Unfortunately, every parent will, at some point, see their baby get sick more than once. Vomiting and diarrhea are common situations that can come up, and despite how frequent they are, it’s important to know how to respond when they happen.
When a baby vomits, they’re forcefully expelling the contents of their stomach; beyond illnesses caused by viruses or bacteria, it’s normal for young children to occasionally vomit briefly, with episodes that resolve on their own.
Diarrhea, on the other hand, refers to loose or liquid stools that occur more frequently than usual. This is a common symptom of various childhood illnesses.
It’s important for every parent to know how to respond in these situations to help their baby feel better.
To do this, it’s helpful to feed and hydrate the baby with skinless chicken broth, carrots, squash, chayote, banana, apple, pear, guava, coconut water, rice, pasta soup, saltine crackers, white or toasted bread, grilled meat, and rice flour atole. These are just a few examples of foods that are generally fine to give, though it’s important to consider the baby’s age when deciding what to feed them, along with any specific recommendations from their pediatrician.
On the other hand, there are also foods to avoid, including store-bought juices, sports drinks, cow’s milk, sugary foods such as sweet purées or pastries, spicy or greasy foods, and carbonated beverages.
Although this situation is fairly common, it’s important for parents to watch for certain warning signs, so they can seek medical attention from a pediatrician or hospital if needed:
- If the child vomits or has diarrhea three times within less than an hour.
- If the child develops a fever above 38°C (100.4°F) that persists.
- No urination for six to eight hours.
- Vomit that’s greenish or brown in color, or that contains blood.
- If the mouth appears dry.
- A swollen abdomen.
- If the baby cries without producing tears.
- Redness, or yellowish or pale skin discoloration.
- If the hands or feet feel cold.
- Blood or mucus in the stool.
- Abdominal pain.
- Extreme lethargy.
- Refusal to eat.
- Also, even if none of these signs are present, if you feel your baby’s condition seems to be getting worse.
At ABC Medical Center’s Pediatrics Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
