What do you do when they can't keep water down?

[treetrunkthighs]

DD2 (almost 3) has been vomiting roughly hourly since 9pm last night. She is sleeping in between, waking up, drinking water (as slowly as I can make her) and then throwing it straight back up.

I should be letting her drink shouldn't I? Is there anything better than water?

When does it become a big deal?

Give her a wet flannel or sponge to suck

Or an ice lolly if she'll have one

Jelly good also (maybe for when she's starting to recover, though)

I have used those medicine dispensers before (you know, the little syringe type ones) to get fluid into them

Poor dd Vomit bugs are dire

Poor little thing - a teaspoon at a time of tepid rehydration solution (salt, sugar, water) is the way to go, getting her to hold it in her mouth for a while before swallowing is the way to go

7-up/Sprite - put some sugar in it to make it flat and then let her sip it.

I have concoted some rehydration solution - it tastes bloody awful! She's had 5 teaspoons - just have to wait and see. The longer it stays down the better guess.

She had this type of thing two years ago and we ended up staying in hospital overnight because she was sooo dehydrated her breathing was affected. I am desperate avoid that.

Thanks for your suggestions - I may well end up trying them all.

Try adding squash to home-made rehydration fluid to take away the taste.

When dd2 was like that (aged 2) the advice was to NOT let her drink large amounts, because that would make her vomit. Give 5-10mls in a syringe or spoon every ten minutes, instead. Ice lollies are also excellent, if she'll lick away at one of those.

Hope she's stopped vomiting by now, though

I was told by a GP that even though your child may vomit after having a drink they do actually retain something like 20% of the fluid they've taken in.

So, although it may seem like they're bringing the whole lot back they're not. Therefore keep giving regular drinks even though its not nice seeing them being sick again because its more dangerous for them to get de-hydrated than it is to be sick.

Hope your little one improves soon. If you're in doubt at all, or the vomiting continues then either go to the docs or ring NHS direct for advice.

Please don't give squash or lemonade, this used to be advise, but it will actually make vomiting worse www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Pages/FlatSoftDrinksStomachBugs.aspx

Yes, they will retain some of the water even if they vomit straight away. Also, if they become dehydrated apparently they start liking the taste of rehydration sachets, so just keep giving it.

there is also the skin test for rehydration but I suppose you know this pediatrics.about.com/od/symptoms/a/05_symp_dehydtn.htm

Hope she gets better soon.

My son was vomiting today. We took him to an out-of-hours doctor who recommended rehydration solution taken through a syringe and a dose of children's paracetamol suspension. He said that feeding from a cup would cause vomiting. I don't think it's true that sugar kills bacteria - quite the opposite, given that scientists grow bacteria in sugar solution in petri dishes. But most stomach upsets are viral, so bacteria are not an issue. Good luck! Hope everyone gets well soon!