When kids vomit (throw up), it is usually caused by a virus (a type of germ) and lasts only a day or two. Your child was given medicine to help stop the vomiting.

You can now care for your child at home. It's important to make sure your child doesn't get dehydrated (not have enough water in the body). To make sure they stay hydrated (get enough liquids), be sure to give plenty of liquids, including an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte®, Enfalyte®, or a store brand) as recommended by your health care provider. You can buy the oral electrolyte solution at drugstores or supermarkets without a prescription.

Giving Liquids

• Give your child small amounts of the oral electrolyte solution every 5 minutes. Try having them sip from a cup or a straw. Or you can use an oral syringe, a medicine cup, or a kitchen teaspoon.
• You also can give frozen electrolyte pops (brand names include Pedialyte®; many stores have a store brand), shaved ice, flavored gelatin, and any other liquid that your health care provider says is OK.
• If your child hasn't vomited for a few hours, continue to add other liquids like broth, diluted fruit juices, and water. You can also give milk, unless it makes the vomiting worse.
• Don't give your child sports drinks or full-strength fruit juices (which have a lot of sugar). You may add a splash of clear fruit juice (such as apple or white grape juice) to electrolyte solutions or water for flavor.
• If your child starts to vomit again, go back to giving small amounts of the oral electrolyte solution every 5 minutes. Call your health care provider for guidance.

Starting Food

• If your child hasn't vomited in 8 hours, offer small amounts of bland foods, such as toast, crackers, rice, or plain mashed or baked potatoes.
• As long as your child isn't vomiting, you can slowly help them go back to their regular diet.

Medicines

• Give any medicines your health care provider prescribes.
• Don't give your child medicines for nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, unless your health care provider prescribes them.
• 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.

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, less pee than usual, darker pee than usual, little or no tears when crying, or decreased alertness
• Is vomiting again and again or has vomit that's bright green, red, or brown

You know your child best. If your child has symptoms that worry you or seems very sick, call your health care provider or take your child 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, certain medicines, 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.