WHAT TO DO

• Small but frequent amounts of an oral electrolyte solution every 15 to 20 minutes with a spoon or an oral syringe.
• Gradually increase the amount of solution you’re giving if your child is able to keep it down for more than a couple of hours without vomiting
• Slowly reintroduce formula (for infants), or bland food (for toddlers or older) bananas, applesauce, cereals, soups, toast, rice.
• Avoid milk product in children <1 year with 24 hours of vomiting.
• Call your pediatrician if you notice signs of dehydration

Signs of Dehydration

Mild Dehydration

• Dry mouth
• Few or no tears when crying
• Fussy behavior in infants
• Fewer than four wet diapers per day in an infant (more than 4-6 hours without a wet diaper in a younger infant under 6 months of age)
• No urination for 6-8 hours in children
• Soft spot in infant’s head that looks flatter than usual or somewhat sunken

Severe Dehydration

• Very dry mouth (looks “sticky” inside)
• Dry, wrinkled, or doughy skin
• Inactivity or decreased alertness
• Appears weak or limp
• Sunken eyes
• Sunken soft spot in an infant
• Excessive sleepiness or disorientation
• Deep, rapid breathing
• No urination for more than 6 to 8 hours in infants
• No urination for more than 8-10 hours in children
• Fast or weakened pulse

Bring child to the office if:

• Child under 1 month old and vomiting all feeds
• Projectile or forceful vomiting in an infant (<3 m/o)
• Vomiting starts after a head injury
• Vomiting (without diarrhea) is accompanied by fever
• Vomiting of bright green or yellow- green fluid
• Your child’s belly feels hard, bloated, and painful between vomiting episodes
• Vomiting is accompanied by severe stomach pain
• Vomit resembles coffee grounds (blood that mixes with stomach acid will be brownish in color and looks like coffee grounds)
• Vomiting blood