Vomiting and Diarrhea in Children: What to Feed and When to Worry
Few things are messier — or more worrying — than a child who cannot stop vomiting or has relentless diarrhea. Most of the time the cause is viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu,” though it is not influenza), and it passes in a few days. Your job: keep fluids going in, watch for dehydration, and know the red flags.
What causes vomiting and diarrhea in kids?
The most common cause is a stomach virus (like norovirus or rotavirus). It spreads easily through daycare and households, usually lasts 1–3 days of vomiting followed by several days of diarrhea, and is miserable but not dangerous for most children — as long as hydration is maintained.
Other causes include foodborne illness, and less commonly appendicitis or intestinal blockage — which is why the red flags below matter.
What should I feed my child during vomiting and diarrhea?
- Keep feeding — do not starve a stomach bug. Once vomiting eases, offer small, frequent amounts of bland foods: toast, rice, bananas, applesauce, plain crackers, oatmeal, plain pasta.
- The BRAT diet alone is outdated as a strict rule, but those foods are fine as part of returning to a normal diet.
- Keep breastfeeding or formula-feeding. Do not dilute formula or stop nursing — continue as normal, offering more often.
- Fluids first. Oral rehydration solution (Pedialyte) in tiny, frequent sips is the priority. See our dehydration guide for the technique.
What to avoid
- Sugary drinks, soda, sports drinks, and undiluted juice — sugar worsens diarrhea.
- Greasy, spicy, or very dairy-heavy foods until the stomach settles.
- Anti-diarrhea medicines (like loperamide) in children unless a doctor specifically recommends them.
- Forcing food — small and frequent beats big meals.
How should I handle the vomiting phase?
When vomiting is active, pause solid food and focus on fluids: 1–2 teaspoons of oral rehydration solution every few minutes. If that stays down for an hour or two, gradually increase. Most vomiting from a stomach virus stops within 24 hours. Diarrhea can linger for up to a week — annoying, but usually fine if your child is drinking and urinating.
Red flags — call your pediatrician or go to the ER
- Vomit that is green (bile-stained) or bloody, or stool that is bloody or black
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain, a rigid or very tender belly
- Signs of dehydration: no tears, dry mouth, no urine for 8+ hours, lethargy, sunken eyes
- Vomiting that will not stop — cannot keep any fluids down
- High fever with severe abdominal pain (possible appendicitis)
- A baby under 6 months with vomiting or diarrhea, or poor feeding
- Diarrhea lasting more than a week, or vomiting beyond 24–48 hours
Related reading: dehydration warning signs, what to feed during a stomach bug (blog).
Sources
This guide was reviewed against guidance from:
Frequently asked questions
Should I withhold food when my child is vomiting?
During active vomiting, pause solids and focus on tiny sips of oral rehydration solution. Once vomiting eases (usually within hours), restart bland foods in small amounts — children recover faster when they keep eating.
Is the BRAT diet still recommended?
BRAT foods (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) are fine, but a strict BRAT-only diet is outdated. Return to a normal, balanced diet as tolerated — kids need the nutrition to recover.
How long does a stomach virus last in kids?
Vomiting usually stops within 24 hours; diarrhea can last 5–7 days. Call the doctor if vomiting persists beyond a day or two, or diarrhea beyond a week.
Can I give my child anti-diarrhea medicine?
Generally no — these are not recommended for children unless a doctor specifically advises it. Focus on fluids instead.
When is vomiting an emergency?
Green (bilious) vomit, vomit with blood, a rigid painful belly, signs of dehydration, or a baby under 6 months who cannot keep fluids down all warrant prompt medical care.
Reviewed by Ali Ozcan, MD, MBA
Board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician and creator of ER4Kids. This guide reflects the same trusted, evidence-based guidance Dr. Ozcan provides to families in the emergency department.
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