Nausea and Vomiting

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Nausea and Vomiting: Home Care & Treatment

It is important to stay hydrated. Try steady, small amounts of clear liquids, such as electrolyte solutions. Other clear liquids, such as water, ginger ale, fruit juices, or sports drinks, will work in place of electrolyte solutions unless the vomiting is severe or a baby is vomiting.

For breastfed babies, breastmilk is usually best. Formula-fed babies usually need clear liquids.

Don't drink too much at one time. Stretching the stomach can make nausea and vomiting worse. Avoid solid foods until there has been no vomiting for six hours, and then work slowly back to a normal diet.

Pepto-Bismol is an over the counter stomach remedy that is effective for upset stomach (nausea or indigestion) and for diarrhea. Because it contains aspirin-like salicylates, it should NOT be used in children or teenagers who might have (or recently had) chickenpox or the flu.

The other initial concern with vomiting is to get a general idea of the cause. Most vomiting comes from mild viral illnesses. Nevertheless, if the vomiting might come from something serious like poisoning or Reye syndrome (a liver disease usually arising from children taking aspirin), or some other medical emergency, the person may need to be seen immediately.