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Vomiting & Diarrhea

Vomiting:

  1. Do not offer any fluids until there is no vomiting for 2 hours. Offering fluids immediately after vomiting will only induce more vomiting.

  2. Offer only clear fluids, such as Pedialyte, flat Ginger Ale or 1/2 strength Gatorade. If you are breast feeding, you may continue.

  3. Offer only small sips, 1 tablespoon or 1/2 ounce, every 15 minutes. If your child does not vomit after 2 hours, then increase to 2 tablespoons every 15 minutes for two hours. You may slowly increase the total amount of fluids to 2-4 ounces over a few hours. If the vomiting resumes, stop again until there is no vomiting for 2 hours and repeat again from the beginning.

  4. Avoid milk for 24 hours after vomiting stops to allow the lining of the stomach to heal.

  5. You may slowly return to a regular diet over the course of 24-28 hours.

  6. If the vomiting persists, or your child shows signs of dehydration (dry, sunken eyes, no tears when crying, no urine production, or lethargy), then please call the office.

Diarrhea

  1. Elevate one end of the bed, propping the mattress, or with pillows in an older child, to a 45-degree angle. An infant may sleep in a car seat. An infant should not sleep with pillows.

  2. You may dilute milk, or formula, if the child is very congested. You may also offer water.

  3. You may use a steamy bathroom for 20-25 minutes, as long as the child is comfortable.

  4. As mentioned previously, you may use Vick's in a humidifier, or placed on a t-shirt.

  5. Cold medicines do not cure colds. Cough medicines prevent the body from clearing the mucus. Rarely do cold medicines provide much relief.

  6. Do not use honey, as a cough suppressant, in an infant less than one year of age

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