Vomiting

Vomiting is very common in babies and young children and can often happen when nothing is wrong. Babies normally spit up a tiny amount of milk from time to time, usually after a feed or while being winded. However, if your baby brings up most or all of her feed, it’s more likely that she’s vomiting.

Causes of vomiting?

- 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’ll likely only vomit once, after the feed.

- Occasionally babies can vomit due to a milk allergy triggered by cows’ milk proteins in their mother’s breast milk. If this is found to be the case with your baby you’ll need to cut out or limit dairy foods. If you’re bottlefeeding, your pediatrician may advise switching to a soy-based formula.

- 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, along with diarrhea, fever and a loss of appetite. If the vomiting hasn’t eased off after six hours, consult your pediatrician.

- A fit of coughing can sometimes make a baby vomit as the force on her stomach makes her bring up her food. If this is the case she’ll likely only vomit a few times, but if she keeps vomiting contact your pediatrician.

- An upset tummy from something your baby has eaten can cause her to vomit, and will most likely be accompanied by diarrhea, loss of appetite, general irritability and sometimes fever. This should not last for long, but if symptoms persist for more than six hours, consult your pediatrician.

- 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.

- Gastroenteritis or stomach flu is a common cause of infant vomiting. It occurs when a virus infects the gastrointestinal tract and is usually accompanied by diarrhea. It normally clears up on its own but if symptoms persist for more then six hours consult your pediatrician.

- 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 and food is unable to pass through. This causes projectile vomiting and your baby may need an operation to rectify the problem and unblock the valve.

- Other illnesses that can be accompanied by vomiting are urinary tract infections, ear infections, meningitis, appendicitis, reflux, pneumonia and Reye’s syndrome.

What to do if your child is vomiting

• Infants under six months Offer small but frequent amounts of oral electrolyte solution as directed on the label, to help prevent dehydration. If your child goes for eight hours without vomiting, gradually re-introduce her normal feeds, feeding her little and often to ease her in gently. 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 to 12 months Offer small but frequent amounts of oral electrolyte solution as directed on the label, to help prevent dehydration. 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, such as rice, bread, lean meat and steamed vegetables.

• Children over 12 months Give clear liquids, such as water and well-diluted fruit juice. Avoid giving cows’ milk. Give your child oral electrolyte solution to help replace lost salt and sugars – if he vomits it up, start again with small teaspoonfuls. After eight hours of no vomiting, try giving your child bland, soft, easy foods such as chicken soup and toast (no butter). After 24 hours of no sickness, you can resume your child’s normal diet.

When to call the pediatrician?

If your child continues to vomit over a six-hour period, and has diarrhea, fever, earache or a rash.

- You notice signs of dehydration – sunken eyes and fontanels (soft spots) in a baby, along with lighter than normal diapers and darker urine; dizziness or drowsiness in older children.

If you think your child may have swallowed a poisonous substance, call the Poison Control Center hotline on 800-222-1222 or take him to the ER immediately, with a sample of whatever you think he has swallowed.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.