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Diarrhoea and vomiting in babies: how to prevent dehydration

How long it usually lasts, how to keep your baby hydrated, why juice and cola do not help and the signs that need a doctor or emergency care.

4 min read

In this article

Diarrhoea and vomiting in children usually come from a tummy bug. Vomiting usually stops within 1 to 2 days, and diarrhoea within 5 to 7 days. The main risk is not the diarrhoea itself but losing fluids (dehydration), which happens quickly in babies.

Keep feeding

  • Breast or bottle feeds carry on. If your baby is being sick, offer smaller feeds more often.
  • Formula at its usual strength. Do not make it weaker than usual.
  • Formula-fed babies can also have small sips of water between feeds. The water must be safe; if tap water is not drinkable, use boiled and cooled water.
  • Oral rehydration solution from the pharmacy helps replace the salts that are lost. Ask your pharmacist or paediatrician how to give it to your baby.
  • Normal food. If your baby eats solids, offer them when they are hungry. There is no need for a special diet.

Advice you will often hear

“Give them flat cola” or “fruit juice”. Fizzy drinks and fruit juice make diarrhoea worse because they are high in sugar. They do not replace the salts that are lost.

“Stop the milk.” Breast milk and formula carry on. Stopping them raises the risk of dehydration.

“Give them something to stop the diarrhoea.” Anti-diarrhoea medicines are not given to children under 12. Never give aspirin to children under 16.

Signs of dehydration

  • fewer wet nappies than usual
  • dry mouth and lips
  • crying without tears
  • sunken eyes
  • unusual sleepiness or irritability

See a doctor today if

  • your baby is under 12 months and you are worried
  • they have stopped breast or bottle feeding
  • they have signs of dehydration
  • they keep being sick and cannot keep fluids down
  • there is blood in their poo
  • diarrhoea lasts more than 7 days or vomiting more than 2 days

Call 127 or go to emergency care if your baby

  • vomits green fluid, blood or something like coffee grounds
  • may have swallowed something poisonous
  • has blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
  • is struggling to breathe or breathing very fast
  • is confused, very sleepy or not responding as usual
  • has a stiff neck or severe tummy pain

Stopping it spreading through the house

  1. 1

    Hands

    Wash your hands with soap after every nappy change and before preparing food.

  2. 2

    Laundry

    Wash soiled clothes and bedding separately, on a hot wash.

  3. 3

    Nothing shared

    Do not share towels, spoons or cups.

  4. 4

    Nursery

    Keep them at home until at least 2 days have passed without diarrhoea or vomiting.

Common questions

Should I stop breastfeeding when my baby has diarrhoea?
No. Keep breastfeeding, even more often. Breast milk protects your baby from dehydration.
Does flat cola help?
No. Fizzy drinks and fruit juice are high in sugar and make diarrhoea worse. Use oral rehydration solution from the pharmacy.
When can they go back to nursery?
Once at least 2 days have passed without diarrhoea or vomiting.
How do I know my baby is dehydrated?
Fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth, crying without tears, sunken eyes or sleepiness. See a doctor today.

Sources we consulted

Written by the mam.al editors as general information. It does not replace advice from your paediatrician. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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