If your child vomits

 

After each episode of vomiting, do not give anything by mouth for about 1.5–2 hours. This gives the stomach time to settle and reduces the chance of vomiting again.

 

If there has been no further vomiting for 1.5–2 hours, start giving very small amounts of water:
* Give 1 teaspoon every 2–3 minutes for about 30 minutes.
* If your child keeps this down without vomiting, gradually increase the amount and continue with small, frequent sips.
* Do not give a large amount of fluid at once, even if your child is very thirsty.
The key is to go slowly and gradually.

 

Food
Once your child is able to drink and keep fluids down, you can gradually start offering small meals, such as:
1. Rice
2. Banana or apple
3. Chicken
4. Pasta
5. Milk
6. Bread
Do not force your child to eat.
Offer small, frequent meals and let your child decide how much they can manage.

If your child has diarrhoea

Continue with the above diet until the bowel movements return to normal. After that, gradually return to your child’s usual diet.
During diarrhoea, probiotics can be given daily, according to your paediatrician’s instructions.
Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids, as long as they are willing and able to drink. If there are frequent episodes of diarrhoea, an oral rehydration solution (ORS) may be recommended.

 

IMPORTANT
* Never force your child to eat. Small and frequent meals are best.
* Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids.
* If your child continues to have repeated vomiting despite following the above instructions, or develops unusual sleepiness, marked weakness, a rash, or is passing much less urine than usual, please contact your paediatrician immediately.

 

Consult your pediatrician about any concerns you may have or any very important issues regarding your baby.
Dr. Charis Neocleous, PEDIATRICIAN MD, MSc, PhD