How can you tell if a toddler is going to vomit?

(June 26, 2010)

Vomitting In Toddlers

Toddler vomiting is indeed a very unpleasant experience. No parent likes to see their children sick. Whenever your child is unwell, you end up spending sleepless and worried nights. Although there is no specific way in which we can say that the toddler is about to vomit, you can definitely identify the reasons as to why a toddler may throw up.

Children vomit because of many reasons. If your child vomits once and stops then it may be because he/she overate and threw out the excess. Hence, there is no need to panic. However, if your child continues to vomit then there is a possibility of his/her having a bacterial infection. Your child may also throw up if there is lot of congestion in his/her chest due to cold or cough.

Red Flags to Be Noticed

Here are some red flags when you need to inform the doctor immediately. Call the doctor if:

•   Your child has been vomiting for over 24 hours.
•   Your child displays signs of dehydration like dry lips and mouth, decrease in urination, cries without any tears, is lethargic, and if the urine is dark yellow in color.
•   Your child vomits blood. A little blood is okay as the force of vomit can lead to nerve ruptures. But if there is too much of blood then inform the doctor immediately.
•   Your child complains of abdominal pain along with vomiting.
•   Your child’s abdomen is tender and swollen.
•   Always intimate the doctor if your child starts behaving strangely.

Keep Your Child Hydrated

Keeping your child well hydrated is very important when he or she is vomiting. Give him/her water at regular intervals. Do not give your child a glass full of water, instead make your child sip on a little water at regular intervals. Increase the amount of fluid slowly so that your child’s body is able to accept it.

Do not give carbonated drinks to your child at this point of time as this will only worsen the situation. Seek a doctor’s opinion on what to give and what not to give to your child at this point in time.
Monitor your child and alert the doctor if you feel that his/her condition is not improving. If your child is unable to keep any fluids inside his/her body then administering fluids through intravenous system (IV) is the best way to avoid dehydration. DO not hesitate to seek medical attention for your child.

Submitted by P T on June 26, 2010 at 06:34

Vomiting is an unpleasant experience for your child and you will probably never be able to tell if your toddler is going to vomit unless that happens. However you can keep a tab on the causes and symptoms of vomiting and then take the required actions accordingly as prevention is better than cure. The reason for your toddler vomiting can be many where sometimes it is the result of consuming some toxic substance that the body cannot digest. In such a case your child vomits only once and is perfectly fine after that which is a safe condition. Your child might be suffering from motion sickness if there is daily traveling in cars. But the most common cause of vomiting is due to a viral or bacterial infection affecting the stomach linings or intestines of your toddler. Gastroenteritis is a common illness that affects most children and can be a serious condition as it may result in dehydration. Its symptoms include fever, stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea. Other infections such as congestion or a respiratory tract infection like a cold that leads to vomiting. Some toddlers might vomit due to excessive crying, when they throwing a tantrum or if there is too much food in their mouth. A food allergy or intolerance to certain food is another cause therefore you need to keep a close check on what your child is eating.

Nausea is the symptom that can tell if your toddler is going to vomit. However, most infants would not know what nausea means so they will find difficulty explaining it to you. Your kid may experience an upset stomach or constipation before vomiting. Also, make sure to check if he’s feeling uncomfortable or complaining of any stomach pain as that could be another indication. Most kids get a glazed look to their eyes and lean forward around 2 degrees before throwing up. When your child is about to vomit, they generally become calm and lower down in their activities becoming fussy and start crying. In some cases, toddlers cough before throwing up and usually behave in a very strange way. Some of them might just go in a corner or cling onto you. Whatever the situation, try to train your child to run to the bathroom whenever they feel like throwing up. In most cases this will not happen as the throwing up might be sudden so make sure you have a handy plastic bag to avoid the splurge all over the floor or on your body.

Submitted by P T on February 18, 2010 at 11:09