What it is
Most vomiting in children is a stomach virus that settles within a day or two. The main risk is dehydration, and small children run out of reserve faster than adults. Vomiting can also be the first sign of something else, so the pattern, what it looks like and what comes with it all matter.
What you might notice
- Vomiting, with or without diarrhea
- Stomach cramps and a low-grade fever
- Tiredness and little appetite
- Fewer wet diapers or trips to the bathroom
What we can do on video
- Work out the likely cause and check for dehydration with you (tongue, tears, wet diapers, alertness)
- Build a hydration plan with specific amounts for their age and weight
- Prescribe an anti-nausea medicine when it's appropriate
- Tell you exactly which changes mean they need to be seen in person
Caring for them at home
- Small, frequent sips of an oral rehydration solution: a teaspoon to a tablespoon every five minutes
- Keep breastfeeding or offering formula
- Skip juice, soda and sports drinks, which can make diarrhea worse
- Go back to normal food once fluids stay down; there's no need to stick to a special diet
- Don't give anti-diarrhea medicine unless a clinician tells you to
Be seen in person if…
- Signs of dehydration: no urine for 8 hours, no tears, sunken eyes, dry mouth, very sleepy
- Green or bloody vomit
- Vomiting after a head injury
- Severe pain, pain in the lower right belly, or a belly that's swollen or hard
- A stiff neck or severe headache
- Repeated vomiting in a baby under three months, or forceful vomiting in a young infant
- Can't keep any fluids down for 8 hours or more
This information is educational and doesn't replace an evaluation by a clinician. Hugs is not insurance. Treatment is at the discretion of the clinician and limited to what can be safely assessed over video. Reviewed by the clinicians of LPMD Medical Group. Updated 2026-09-17.