Vomiting

Vomiting is very common in babies and young children and can often happen when nothing is wrong. Babies normally ‘posset’ up their feeds, where a tiny amount of milk will be brought up from time to time, usually after a feed or whilst being winded and this is completely normal. If your baby brings up most or all of her feed, is it more likely that she is vomiting, but try not to panic. All children are sick from time to time whether they are breast or bottle-fed and they usually get better quickly or within 24 hours.

Causes of vomiting:
Consult your doctor is your child continues to vomit over a six-hour period, or if the vomiting is accompanied by diarrhoea, fever, earache or a rash.
- If babies have eaten too much it may cause them to vomit. Sometimes they just bring up the surplus food, but sometimes the whole feed can come up. If this is the case she will probably only vomit once after the feed.
- Indigestion can cause your baby to vomit so try not to rush her feeds.
- Occasionally babies can have a milk allergy to the proteins in their mother’s breastmilk and this may cause her to vomit. Consult your doctor if you suspect this is the case and you may be advised to change your diet or give your baby a hypoallergenic formula for a while.
- A viral or bacterial infection can cause your child to vomit. If bacteria has entered the stomach lining your baby may have an episode of vomiting, have diarrhoea, fever and a loss of appetite. If the vomiting has not stopped after six hours, consult your doctor.
- A fit of coughing can sometimes make a baby vomit as the force on her stomach makes her bring her food up. If this is the case she will probably only vomit a few times, but if she keeps vomiting, contact your doctor.
- Other illnesses that can be accompanied by vomiting are; urinary tract infections, ear infections, meningitis, appendicitis and reflux, Pneumonia and Reye’s syndrome. (Read further features to find out additional symptoms).
- Reflux can also cause babies to vomit. (see link above)
- Upset tummies from something your baby has eaten can cause her to vomit, and will most likely be accompanied by diarrhoea, loss of appetite, general irritability and sometimes fever. This should not last for long, but if symptoms persist for more then six hours, consult a doctor.
- Excessive crying can sometimes cause a baby to vomit as they take in gulps of air.
- If your child has a very runny nose and swallows a lot of mucus, it can cause her to vomit. Treat her symptoms as you would a common cold.
- If your baby has swallowed something toxic (cleaning products, medication etc) try to identify what she has swallowed and call 999.
- Gastroenteritis or stomach flu is a common cause of infant vomiting and happens when a virus infects the gastrointestinal tract and is usually accompanied by diarrhoea. It normally clears up on its own but if symptoms persist for more then six hours consult a doctor.

Pyloric Stenosis
Pyloric Stenosis is a rare condition that affects babies in the first few months of life. It occurs because the muscle controlling the valve that leads from the stomach to the intestines thickens so much, so that food is unable to pass through.
Symptoms:
Your baby will start to projectile vomit and cannot keep any food down.
Treatment
If this is the case consult your doctor immediately as your baby may need an operation to rectify the problem and unblock the valve.

What to do if your child is vomiting:
If your child vomits for more then six hours consult a doctor. If diarrhoea, fever, earache or a severe rash accompanies vomiting, seek medical help.

Infants under six months:
Offer your infant small but frequent amounts (about 2/3 teaspoonfuls) of oral electrolyte solution every 15-20 minutes. Electrolyte solution contains salt and sugar and replaces important salts your body relies on that it may have lost from a bout of vomiting. Always read the instructions of the solution carefully and give the right dose for the age of your child. This will help to stop your child becoming dehydrated.
If your child goes for eight hours without vomiting, gradually re-introduce her normal feeds feeding her little and often to give her tummy the chance to get used to feeds again.
For breastfed infants, if the sickness seems to cease, breastfeed your child for five minutes every two hours. After eight hours of keeping her feeds down you can resume her normal feeding routine.

Infants – six months to a year
Offer your infant small but frequent amounts (about 2/3 teaspoonfuls) of oral electrolyte solution every 15-20 minutes. Electrolyte solution contains salt and sugar and replaces important salts your body relies on that it may have lost from a bout of vomiting. Always read the instructions of the solution carefully and give the right dose for the age of your child. This will help to stop your child becoming dehydrated.
After eight hours of no vomiting you can re-introduce formula feeds slowly, not giving your child too much at a time. (One to two ounce feeds working gradually up to the normal feeding routine).
For breastfed infants, if the sickness seems to cease, breastfeed your child for five minutes every two hours. After eight hours of keeping her feeds down you can resume her normal feeding routine.
After eight hours you can try to give your baby small amounts of bland foods like bananas, crackers or mild baby food.

For children over 1:
Give clear liquids such as water, but dilute fruit juice and avoid giving milk.
Give your child the oral electrolyte solution to help replace lost salt and sugars. (Always follow instructions). If they vomit up solution start again with small teaspoonfuls.
After eight hours of no vomiting, try giving your child bland, soft, easy foods like soup, toast (no butter) and banana. After 24 hours of no sickness, you can resume your child’s normal diet.

When to call a doctor:
If your child continues to vomit over a six-hour period, has diarrhoea or a fever of over 38°C (100.4°F) or you notice other symptoms such as a rash, earache or dehydration (sunken eyes or fontanelle, dizzy or drowsiness).