
In the past, experts suggested eating bland foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce and toast after a stomach bug. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children go back to their normal diets after they're hydrated. Think: slow and steady.
What to do if your child has a stomach bug?
To help ease your child's symptoms:
- Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids. ...
- Make sure they get plenty of rest.
- Let your child eat if they're eating solids and feel hungry. ...
- Give them paracetamol if they have an uncomfortable fever or aches and pains. ...
- Use special rehydration drinks made from sachets bought from pharmacies if they're dehydrated. ...
Why is my child throwing up with no fever?
- Stomach Flu. This isn’t the same as influenza (the flu). ...
- Food Allergy. Sometimes throwing up is a sign your child is allergic to food they’ve eaten. ...
- Food Poisoning. ...
- Intestinal Obstruction. ...
- Concussion. ...
- Medications. ...
- Motion Sickness. ...
- Migraines. ...
- Stress. ...
What are good foods to eat after a stomach virus?
- Salty crackers: The salt helps replace lost sodium and chloride, plus they're great for nausea.
- Broth-based soups: The salt is good here too and nothing like chicken or chicken noodle soup to settle an upset stomach.
- Rice: Bland foods like rice, toast, dry cereal and pasta deliver carbs for energy but are easy to digest.
What is the best food for stomach bugs?
The letters in the term “BRAT” stand for what a person can eat on this diet, namely:
- bananas
- rice
- applesauce
- toast

What foods soothe a stomach virus?
Foods to eat include clear broths, crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas, rice and chicken. Avoid certain foods until you feel better. These foods include dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, processed foods, and fatty, spicy or highly seasoned foods. Be cautious with medications.
Should you feed a child with a sickness bug?
Children who are vomiting should keep taking small sips of clear fluid, such as water or clear broth. Fruit juice and fizzy drinks should be avoided until they're feeling better. If they're not dehydrated and haven't lost their appetite, it's fine for your child to eat solid foods as normal.
How long does stomach virus last in child?
Most individuals will get a mild case of gastroenteritis. This means symptoms will usually resolve in 24 hours, or less. However, this digestive illness can linger for weeks. Occasionally, children will experience vomiting and/or diarrhea which last for and/or up to 14 days.
What is the quickest way to get rid of a stomach bug?
Lifestyle and home remediesLet your stomach settle. Stop eating solid foods for a few hours.Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water often. ... Ease back into eating. ... Avoid certain foods and substances until you feel better. ... Get plenty of rest. ... Try anti-diarrhea medications.
What home remedy is good for a child's upset stomach and vomiting?
Home remedies for your child's upset stomachpopsicles.broth.ginger ale.nonsugary electrolyte beverages (such as Pedialyte)
How long is stomach bug contagious?
Although you typically feel better after a day or two, you're contagious for a few days after you recover. The virus can remain in your stool for up to two weeks or more after recovery. Children should stay home from school or child care for at least 48 hours after the last time they vomit or have diarrhea.
What can I do if my child has a stomach bug?
There is no specific treatment for gastroenteritis, and most kids can be treated at home. Keep your child hydrated by offering plenty of liquids. Kids with more severe dehydration may need treatment in the ER or hospital. Mild dehydration is treated with oral (by mouth) rehydration.
What are Covid symptoms in kids?
Fever and cough are common COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more likely to be seen in adults. Children can have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can also experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.
Why do stomach bugs start at night?
Why does stomach flu hit at night? In some people, the stomach flu symptoms may be more pronounced at night due to their circadian rhythm. At night an increase in immune system activity releases infection-fighting chemicals. These can cause inflammation that make you feel worse as you battle your flu.
Can you flush out a stomach bug?
There is no real cure for a stomach bug (viral gastroenteritis) because it is caused by a virus. Most people don't need medical treatment and symptoms will go away on their own within a few days, though in some people symptoms may last up to 10 days.
Is yogurt good for gastroenteritis?
As yogurt is a dairy product, it's generally not recommended for stomach flu recovery.
What drink helps an upset stomach?
Treatment & PreventionSports drinks.Clear, non-caffeinated sodas such as 7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale.Diluted juices such as apple, grape, cherry or cranberry (avoid citrus juices)Clear soup broth or bouillon.Popsicles.Decaffeinated tea.
What should I feed my child after vomiting?
The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) is an effective way to reintroduce food after vomiting. These bland foods can help children ease into normal eating. Once these bland foods are tolerated, then a normal diet can gradually be reintroduced.
How long after vomiting can a child eat?
After about 6 to 8 hours of giving clear liquids and your child is no longer vomiting, try to get your child to start eating some food. Starchy foods like cereals, crackers or bread are easier to digest. Avoid foods high in sugar and greasy fried foods.
What do you feed a child with sickness and diarrhea?
Foods that are bland include bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and unsweetened cereals. If these foods don't bother your child, other foods can be added over the next 48 hours. Most children can return to normal eating habits in about three days after the vomiting and diarrhea stop.
What do you feed a child with norovirus?
Stick to clear foods like ice pops and Jell-O®; bland and easily-digested snacks like dry cereal, crackers, bread, pasta and pretzels; or the traditional BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Encourage lots of rest.