Sick Daughter, Not Keeping Any Food Down

I have gone through that same situation on more than one occasion. You have to start with small amounts of clear liquids as little as an ounce. Give the liquid slowly and have a bucket or the bathroom handy just in case. If she keeps it down wait at least 20 minutes and then offer more liquids in small amounts. As she continues to keep the liquids down you can offer jello, popsicles and broth and then add bland foods like toast without butter and other things that do not bother the stomach. Good luck.

looks like lots of good responses, didn't read through all, so sorry if I'm repeating anything....
An upset tummy is no fun. We try to start with a little Sprite or 7-up and some soda crackers (oyster crackers are easy for kids to pick up and snack on too). Just steer clear of anything too greasy or sugary. Gatorade tastes a lot better than Pedialyte and helps to do the same thing (just watch out for red if it comes back up - big mess to clean). BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) is usually where docs will tell you to start once kids are ready. Fluids are the most important - if she won't eat, it's OK, just keep the liquids flowing, no matter what it is... (No milk, no caffeine). I hope she's feeling better soon!!

Keep watching for a fever - it will indicate she's got something other than just a passing sick tummy bug.

My kids liked crushed ice- and anything else I could freeze; even jello (I add about 1/4 cup more liquid and freeze in an ice cube tray - we have those long skinny tubular trays for water bottles.) Definitely no dairy - milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. Maybe a little pepto bismol - even if it's little sips and not a full dose at first.

A cool compress on the back of the neck usually helps me while "in the act" shall we say -

Unfortunately, vomitting is your body's way of getting rid of whatever it's not liking in the tummy. Once it's all out, recovery is possible.

Such a miserable thing to have to go through!

Hi B.,
As long as she is throwing up, no solid foods. None. They will just come right back up.

SIPS of water every 5 minutes for 2 hours. Then if that stays down try sips of water every 10 minutes for 2 hours. If she keeps the water down for 24 hours, then try broth.

No solids for 24-48 hours of no throwing up.

Oh ... and if she can tolerate water for a long period of time you can try something with ginger in it. Ginger is a GREAT natural remedy for settling an upset stomach.

Hope she feels better soon!

If She cannot tolerate any foods it's best to just give fluids, as much as She can tolerate. I was always told to starve any kind of stomach bug for at elast 12 hours. If you really must feed her, avoid all dairy. Bananas are good because they are bland, or dry toast (when she can handle it), crackers etc. I would just keep her hydrated at this stage with water, diluted juice. If you have any, the best thing would be an electrolyte drink (peadialyte).
Good luck, it's hard to see our little ones suffering. Hope she's feeling better soon.

B.,

You may know this already but stay away from milk while she is vomiting. The rule of thumb that I follow with my kids is to not give them any food until the vomiting stops. To keep her hydrated you should try pedialite or maybe a little ginger ale. That usually helps an upset stomach but don't be surprised if it comes back up. Saltine crackers, chicken broth or dry toast like you tried, is what I would start her back on when it appears the vomiting is over. Until whatever it is that is making her sick passes she will just continue to throw up if you keep giving her solid food or milk. I wish her and you the best.

S.

Go to Walgreens. Ask the pharmacy for the over the counter stuff that helps with vomitting. I don't remember the name but it works wonders. You take it after the kid/adult gets sick each time until they stop. We use it at the daycare (of course with parent permission) and usually after 2-3 doses they stop. Good luck!

when ever my baby are sick even my 19 yr old when the puking starts they start the brat diet if you don't know what that is it bananas apples /apple juice rice tost in small amount good luck hope your baby feal better

B.,

I'm sorry your daughter is so sick :-( You have gotten some grat advice but I just wanted to add something. I know its not what they say to do, but when I get a stomach bug like that, if I drink coke or pepsi, not flat, just little sips, it eventually will help to settle my stomach. Im sure it does not work for everyone and its not clear, but something to try.

Good luck and I hope she gets better soon!
A.

try giving her crackers. that always helps to settle down with her stomache. also give her plenty of water.

Liquids only for 24 hours after throwing up is the general rule doctors will tell you. Then gradute to the BRAT diet, bananas, toast, rice, if no throwing up. Then gradute to normal diet, but keep in mind that kids will hold down what they crave. If they crave hotdogs give it to them. I know sounds crazy but it works. I have three boys and it has never failed, weve gone through many of sleepless nights with puking and in the end they always end up craving something weird, but they dont puke again, and thats the goal. Although it sounds weird, bodies crave what they need, so whatever your body is asking for its not going to reject, its a theiry anyway.

Gatorade and Popsicles. Try to get at least One teaspoon of fluid down her every 15 minutes or so. If she cannot even keep the fluids down, then watch her for dehydration--not going to bathroom, being lethargic and sleeping with hardly waking up.

B. ~
I know you've already gotten some good advice, but still wanted to add...
always remember "starve a fever, feed a cold" even though she doesn't have a fever, it sounds like a GI type of flu (really called gastroenteritis). If you give her anything, keep it just clear liquids until she stops throwing up...she probably doesn't really want anything. Tea, jello, broth, some pop...everything in just small amounts. The goal is to keep her from becomming dehydrated. Once she's up to food (she'll ask)..give her easy things like toast (I love cinnamon toast when I don't feel well), or anything from the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). Sometimes Coke helps, believe it or not! They actually sell Coke syrup at the pharmacy.
She should be feeling better soon.
D.

My 5 year old daughter just got over strep throat. When I took her to her doctors walk-in clinic, the doctor had told me that about 90% of the people he saw that night had strep throat. We were there for about 2 1/2 hrs. and the last ones to be seen, if that gives you any idea of how many people were there! Strep throat is going around!! Your daughter may or may not have strep, but I would get it checked. In the mean time, try some pedia-lyte, for now, to keep her from getting dehydrated.

Good luck!

A.

It's probably the flu that is going around. It's 24 hour, fever of 101 comes on about an hour after the puking and stays for the duration. Give Motrin if possible and fluids one sip every half hour, no food. She'll feel better in a day or so. It went through my whole house, I even got it after my second child, NOT FUN. Good Luck.

Hi B., your little one's stomach can't tolerate food. She probably has a 24 hour bug. I keep Pedialyte on hand to help prevent dehydration but only sips. Ice cubes are another good choice. When she feels a little better try broth. I remember the B.R.A.T. diet; banana,rice,applesauce and toast, as they are inproving. IF this pattern persists for more than 24 hours take her to the Dr. or ER. Dehydration is a huge concern in a child. Denise K. I hope she feels better soon.

Jello is the only thing my daughter could keep down, when she had the flu. Hope this works for her.

coke does wonders..try giving her some flat coke and see how she does. if she still pukes trying giving her fluids every 15 min even if its just a teaspoon.. she can surrvive w/out food but not water.. its a long/slow proccess but she will get through it..I hope she is better soon...

Don't feed her. I generally make my kids wait 6-12 hours after throwing up before eating. Try giving her clear liquids...if she keeps that down for a hour or two then follow the BRAT diet.

Let her keep puking. She has somethng that needs to come out. Hey I'm 55 and when I get a stomach flu, NOTHING stays down until I've had a lot of sleep, and whatever the bug is has come out. It's fine to at least try something. But sometimes even water won't stay down. It's the case that sometimes just sleeping it off is the best cure, especially after puking episodes. That will deplete a lot of energy. Monitor her, offer soda crackers or Vernor's ginger ale (should always have that available because it's excellent for upset stomachs), but I wouldn't force feed her. If it gets too long, see a/your doctor. You don't want to risk dehydration either (I nearly died of it from flu as a baby).
good luck and I hope she feels better soon

B.,

I hate it when they get a stomach bug, it makes me feel so helpless to give them any relief. Most of the time you just have to let it run its course. Don't try to push any food let them lead the way and wait until they ask for something to eat. Then I would only offer chicken noodle soup, or broth, dry crackers, dry toast, or yogurt.

Avoid milk its really hard on a tender tummy. Some things you can offer in the meantime are popscicles, clear pop, or ginger ale. I have even made popscicles out of leftover flat pop. Pedialyte is good but my kids would never drink it because they didn't like the taste, I always had more luck with Gatorade which is very similiar, and you can make popscicles out of it too. I think the trick with popscicles are they eat them so slowly as they melt that it sits better on the stomach.

Good luck, God Bless and I hope she feels better soon.

When my stomach is upset I don't want to eat. Just keep liquids in her, so she doesn't get dehydrated. Crackers or dry cereal would be my first things to try, but 7 UP and water, gatorade, etc first.