Your child was vomiting (throwing up) and stayed in the hospital for treatment and testing. The health care team gave your child fluids (either by mouth or through an intravenous, or IV line) to replace the losses from vomiting. They also checked your child for different causes of vomiting. Your child is no longer vomiting and is drinking well. No serious cause of the vomiting was found. You can now care for your child at home.

• Let your child rest as needed.
• Offer your child plenty of liquids. They can drink an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte®, Enfalyte®, or a store brand), frozen electrolyte pops (such as Pedialyte® or a store brand), water ice, and flavored gelatin. If your health care provider says it's OK, they can also drink water or water with a splash of clear fruit juice (like apple or white grape juice).
• Do not give your child:
  • Sports drinks or full-strength (undiluted) fruit juices, which have a lot of sugar
  • Medicines for nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting unless your health care provider prescribes them
• Give your child small frequent meals. Try bland foods like crackers, pasta, and soups at first, then slowly help your child go back to their regular diet.
• Give any medicines your health care provider prescribes.
• If your child has a fever and your health care provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (such as Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). 
• Don't give aspirin to your child or teen because it's linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
• Keep your child out of school, childcare, and activities until they have their energy back and have had no vomiting, diarrhea, or fever for at least 24 hours.

Your child:

• Starts to vomit again
• Gets new or worsening symptoms such as fever or diarrhea
• Has been on the oral electrolyte solution for 24 hours and is still not taking other liquids 
• Is still not eating solid foods 3–4 days after the visit
• Has belly pain

Your child:

• Isn't drinking at all or has signs of dehydration, such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, extreme thirst, peeing less than usual, darker than usual pee, crying with little or no tears, or decreased alertness
• Is vomiting again and again or has vomit that's bright green, red, or brown

You know your child best. If they seem very sick or have symptoms that worry you, call your health care provider or take them to the ER.

How can we prevent viruses that cause vomiting from spreading? To help prevent the spread of viruses and other germs, teach all family members to wash their hands well and often. They should wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Clean tabletops, doorknobs, and other hard surfaces with a cleanser that kills viruses. Keep your child out of childcare, school, and activities until 24 hours have passed with no vomiting.

Why does vomiting happen in kids? Vomiting in kids is often caused by a virus. The viral infection may also cause diarrhea and fever. Vomiting also can happen from food allergies, food poisoning, gastroesophageal reflux (when liquids from the stomach flow backward up into the mouth), or very rarely, a blockage in the intestines. 

Does my child need an antibiotic? Since viruses are the usual cause of vomiting in kids, an antibiotic won't help your child. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, not viruses.