Vomiting can be caused by many things, most commonly gastroenteritis (the "stomach flu"). Vomiting can cause kids to lose fluids, salts, and minerals, so it's important to make sure these are replaced. What to Do 1. Don't feed milk products or solid foods to a child who has been vomiting. 2. Give small amounts of liquid: For babies: about 1 tablespoon (tbsp.) of oral electrolyte solution (ORS) every 15–20 minutes; shorter but more frequent breastfeeding For kids: 1–2 tbsp. every 15 minutes of ORS, ice chips, flat ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, clear broth, ice pops, or diluted juice If your child vomits again, wait 20–30 minutes and start over. 3. Slowly increase the amount of liquids once there's no vomiting for 3–4 hours. 4. After 8 hours without vomiting: For babies: breastfeed as usual and, if used, gradually begin formula (1–2 ounces) For kids: serve bland foods (rice, applesauce, toast, cereal, crackers) 5. Go back to a regular diet after 24 hours without vomiting. Call the doctor if it starts again. Get Medical Care if Your Child Is Vomiting and Has: signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, sunken eyes, decreased peeing trouble keeping clear liquids down vomit that's greenish-yellow, looks like coffee grounds, or contains blood a hard, bloated, or painful belly extreme irritability in a boy: swelling, redness, or pain in the scrotum in a newborn: forceful vomiting Think Prevention! Wash hands well and often, especially before cooking or eating and after touching raw meat or going to the bathroom. Avoid close contact with anyone with a stomach bug. Back to Articles Related Articles Vomiting Most vomiting is caused by gastroenteritis, and usually isn't serious. These home-care tips can help prevent dehydration. Read More Food Poisoning Sometimes, germs can get into food and cause food poisoning. Find out what to do if your child gets food poisoning - and how to prevent it. Read More Dehydration Sometimes kids lose fluids and salts through fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating. Here are some tips on preventing or treating dehydration. Read More Pyloric Stenosis Pyloric stenosis can make a baby vomit forcefully and often. It can lead to serious problems like dehydration, and needs medical treatment right away. Read More Severe Morning Sickness (Hyperemesis Gravidarum) Bouts of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are considered normal. But when they're so severe that a woman can't keep foods down, she and her baby's health are at risk. Read More Dehydration Dehydration is when the amount of water in the body has dropped too low. Read about what causes dehydration, what it does to your body, and how to prevent it. Read More Stomachaches Ugh. Bellyaches. Find out what causes tummy trouble in this article for kids. Read More What's Puke? Did you ever toss your cookies? That means throw up, or puke. It's gross, but just about everyone has done it. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Stomachaches Lots of different problems can cause similar kinds of stomach pain - not all of them related to the digestive system. Here are some clues about what could be going on. Read More Food Poisoning The germs that get into food and cause food poisoning are tiny, but can have a powerful effect on the body. Find out what to do if you get food poisoning - and how to prevent it. Read More Food Poisoning Did you ever eat something that made you feel ooky? It might have been food poisoning. Read More Diarrhea Nearly everybody gets diarrhea every once in a while, and it's usually caused by gastrointestinal infections. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Read this article to learn more. Read More Fevers Fevers happen when the body's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above normal. This is often the body's way of fighting infections. Read More What's a Fever? What are fevers? Why do kids get them? Get the facts on temperatures and fevers in this article for kids. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.