Vomiting, Age 3 and Younger

Home Treatment

Newborns and babies through age 6 months

• Do not feed your baby for about 30 to 60 minutes after he or she has vomited. Be sure to watch your baby carefully for dehydration.
• If your baby is breast-fed, continue breast-feeding. Offer each breast to your baby for 1 to 2 minutes every 10 minutes.
• Do not give your baby plain water.
• If your baby is formula-fed, switch to an oral rehydration solution (ORS).
  • Offer 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) of the drink every 10 minutes for the first hour.
  • After the first hour, gradually increase the amount of ORS that you offer your baby.
  • When 6 hours have passed without vomiting, you may resume your child's regular formula feedings.
• Do not give your child any medicine—prescription, nonprescription, herbal, or home remedies—without your doctor specifically telling you to do so.

Children 7 months to 12 months

• When there has been no vomiting for 1 hour, give 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) of oral rehydration solution (ORS) every 20 minutes. Be sure to watch your child carefully for dehydration.
  • After the first hour, gradually increase the amount of ORS that you offer your baby.
  • When 6 hours have passed without vomiting, you may slowly resume your child's regular formula feedings.
  • Offer bananas, cereals, crackers, or other mild baby foods to your baby.
  • You can also offer ORS frozen pops to your child.
• Do not give your child plain water, undiluted fruit juice, or soda pop. Fruit juice or soda pop contains too much sugar and not enough of the essential minerals (electrolytes) that are being lost. Plain water or diet soda pop lacks calories that your child needs.
• Do not give your child any medicine—prescription, nonprescription, herbal, or home remedies—without your doctor specifically telling you to do so.

Children 1 year to 3 years

• When there has been no vomiting for 1 hour, give 1 fl oz (30 mL) of a clear liquid every 20 minutes for 1 hour. Be sure to watch your child carefully for dehydration. Increase the volume of clear liquids that you give by 3 fl oz (89 mL) an hour for each hour that your child does not vomit. For example, give your child:
  • 2 fl oz (59 mL) of fluid every 20 minutes during the second hour for a total of 6 ounces in the second hour.
  • 3 fl oz (89 mL) of fluid every 20 minutes during the third hour for a total of 9 ounces in the third hour.
  Clear liquids include fruit juice mixed to half strength with water, oral rehydration solution (ORS), clear broth, and gelatin dessert.
• You can also offer ORS frozen pops to your child.
• Do not give your child plain water, undiluted fruit juice, or soda pop. Fruit juice or soda pop contains too much sugar and not enough of the essential minerals (electrolytes) that are being lost. Plain water or diet soda pop lacks calories that your child needs.
• Gradually start to offer your child regular foods after 6 hours with no vomiting.
  • Offer your child solid foods if he or she was eating solids before. Offer crackers, toast, broths, mild soups, mashed potatoes, rice, and breads to your older child.
  • Allow your child to eat what he or she prefers—the type of food is not important.
  • Avoid high-fiber foods, such as beans, and foods with a lot of sugar, such as candy or ice cream.
• Do not give your child any medicine—prescription, nonprescription, herbal, or home remedies—without your doctor specifically telling you to do so.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your child's symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment.

• Dehydration develops.
• Symptoms of a serious illness develop.
• New or increasing belly pain develops.
• Your child's vomiting returns or becomes severe.
• Blood or yellow or green liquid (bile) is present in your child's vomit.
• Your child's vomiting does not get better with home treatment or lasts longer than 4 days.
• Intermittent vomiting occurs more frequently or longer than 1 week.
• Your child is losing weight.
• Your child's symptoms become more severe or frequent.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: July 12, 2007
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
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