What to Do If Your Child Is Vomiting
Child Vomiting: What Ontario Parents Need to Know
When your child is throwing up, it's natural to feel worried and wonder if you should rush to the hospital. Most vomiting in children isn't serious and gets better on its own within a day or two, but knowing what to watch for can help you feel more confident about when to seek care.
What's going on?
Vomiting is your child's body's way of getting rid of something that's irritating their stomach or digestive system. It's incredibly common in kids and usually means they've picked up a stomach bug, eaten something that didn't agree with them, or their body is fighting off an infection.
Young children vomit more easily than adults because their digestive systems are still developing. Their stomach muscles are more sensitive, and it doesn't take much to trigger the reflex. This is why a simple car ride or getting too excited can sometimes make little ones throw up.
Most of the time, vomiting is caused by viral infections like gastroenteritis (stomach flu), food poisoning, or even regular colds and fevers. Sometimes it's related to motion sickness, eating too much, or emotional stress.
What you might notice
- Throwing up food, liquid, or bile (yellow or green fluid)
- Nausea or saying their tummy hurts
- Not wanting to eat or drink
- Being more tired than usual
- Mild fever
- Diarrhea along with the vomiting
What helps at home
The most important thing is preventing dehydration. Start with small, frequent sips of clear fluids like water, diluted apple juice, or oral rehydration solutions you can find at any Ontario pharmacy. Avoid milk, citrus juices, and sugary drinks which can make vomiting worse.
Let your child's stomach rest between episodes. Wait 30 to 60 minutes after vomiting before offering fluids again. Start with just a teaspoon every few minutes and gradually increase if they keep it down.
Once your child hasn't vomited for several hours, you can try bland foods like crackers, toast, rice, or bananas. Don't worry if they're not interested in eating for a day or two, staying hydrated is much more important.
When to worry
Head to the emergency room right away if your child has severe dehydration signs like no tears when crying, no wet diapers for 6+ hours, extreme drowsiness, or a sunken soft spot in babies. Also seek immediate care for severe stomach pain, blood in vomit, high fever, or if they seem very unwell.
Call your doctor or text Arlo if vomiting continues for more than 24 hours in babies under 2, or more than 48 hours in older children. Also reach out if you notice signs of mild dehydration, persistent fever, or if your gut tells you something isn't right.
The takeaway
Most childhood vomiting resolves quickly with rest and fluids. Trust your instincts as a parent, you know your child best.
You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes!
References
- [When your child has gastroenteritis](https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/gastroenteritis)
- [Vomiting in children](https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=746&language=english)
- [Dehydration in children](https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/dehydration)