Vomiting, or throwing up, is the forceful discharge of stomach contents through the mouth and is very common in children. Sometimes, vomiting may even prove beneficial in ridding their bodies off of unwanted substances and pathogens that they may have unknowingly ingested.
Usually, vomiting in children will cease on its own without the need for any medical intervention. It is, nevertheless, important to remain vigilant for signs of dehydration in children, and proactively try to settle their stomach and replenish the loss of fluid and energy before the condition escalates to a life-threatening level.
Sometimes, a visit to the doctor is a must, especially when there is prolonged vomiting, the child is dehydrated, the child is not able to keep fluids down for a span of 12 hours, and when the following symptoms are present- blurred vision, stiff neck, coughing, high fever, and migraine.
Vomiting and the associated symptoms are often “cured” once the cause of the problem subsides. In most cases, vomiting in children tends to stop without specific medical treatment. However, you can try some home remedies to stop the vomiting and make your child feel better.
# Increase Your Child’s Water IntakeVomiting can lead to loss of water in the body and ultimately dehydration, which can be harmful for your child. Hence, the first step to treat vomiting in children and stop dehydration is increasing water intake. A liquid diet is not only easy on the stomach, but it also goes a long way in restoring the body’s strength.
Water is usually enough to rehydrate your child’s body. It is essential that you give your child sufficient water to drink from time to time even if he/she does not feel particularly thirsty.
Moreover, a study suggests that parents should feel free to give young children with minimal dehydration apple juice or their favorite beverage instead of an electrolyte solution when they’re recovering from vomiting.
- Children who are being breastfed should continue to receive breast milk, but make sure to feed more often than usual.
- Make your child sip small amounts of water and clear fluids throughout the day.
- You can also offer carbohydrate- or electrolyte-containing drinks, however be careful, because the increased sugar in these drinks can often cause diarrhea.
- Making them suck on popsicles made from juices. Sports drinks can also help a lot.
- Even giving ice chips to suck at frequent intervals is beneficial.
# Give Homemade ORS to Your ChildHomemade Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the first line treatment for dehydration. It is a quick fix solution to replenish the lost nutrients and fluids and can be easily prepared at home. Packs of ORS are readily available in the market as well.
A 2009 study published in the American Family Physician reports that oral rehydration therapy is the preferred treatment of mild to moderate dehydration caused by diarrhea in children.
- Add ½ teaspoon of salt and 6 teaspoons of sugar (or brown sugar) to 4 cups of drinking water.
- Stir thoroughly until the salt and sugar dissolve completely.
- Give the child this solution several times a day until he/she recovers completely.
# Fennel Seeds can HelpAnother good anecdotal remedy that has been proven by the research as well about its efficacy in stopping vomiting in children is fennel.
Fennel seeds soothe the digestive tract and ease nausea and vomiting. They also have antimicrobial properties that help prevent and treat stomach flu that could be causing the vomiting. Plus, its aromatic flavor helps calm the stomach.
- Add 1 tablespoon of crushed fennel seeds to 1 cup of boiling water and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Strain this mixture and let your child drink this tea 1–2 times a day.
- You can also let your child chew a teaspoon of fennel seeds to help combat the problem.
# Make Your Child Drink Lemon JuiceLemon can also help deal with chronic vomiting. Its zesty smell has an energizing effect on the body that can reduce nausea and prevent vomiting. Enriched with vitamins and minerals, lemon can help make up for those lost due to vomiting.
The high vitamin C content of lemons is another reason to include it in your treatment as it helps boost the body’s immunity. Even the acid in lemons helps kill bacteria that cause food poisoning and lead to vomiting.
- Squeeze a fresh lemon into 1 glass of water and add a little honey. Give it to your child to drink a few times a day. (Do not give honey to children under age 1.)
- You can even let your child simply smell fresh lemon peels to ease nausea and vomiting.
- Sucking on hard candies, such as lemon drops, can help eliminate the unpleasant taste in the mouth after vomiting.
# Acupressure can be Beneficial
Since vomiting and the accompanying nausea and uneasiness often render the child unable to even drink, let alone eat, acupressure serves as an effective non-drug treatment to check the persistent loss of fluid and minerals and prevent dehydration.
Traditional Chinese medicine prescribes different acupressure points on the body which are to be pressed for near instantaneous relief to the child in a painless manner. Applying pressure on these acupoints tends to release muscle tension and spur blood circulation that can help stop vomiting and nausea.
So it uses pressure to stimulate certain points in the body to relieve symptoms.
For instance, pressure point Neiguan (P6), located on the palm side of the forearm near your wrist, is pressed to help relieve nausea and vomiting.
- Place three fingers across the wrist of your child.
- Put your thumb under your child’s index finger.
- Rub this point in a firm, circular motion for 2–3 minutes. Don’t press too hard, though.
- Repeat on the other wrist.