Most vomiting is caused by a viral infection of the stomach and usually lasts 6 to 24 hours. The main concern with vomiting is to prevent dehydration.
If your child vomits, do not give anything to drink for one hour. After the hour you may rehydrate slowly with clear liquids (Pedialyte for infants to 2 years), gatorade for children over 2 years of age, or you can make your own rehydration solution (for 6 months and older) using the following recipe:
Oral Rehydration solution:
half teaspoon of table salt, half teaspoon of baking soda, 1cup orange juice, 3 cups water.
(To increase taste: Chill or add juice (1 part juice to 4 parts rehydration solution)
The key to oral rehydration is slow administration of small amounts of fluids.
Infants 6 months and older: 5ml (1 tsp.) of rehydration solution every 5 minutes for 1hour. If oral liquids tolerated,
increase to10ml every 5 minutes hours 2 through 4.
Use a syringe or spoon, rather than the bottle.
Do not give infants large amounts of plain water.
Can return to formula or breast milk after 8 hours of oral rehydration solution.
Children older than 1 year: Begin with 5ml (1tsp.) every 1-2 minutes over 4 hour period. If oral liquids tolerated,
can increase to 10-15 ml every 5 minutes for the next 4 hours.
Continue with small amounts of clear liquids for 8 hours.
Avoid using clear fluids with a lot of glucose (fruit juices, punches, soft drinks).
If your child vomits again, you must wait an hour before retrying any liquid, this gives the stomach a chance to rest. Remember, GO SLOW! Your child should remain on clear liquids for 8 to 12 hours before advancing diet.
Observe for signs of dehydration: no tears when crying, no urine output in eight hours, dry, sticky mouth and lethargy. Call the office if vomiting lasts longer than 8 hours in infants under 6 months of age, longer than 24 hours in children 6 months to 2 years of age and longer than 48 hours in children over 2 years of age, or if with signs of dehydration.