The Masterpiece Mom

Home » Misc » Nausea for toddlers

Nausea for toddlers


Tips and Remedies for Nausea and Vomiting

Medically Reviewed by Mahammad Juber, MD on June 23, 2022

Your child’s nausea has turned to vomiting, and you want to help them fast. Luckily, bouts of vomiting in kids aren’t usually harmful, and they pass quickly. Common causes are stomach viruses and sometimes food poisoning. Check in with your doctor if your child is less than 12 weeks old, acts sick, or if you are worried.

One of the best things you can do is watch for dehydration. Kids get dehydrated more quickly than adults. Watch your child for: acting tired or cranky, dry mouth, fewer tears when crying, cool skin, sunken-looking eyes, not urinating as often as normal, and when they do go, not peeing very much or urine that is darker yellow.

To prevent and relieve dehydration, try to get your child to drink in very small amounts. Even if vomiting continues, they're still absorbing some of what you give them. Try ice chips, sips of water, sports drinks, or oral rehydration solutions like CeraLyte, Enfalyte, or Pedialyte. After they vomit, start with a small amount: a few tablespoons every few minutes. Over time, give them more as they are able to hold it down. Make sure they urinate regularly.

For many years, parents used flat lemon/lime soda and ginger ale to help kids replace fluids, and many doctors still recommend those. But research has begun to show that oral rehydration solutions are better for kids. These drinks offer the right amounts of sugar and salt. An alternative can be a sports drink mixed with an equal amount of water.

When it’s been several hours since your child last vomited, you can begin a clear liquid diet beyond just water, electrolyte drinks, or oral rehydration solutions. Stick with liquids you can see through. They are easier to digest, yet they offer nutrients to give your child energy. Think clear broth, cranberry juice, apple juice. Popsicles and Jell-O can work well, too.

Vomiting in kids usually goes away with a little time. It’s best to wait it out. Over-the-counter medicines for vomiting are not recommended for kids. Those meds won’t help if a virus is the cause -- and it usually is. Fluids rather than drugs are the key. If vomiting is severe, though, doctors may prescribe something to prevent the nausea and vomitting.

It’s been used for thousands of years to reduce pain and stomach ills. Researchers believe the chemicals in ginger work in the stomach and intestines as well as the brain and nervous system to control nausea. While it isn’t proven to stop nausea and vomiting in kids, it may be worth a shot. It’s safe for kids over 2. Ask your pediatrician how to try it.

This technique has helped some with nausea. Acupressure puts pressure on one part of the body to bring about change elsewhere in the body. It’s similar to the ancient Chinese method of acupuncture. To try to quell a child’s nausea this way, use your middle and index fingers to press down on the groove between the two large tendons on the inside of their wrist that start at the palm of their hand.

It’s time to get medical attention for a child if they:
• are under 12 weeks old and vomit more than once
• show signs of dehydration, or you suspect they ate or drank poison
• act confused; or have a high fever, a headache, rash, stiff neck, or stomach pains
• have blood or bile in their vomit, or you think they may have appendicitis
• are hard to wake up, look sick, have been vomiting for more than 8 hours, or if you’re worried

These are signs of what may be a serious underlying condition, and your child should at that point see a doctor.

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
1) David Laurens/PhotoAlto Agency
2) Steve Pomberg/WebMD
3) Steve Pomberg/WebMD
4) Glowimages
5) Foodcollection
6) Ray Massey/Stone
7) Michael Rosenfeld/Photographers Choice
8) Steve Pomberg/WebMD
9) Michelle Lance / WebMD

SOURCES:
Jamie Simonds, LPN, Capital Area Pediatrics, Falls Church, VA.

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center: “Nausea.”

Children’s Physician Network: “Dehydration.”

Nemours Foundation: “Dehydration.”

CDC: “Seasonal Influenza, Check for Fluid Loss.”

CBS News: “Flat Soda Doesn’t Help Dehydration.”

University of Maryland Medical Center: “Complementary and Alternative Medicine Guide.”

MedlinePlus: “Diet -- Clear Liquid,” “Ginger.”

Medline: “Nausea and Acupressure.”

American Academy of Pediatrics: “Vomiting.”

© 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. View privacy policy and trust info

Nausea or vomiting in children

Nausea or vomiting in children

Find possible causes of nausea or vomiting in children based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your child's symptom.

Triggered or worsened by
  • Eating certain foods
  • Travel or motion
Onset is
  • Intermittent or episodic
  • Recent (hours to days)
  • Sudden (minutes to hours)
  • Within the first two months of life
Accompanied by
  • Abdominal bloating or swelling
  • Abdominal pain, discomfort or cramps
  • Abdominal pain that's severe and progressive
  • Constipation
  • Cough
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Failure to thrive or gain weight (infant)
  • Fever
  • Fussiness or irritability
  • Hives or rash
  • Swelling or tingling of lips, face and tongue
  • Wet burps or spit up
  • Wheezing
  1. Walls RM, et al. , eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
  2. Palmer J, et al. Abdominal pain mimics. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2016;34:409.
  3. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
  4. Zeiter D. Abdominal pain in children. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2017;64:525.
  5. Palmer J, et al. Abdominal pain mimics. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2016;34:409.
  6. Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
  7. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
  8. AskMayoExpert. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
  9. Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 2, 2017.
  10. Zitelli BJ, et al., eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2017. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
  11. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2018. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
  12. Muncie HL, et al. Dizziness: Approach to evaluation and management. American Family Physician. 2017;95:154.
  13. American College of Emergency Physicians. https://www.acep.org. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
  14. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
  15. Schmitt BD. Fever. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version 15th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2015.
  16. Mannenbach MS (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
  17. Goyal DG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
  18. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 28, 2017.
  19. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
  20. Petty RE, et al., eds. Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
  21. Elsevier Point of Care. https://www.clinicalkey.com.  Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
  22. Kasper DL, et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
  23. Wein AJ, et al., eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com.. Accessed Dec. 2, 2017.
  24. National Eye Institute. https://nei.nih.gov. Accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
  25. Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 8, 2017.

causes and first aid for a child

We treat children according to the principles of evidence-based medicine: we choose only those diagnostic and treatment methods that have proven their effectiveness. We will never prescribe unnecessary examinations and medicines!

Make an appointment via WhatsApp

Prices Doctors

The first children's clinic of evidence-based medicine in Moscow

No unnecessary examinations and medicines! We will prescribe only what has proven effective and will help your child.

Treatment according to world standards

We treat children with the same quality as in the best medical centers in the world.

The best team of doctors in Fantasy!

Pediatricians and subspecialists Fantasy - highly experienced doctors, members of professional societies. Doctors constantly improve their qualifications, undergo internships abroad.

Ultimate treatment safety

We made pediatric medicine safe! All our staff work according to the strictest international standards JCI

We have fun, like visiting best friends

Game room, cheerful animator, gifts after the reception. We try to make friends with the child and do everything to make the little patient feel comfortable with us.

You can make an appointment by calling or by filling out the form on the site

Other services of the section "Pediatric gastroenterology"

  • Consultation of a pediatric gastroenterologist

Frequent calls

  • Gastritis in children
  • GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) in children
  • Duodenitis in children
  • Pancreatitis in children
  • Irritable bowel syndrome in children
  • Regurgitation in newborns
  • Helicobacter pylori infection in children
  • Hepatitis in children
  • Diarrhea in children
  • Constipation in a child
  • Cholecystitis in children
  • Cholelithiasis
  • Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum
  • Abdominal pain in children

Online payment

Documents online

Online services

Nausea in a child: causes and treatment

Nausea in a child can be provoked by a huge number of different factors. Therefore, it is important to immediately determine its cause in order to provide the child with appropriate assistance.

Possible diseases that provoke nausea in children:

1. Poisoning. Food intoxication most often occurs after a child has consumed poor-quality or spoiled foods. Nausea and vomiting in such products are most often provoked by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Also, the cause of poisoning may be the child's consumption of poisonous mushrooms or plants. In addition to nausea, poisoning causes fever, weakness, dizziness, and painful cramps in the stomach area. Poisoning appears on average three hours after the child has eaten a poor-quality product.

2. Intestinal infection. Intestinal viruses and bacteria such as salmonella and rotoviruses are also common causes of nausea and intestinal infections. Infectious diseases are a rather serious problem that leads to disruption of the immune system and destructive processes in the body. They are transmitted from a human carrier by airborne droplets by eating spoiled food and by contact with wild animals. Often the infection remains on the dirty hands of the child. Intestinal infections tend to appear suddenly. First, the child complains of fatigue, he has headaches and loss of appetite, up to a complete refusal to eat. After several hours of this condition, the child begins to feel nausea and pain in the abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea. Body temperature rises sharply, on average up to 39degrees.

3. SARS. This group of diseases often occurs in childhood. They are provoked by influenza viruses, streptococci, enteroviruses and mycoplasmas. They manifest themselves in a sharp increase in temperature. Before this, some patients have a feeling of weakness, nausea, loss of appetite. They are followed by muscle pain, chills, cough and pharyngitis. The children's body is most susceptible to such diseases in the winter.

4. Meningitis. With meningitis, nausea is the very first symptom. Soon it develops into a strong vomiting. Mobility and activity decrease, there is no appetite. The child becomes sensitive to light, a high temperature appears. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately call an ambulance.

5. Tick-borne encephalitis. This disease affects the brain, causing nausea and fever. Children are most susceptible to this disease in the summer, when encephalitis mites are activated. The probability of contracting encephalitis from a tick is 6%. If your child is bitten by a tick, you need to urgently seek medical help. Encephalitis is an extremely dangerous disease that can lead to neurological problems and psychiatric complications.

6. Foreign object. Nausea can be a reaction of the body to an external object that the child has swallowed. It appears on average five minutes after swallowing.

Get the child upright and offer him water. Next, you need to call the doctors, because it is difficult for a non-specialist to reliably assess the condition of the child.

Doctors will conduct an examination and provide first aid. If necessary, the child is hospitalized. Before the doctors arrive, you need to give the child water in small portions, even if he does not want it. You can relieve nausea with special means. Suitable for this:

1. Cerucal. This tool is very effective. It cleanses the body, absorbs toxins, reduces nausea and vomiting. The dosage for adults and children is different, so the instructions for use for the drug Cerucal are required to be read.

2. Metoclopramide. These tablets eliminate vomiting, genetic hiccups, atony and hypotension of the stomach and intestines. Also, this remedy is prescribed for problems with the removal of bile from the body. This is a complex medicine, so you can use it not only when vomiting occurs, but also as a monthly course for a general improvement in the condition of the intestines and stomach. For an adult, one dose is 10 mg, half is enough for a child. It is not recommended to use such tablets in a complex way on their own. It is better to consult a doctor before doing this.

3. Dramina. This medicine fights very well with nausea and dizziness in chemical poisoning. It is often given to cancer patients after chemotherapy to cope with its side effects. Can be used only from the age of seven, the child will be enough 10 mg. The drug should be taken with plenty of water for better absorption.

4. Zofran. This substance blocks vomiting receptors, speeding up metabolism. It is sold in capsule form and is injected into the body in the form of injections or in the form of a syrup. For children, a dose of 4 mg will suffice.

Fortunately, sickness is not always the cause of nausea. In this case, the problem can be dealt with much easier and without medical help.

Other causes of nausea in children are:

1. Stress. An abrupt change of scenery, environmental pressure, external factors, an unpleasant sight can provoke vomiting in a child. This is especially true when changing schools. Such nausea is not critical, it passes by itself, but it is extremely unpleasant. Help your child reduce stress. Chamomile decoctions, mint and lemon balm work well with this.

2. Increased activity. With too violent games or physical overwork, the child may begin to feel sick. In this case, nausea is the body's natural response to dehydration. Non-carbonated mineral water will help. It is also worth limiting outdoor games immediately after eating.

3. Nausea in transport. Children with a weak vestibular apparatus often experience nausea in transport. This is a real problem for parents, as the child becomes difficult to transport. In the absence of tablets for nausea, you can use regular mints. They help reduce the urge to vomit. If the child is often motion sick, then you should consult a doctor who will prescribe pills.

4. Morning sickness. If you begin to notice that in the morning the child refuses to eat, complains of headaches and nausea, then this may indicate increased intracranial pressure.

Learn more