Stomach bugs visit every child, and most are viral and self-limiting within days. Your job is not to "stop the diarrhoea" but something more important: replace fluids as they're lost so losses never outrun drinking.

In short — what to do

  1. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the hero: from the pharmacy, prepared per instructions — small frequent sips (a spoon per minute if needed) beat a full cup vomited back.
  2. After every loose stool or vomit: 50–100 ml of solution for a small child, more for older ones.
  3. Continue breastfeeding as usual — never stop it — and offer light food to eaters whenever they want.
  4. Avoid: concentrated juices and fizzy drinks (worsen diarrhoea), and anti-diarrhoea medicines for children (dangerous without prescription).
  5. Check dehydration signs at least twice daily — list below.

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ORS spoon by spoon — the fluid balance is the whole story
ORS spoon by spoon — the fluid balance is the whole story
The full details

The home plan

  1. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the hero: from the pharmacy, prepared per instructions — small frequent sips (a spoon per minute if needed) beat a full cup vomited back.
  2. After every loose stool or vomit: 50–100 ml of solution for a small child, more for older ones.
  3. Continue breastfeeding as usual — never stop it — and offer light food to eaters whenever they want.
  4. Avoid: concentrated juices and fizzy drinks (worsen diarrhoea), and anti-diarrhoea medicines for children (dangerous without prescription).
  5. Check dehydration signs at least twice daily — list below.

Dehydration signs: check them yourself

  • Clearly drier nappies, or no urine for 6–8 hours.
  • Dry mouth and tongue, crying with few or no tears.
  • Sunken eyes, or a sunken fontanelle in infants.
  • Lethargy and poor interaction — the most important sign of all.

To the ER if

  • Dehydration signs despite replacement efforts, or total refusal to drink.
  • Green (bilious) vomit, or blood in stool or vomit.
  • Marked lethargy or a child who is simply "not themselves".
  • An infant under 3 months with fever, or severe persistent abdominal pain.

One moment

The smart parent's rule: don't ask "how many stools?" but "how much drunk, how much urine?" — the fluid balance is the whole story, and spoon-by-spoon ORS is patience that saves.

This content is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call 998.

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