Vomiting in babies is normal even though in some cases it may be a sign of serious health problem. It will usually last not more than a couple of days. The most common cause of vomiting is gastroenteritis. This is an infection of the gut cause by  a bacteria or virus. However your baby’s immune system  fights off this infection within a few days. Babies can also vomit when they  swallow air during feeding. Persistent vomiting could be a sign of a serious infection such as meningitis.

What are the causes of vomiting in babies ?

Some of the possible causes of vomiting in babies include :

• gastroenteritis
• swallowing air during feeding
• GERD – gastrointestinal reflux
• food allergies or milk intolerance
• accidental swallowing of a drug or poison
•  when the baby bottle teat is too big causing the baby to drink too much milk
• congenital pyloric stenosis
• strangulated hernia
• bowel condition such as  intussusception
•  infections such as respiratory infections or serious illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis or appendicitis

What is the difference between spitting up and vomiting ? ?

Spitting up is the easy flow of stomach content out of the mouth. It is common in children under the age of 1 and usually occurs with a burp. Vomiting on the other hand is the forceful throwing up of stomach content through  the mouth.

Managing vomiting in babies ?

The most important thing to do when your baby is vomiting is to prevent dehydration.

Continue with breastfeeding if your baby is vomiting. If you think he needs extra fluid, contact your doctor or pharmacist if they  will recommend oral rehydration fluids for the baby. This fluid contains  sugar and salts in specific amounts to help replace the water and salts lost through vomiting and diarrhea

If your child is old enough to drink water or juice, you can give them small sips throughout the whole day. However if the vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea , fruit juices should be avoided. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations.

NOTE

Do not give your baby  any anti nausea medications unless recommended by the doctor.

What to do if your baby vomits ?

Monitor your child if he starts vomiting. If it is just a stomach bug, the child will still be well enough to play and eat. However if the baby is less responsive, irritable and not feeding well, you have to contact your pediatrician.

When to call your baby’s doctor ?

Contact your pediatrician if :

•  your baby has been vomiting for more than 24 hours
• your baby is irritable, have lost appetite or is less responsive
• you think your baby is dehydrated or he has not held down fluid for the last 8 hours
• the child has severe tummy ache
• you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes which is a sign of jaundice
• vomit contains blood

How to prevent vomiting in babies.

These tips may help prevent vomiting in babies.

• give the baby small amount of feed  at a time and burp more often
• keep your baby upright for about 30 minutes after feeding
• make sure there is no pressure on your babies stomach after feeding
• thicken feedings by adding a little bit of rice cereal. This makes them heavier and less likely to come out