the difference between a baby spitting-up and vomiting? The main difference between spit-up and vomit is the force with which it is expelled from the body. Spit-up flows out easily, usually with a burp, and dribbles out the mouth. Vomiting occurs with force and shoots outs. Vomit can also sometimes have an unpleasant odor. Signs of Stomach Flu and When to See a Healthcare Provider 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Anigilaje EA. Management of Diarrhoeal Dehydration in Childhood: A Review for Clinicians in Developing Countries. Front Pediatr. 2018;6:28. doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00028 Dehydration and diarrhea. Paediatr Child Health. 2003;8(7):459-68. doi:10.1093/pch/8.7.459 Iro MA, Sell T, Brown N, Maitland K. Rapid intravenous rehydration of children with acute gastroenteritis and dehydration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pediatr. 2018;18(1):44. doi:10.1186/s12887-018-1006-1 Hatchette TF, Farina D. Infectious diarrhea: when to test and when to treat. CMAJ. 2011;183(3):339-44. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091495 Additional Reading American Academy of Pediatrics. Clinical Report—Probiotics and Prebiotics in Pediatrics. PEDIATRICS Volume 126, Number 6, December 2010. CDC. Managing Acute Gastroenteritis Among Children. Oral Rehydration, Maintenance, and Nutritional Therapy. MMWR. November 21, 2003 / 52(RR16);1-16 By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit