Vomiting 2 year old, no temperature or diarrhoea.

[FrostyPopThePenguinLord]

My 2 year old has been vomiting all day, since she woke up this morning. Initially she was bright and we thought maybe it was a freak thing, she has never been sick before.
So we gave her her usual breakfast of milk, blueberries and some toast. About 10 minutes later it all came up in about 5 separate vomiting attacks. Still fairly bright and happy despite being upset about actually throwing up.
Started saying ‘sore tummy mummy’ but only a few times and not overly distressed by it. No temperature.
Small sips of squash (refusing water which is unusual) for the next few hours but then started refusing that. Offered dry toast just in case it was a one off as she has still been perky, which immediately came back up. So we decided no more food.
Refusing all fluid, then randomly just started throwing up fluid.
Having to syringe 5mls of dioralyte into her every 15 mins. But we aren’t sure if she throws this up what to do next. Obviously doctors are shut at this time and it feels like overkill to call 111.
I have spoken to a pharmacist (my mother) and she says that’s my next step.

How is she now? Did she keep those fluids in?

Sounds like a typical stomach bug so far, she has now thrown up all the food in her tummy so she will start throwing up liquids next. It's just a case of keeping an eye for signs of dehydration and if she throws up any bile or anything that looks like ground coffee beans then that would need immediate medical attention. Otherwise vomiting usually lasts around 24hrs for a bug, she may start with diarreah tomorrow when the throwing up settles as that usually seems to be the case in our house with bugs.

She threw up all the fluid we gave her. Doctor said to come in for a check as she hasn’t kept anything down. He said to come back in the morning if she is still throwing up and no wet nappies as she will need hydrating.
I know they can’t ‘fix’ her, most likely a virus, I just wasnt sure how long a toddler can be left with no fluids, obviously I don’t want her in an awful state before I seek help.
She is exhausted and miserable and I hope she sleeps well and sleeps this bug off.

Well if the doctor has checked her over this evening and is happy that she is not dehydrated so far, that is reassuring. Hopefully she is able to get some rest and is perkier in the morning and with a damp nappy! Stomach bugs are no fun.

I'm not medical, but when my DC are sick I don't allow anything to eat or drink for at least 3 hours after vomiting, longer if they are sleeping. Once 3 hours has passed without vomiting I offer sips of water well spaced out. If they vomit again I wait another 3 hours.

Once 6 hours have passed I let them have something tiny to eat, but not until they ask for it -- a cracker, half a piece of toast, a few plain crisps, a plain biscuit for example. If this goes well I very slowly build up to normal food over a few days. If they vomit again we go back to the start.

I definitely think this reduces the length of sickness bugs for them, and they have never become dehydrated at all. There's no need to panic about dehydration after a few vomits. If you keep pushing food or drink on an irritated stomach it will just cause more vomiting, and kids can get into a vomit cycle where they just can't stop, and this is when dehydration happens.

Sounds like a tummy bug. You are doing the right thing by giving 5 mls frequently (5 mls every 5 minutes if possible). Doesn't need to by dioralyte as it doesn't taste too nice. Plain water is fine. As long as she wees a good amount every 4 hours she will be fine.

Ignore what @BlackInk says. The medical advice is not to restrict water, or even food (although the appetite often isn't there anyway). Give water very frequently in tiny amounts, regardless of vomiting. Vomiting doesn't kill you but dehydration does.

I used to work in A&E and for NHS direct.

It is just my experience. I think the advice to push tiny amounts of fluid is for when there's a danger of dehydration though? A child won't get dehydrated from vomiting a few times. In my experience the vomiting stops sooner if nothing is eaten or drunk, reducing the risk of prolonged vomiting and dehydration. Hope she's feeling better today OP.

@BlackInk OP says child has been vomiting all day, so not a few times. If it's just a couple of times it's ok to restrict fluids and foods unless the child is actually thirsty. Even with vomiting after fluids, something will stay in the stomach.

If you go to A&e the first thing they do is sit you in a cubicle with a syringe and dioralyte and tell you to do the 5ml every 5 minutes trick. The alternative is to hold the child down and put canulas in to give IV fluids and that is very traumatic for a child. Sadly A&E doesn't have a magic wand to cure vomiting.