- 1. Position correctly
- 2. Ensure hydration
- 3. Stimulate feeding
- What to do when the baby vomits
- When to take the child to the emergency room
In most cases, the episode of vomiting in the child is not of great concern, especially if it is not accompanied by other symptoms such as fever. This is because, vomiting usually happens for temporary situations, such as eating something spoiled or taking a car trip, which end up resolving in a short time.
However, if vomiting is very persistent, accompanied by other symptoms, or if it appears after accidental ingestion of some type of medication or substance, it is very important to go to the hospital to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment.
Regardless of the cause, when the child vomits it is very important to have some care, so that he does not get hurt and is able to recover more easily. Such care includes:
1. Position correctly
Knowing how to position the child to vomit is a simple but very important step, which in addition to preventing him from being hurt, also prevents him from choking on his vomit.
To do this, the child should be seated or asked to get on his knees and then lean the torso slightly forward, holding the child's forehead with one hand, until he stops vomiting. If the child is lying down, turn him on his side until he stops vomiting to prevent him from suffocating with his own vomit.
2. Ensure hydration
After each episode of vomiting, it is necessary to ensure correct hydration, since vomiting eliminates a lot of water that ends up not being absorbed. For this, you can offer rehydration solutions purchased at the pharmacy or make homemade serum. See step by step to prepare homemade serum at home.
3. Stimulate feeding
After 2 to 3 hours after the child vomits, he can eat light and easily digestible foods, such as soup, juices, porridge or soup, for example. These foods should be consumed in small amounts to facilitate digestion.
However, fatty foods like red meats and dairy products should be avoided as they are more difficult to digest. Learn more about how to feed your child with vomiting and diarrhea.
What to do when the baby vomits
When the baby vomits it is important not to insist on breastfeeding, and at the next meal, breastfeeding or bottle feeding should be done as usual. In addition, during periods of vomiting, it is recommended to lay the baby on its side, not on its back, to prevent suffocation if it vomits.
It is also important not to confuse the gulp with the vomit, because in the gulp there is an effortless return of the milk and a few minutes after the feeding, in the vomit the return of the milk is sudden, in a jet and causes suffering in the baby.
When to take the child to the emergency room
It is necessary to consult the pediatrician or to go to the emergency room when, in addition to vomiting, the child or baby has:
- High fever, above 38ºC; Frequent diarrhea; Not being able to drink or eat anything throughout the day; Signs of dehydration, such as chapped lips or a small amount of strongly colored and smelling urine. See Signs of dehydration in children.
In addition, even if the child or baby vomits without fever, if vomiting persists for more than 8 hours, without the child tolerating liquid food, it is also recommended to consult the pediatrician or go to the emergency room. It is also important to go to the hospital when the fever does not go away even with medication.
