Here's what to keep in mind:
- Go back to normal. In the past, experts suggested eating bland foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce and toast after a stomach bug. ...
- Think: slow and steady. Although your child can enjoy a variety of food from his or her regular repertoire, it’s important to be patient. ...
- Watch the sugar. Sometimes the child may have bouts of diarrhea after episodes of vomiting. Sugar can make the diarrhea worse and should be kept to a minimum. ...
What to feed a child with a stomach bug?
What to Feed a Child With a Stomach Bug 1 Hydrate. When vomiting and diarrhea hit, the most important thing to remember is to keep your child.... 2 And hydrate. Sometimes, your child may need an over-the-counter oral electrolyte solution like... 3 Let the tummy rest... 4 Monitor. Keep your eyes peeled...
What should you eat after a stomach bug?
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 should I Feed my child when they have diarrhea?
Go easy on foods such as high-sugar treats and sweets, spicy dishes, or fried food as they could could potentially exacerbate diarrhea. Instead of focusing on exactly what your child eats when they’re sick, worry more about keeping them hydrated.
What causes stomach bugs in babies and toddlers?
It can be stressful when your baby or toddler comes down with a stomach bug and may leave you feeling pretty helpless. Stomach viruses can be caused by a number of gastrointestinal illnesses, and sometimes they're not viruses at all but food poisoning from a bacterial infection.
What do you feed a baby after a stomach virus?
Your doctor may recommend that you give your child bland foods for the first 24 hours. Bland foods include bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, saltine crackers and unsweetened cereals. If your child does well with these foods, you can add other foods over the next 48 hours.
How long does it take for a baby to recover from a stomach bug?
The sickness usually passes in about 10 days without medication. The first few days tend to be the worst, but you can take steps to help your child get through it.
What can I feed a baby with a vomiting 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 do you reintroduce food after a stomach bug?
The goal is to reintroduce bland foods that are easy for your stomach to digest. The most recommended foods to eat after the stomach flu, food poisoning or a regular stomach ache are part of what's known as the BRAT diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.
Should I feed baby after vomiting?
Offer your baby a feeding after they've stopped throwing up. If your baby is hungry and takes to the bottle or breast after vomiting, go right ahead and feed them. Liquid feeding after vomiting can sometimes even help settle your baby's nausea. Start with small amounts of milk and wait to see if they vomit again.
How do you know when a baby is dehydrated?
How can I tell if my child is dehydrated?Dry tongue and dry lips.No tears when crying.Fewer than six wet diapers per day (for infants), and no wet diapers or urination for eight hours (in toddlers).Sunken soft spot on infant's head.Sunken eyes.Dry and wrinkled skin.Deep, rapid breathing.More items...•
How do I keep my baby hydrated after vomiting?
If your baby keeps vomiting, switch to a rehydrating solution, such as Pedialyte, which contains sugar and salts. For children six months to one year, it's important not to use water. For children older than one year, use diluted apple juice or sports drink. Dilute the drink with water, using half water and half drink.
How long can gastro last in babies?
Most gastro infections resolve themselves without medical treatment, with symptoms lasting between 24 hours to five days, but sometimes it can take longer. If your child is drinking fluids and is alert and responsive, they can be looked after at home.
How long does a child stomach bug last?
How long does the stomach flu last in kids? A stomach flu usually lasts between one and three days. Vomiting typically lasts for less than 24 hours. However, if your child's symptoms continue for more than 5 days, you should call your pediatrician.
When can I give my toddler milk after stomach flu?
As your child begins to take liquids, gradually increase the amount. If they still vomit, wait 30 to 60 minutes and start again. Do not force your child to drink or wake them up to drink if they are sleeping. Do not give any kind of milk or yogurt drinks until the vomiting has stopped for 8 hours.
What's the best thing to eat after a sickness bug?
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.
Is yoghurt good for stomach bug?
Yoghurt is rich in probiotics or good bacteria and yeasts that help maintain good gut health. Having a little yoghurt during a stomach upset may help relieve diarrhoea.
How do you treat a baby with a stomach virus?
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.
How long does a child stomach bug last?
How long does the stomach flu last in kids? A stomach flu usually lasts between one and three days. Vomiting typically lasts for less than 24 hours. However, if your child's symptoms continue for more than 5 days, you should call your pediatrician.
How can I help my baby with a stomach virus?
If your child has a stomach bug, the most important thing is to keep her hydrated with breast milk, formula, or water, depending on her age. She may also need a pediatric electrolyte solution. Once she can keep fluids down, returning to a normal diet will give her the nutrients her body needs to get better.
How do I know if my baby has stomach bug?
If your child has the stomach flu, they may have hard-to-miss signs and symptoms like: diarrhea (usually watery and sometimes explosive) stomach pain and cramps. fever (usually mild and sometimes nonexistent)
What Should I Feed My Child After Vomiting
After it has been 4-6 hours since the last time your little one upchucked and they are keeping down fluids, you can start trying to feed them these recommended foods:
How Long Does The Stomach Viral Flu Last In A Child
Typically the stomach flu lasts 24-48 hours in children, but some children have symptoms for up to 10 days. If your child suffers from symptoms past 48 hours, contact a medical professional as they are at risk for dehydration.
Recovery
It’s never easy seeing your little one suffer, but remember to take care of yourself too by sanitizing everything. You won’t be much good if you catch the virus too. I’ve made that mistake before and it’s not pretty.
How often should I give my child fluids?
What I recommend is giving small amounts of fluid every 15-20 minutes or so, which gives the lining of the gut time to absorb it (and doesn’t over-fill your child’s queezy stomach).
Why do you have to let your child have a peanut butter sandwich?
But, when your child is sick–because nutrition and hydration are so paramount–the Division of Responsibility can take a back seat until they’re well. This means, if they would prefer a peanut butter sandwich to the casserole that was served for dinner, let them have the sandwich.
What is the division of responsibility in feeding?
In a nutshell, it means that parents are responsible for what , when and where food is served, and kids are in charge of if and how much food is served. But, when your child is sick–because nutrition and hydration are so paramount–the Division of Responsibility can take a back seat until they’re well. This means, if they would prefer a peanut butter sandwich to the casserole that was served for dinner, let them have the sandwich. If they would like to eat their crackers and cheese snuggled up with you on the couch while you watch cartoons, let it happen. If your child asks for a popsicle out of the blue–let them have it.
What happens when a child gets sick?
When your child gets sick with a stomach bug, life gets derailed. All of a sudden, schedules get rearranged, work gets missed, laundry piles up, survival mode kicks in, and all of your focus is directed to comforting and taking care of your little one (and making sure that siblings and YOU don’t get sick too).
Can kids eat spaghetti?
Great! They feel like soup or spaghetti–let them have it! The truth is, children can eat a variety of foods that they would normally eat when they’re sick. Try offering smaller amounts (so that they don’t get overwhelmed and turned off), and focus on maximizing nutrition when they DO have an appetite.
Can a child eat a brat diet?
But the point is, it’s not necessary (or recommended) to limit your child to only BRAT diet foods. It’s better to let your child eat whatever nutritious foods they want to or will eat.
What to do if toddler throws up?
It could be the stomach flu (gastroenteritis). If your child has a stomach bug, the most important thing is to keep her hydrated with breast milk, formula, or water, depending on her age. She may also need a pediatric electrolyte solution.
How to get rid of germs in kids?
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after every diaper change and bathroom visit, and before preparing food. Hand sanitizer won't kill the germs. It's also a good idea to wash your child's hands often throughout the day.
How many bouts of gastroenteritis do children get a year?
Viral gastroenteritis is the second most common illness in the United States (after upper respiratory infections such as colds ). Children average one or two bouts of this stomach bug each year.
How long does stomach flu last?
Her symptoms may be mild or severe, and they may last for just a few hours or for days, depending on the cause.
How to get rid of vomit and diarrhea?
Make a solution of 5 to 25 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water to clean vomit and diarrhea off hard surfaces. Wash soiled bed linens and clothing on the hottest, longest cycle available. Dry them on high heat. Be extra diligent following safe food preparation.
What temperature should a 6-month-old be?
If your child is over 6 months, call when his temperature is 103 degrees F or higher. Shows any of signs of mild to moderate dehydration. Warning. If your child shows signs of serious dehydration, take her to the emergency room right away. Young children can become dangerously dehydrated very quickly.
What temperature should a baby be at?
If your baby is 3 to 6 months, call if his temperature reaches 101 degrees F. If your child is over 6 months, call when his temperature is 103 degrees F or higher.
How to keep a child from getting stomach bug?
Hand washing and keeping things clean are your best defenses from getting ill with a stomach bug. Not surprisingly, this is particularly true after touching or supporting your child and when preparing food and eating. Some viruses will survive on surfaces for days. And some viruses like Norovirus can even survive hand sanitizer. You have to use soap and water to kill it. But even with ridiculous, meticulous attention to hygiene, every parent knows that when the vomit is flying, it’s hard to lasso every single errant particle. So simply commit to do your best. Change the sheets and clean up areas of vomit immediately after supporting your child. Soapy warm water is your friend. Wash surfaces immediately, use hot water for the wash, and use high heat in the dryer.
How long does it take for a baby to vomit after eating?
If you advance liquids too quickly or children eat more solids than they are ready for, even after the first meal 1 to 2 days into eating again, they may have a vomit encore. If you have one of those, start back where you started (sips of clear liquids) and go very slow advancing their diet.
How long does it take for a child to vomit?
Part may be an easy gag reflex. With most viruses that cause the “stomach flu,” as the infection moves through the stomach and intestines, vomiting stops after about 24 hours. But not always.
How long does it take to vomit with gastroenteritis?
24 hours (or so): In general, most pediatricians will tell you that vomiting doesn’t exceed 24 hours with typical gastroenteritis. Occasionally it can.
What is the best disinfectant for a child?
Remember that vomiting is a protection reaction of your child’s body to clear infection. Soap, water, and bleach: William Osler said, “Soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants .”. Cleaning your home to avoid spreading infection is a must. You don’t need expensive products, just vigilance.
Is the information contained on this Web site a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician?
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
Do children need medication for gastroenteritis?
Medication: Children rarely need medication when recovering from gastroenteritis. Although some antinausea drugs are available for use in children, most children don’t need prescription medications. Talk with your child’s pediatrician if you feel you child is vomiting longer than 24 hours or becoming dehydrated.
Why do babies have stomach bugs?
Stomach viruses can be caused by a number of gastrointestinal illnesses, and sometimes they're not viruses at all but food poisoning from a bacterial infection. One of the most common causes of a stomach bug in babies and toddlers is rotavirus disease. This guide to symptoms, causes, treatments and prevention of rotavirus has ...
What to do if your child has diarrhea?
Serve bland foods (bananas, plain pasta, crackers or plain toast) that won’t irritate your child’s digestive system any more than it already is — and avoid giving apple juice, dairy products and sugary foods, which can make your little one’s diarrhea worse. Rest and more rest.
How long does the stomach flu last in a toddler?
Here are the most common symptoms of rotavirus and stomach flu in little ones: Vomiting and watery diarrhea, usually lasting three to eight days. Fever.
When to call your pediatrician for stomach flu?
It's a good idea to call your pediatrician at the first onset of stomach flu symptoms. It's especially important to call right away if your child has bloody diarrhea, excessive vomiting or a fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher).
What is the best medicine for a newborn?
Use fever-reducing meds if recommended. Give acetaminophen (to babies 2 months and older) or ibuprofen (to those 6 months or older) to reduce fever.
How to tell if a child is dehydrated?
Also, contact your pediatrician right away or go to the emergency room if you notice any of these signs of severe dehydration — which may need to be treated with intravenous (IV) fluids in the hospital: Your child is very lethargic or difficult to wake up. Unusual fussiness. Crying with few or no tears.
Myth: Water is best for hydration
Fact: It doesn’t contain electrolytes needed by the body to sustain what’s lost during the time you were vomiting or having loose bowel.
Myth: Coke can settle the stomach from cramping
Fact: Cherry soup or syrup from fruit cocktails can be the best one not the coke. Gatorade or pedialyte is best for kids.
