Vomiting in toddlers may be distressing for parents, and things get even worse when your toddler is throwing up frequently. There are a number of reasons for your baby vomiting, ranging from gastroenteritis (infection in the intestinal lining) to motion sickness. You may also find your toddler throwing up but with no fever. The cause of your toddler’s vomiting may not be clear at first, but if you take a closer look, you may find the actual cause. If the toddler has persistent vomiting with no other symptoms, consult a doctor for professional advice. Read this post to figure out what’s causing your toddler’s vomiting, what you can do to manage it, and how to prevent a repeat occurrence in your baby.
15 Causes Of Vomiting In Toddlers
Your baby can feel nauseated and eventually vomit, due to several reasons. Here are the most common reasons why toddlers may vomit:
1. Stomach infection
Stomach infection is the leading cause of vomiting in toddlers, and among a plethora of stomach infections, viral gastroenteritis is the most common (1).
Viral gastroenteritis is also known as the stomach flu or the stomach bug. If the infection stems from food, it is considered food poisoning. The infection causes severe stomach cramps resulting in excruciating pain in the abdominal cavity, which can lead to regurgitation of the stomach contents. It may cause the body temperature to rise, leading to fever with vomiting in toddlers. Fever is not always prevalent, though.
Symptoms: Vomiting could be accompanied by diarrhea, stomach upset, nausea, and fever. Diarrhea may cause dehydration and could lead to a headache.
2. Intestinal infection:
Your toddler may throw up when his intestines contract an infection. There are numerous pathogensiXAn organism or a germ responsible for causing diseases, bacteria, and viruses that can infect the intestines and vomiting is a symptom of their presence in the body. Infections caused by bacteria, such as salmonellaiXA bacteria that leads to salmonellosis, an infection characterized by fever, stomachache, and diarrhea. and staphylococcusiXA bacteria that is found on the skin normally but has the potential to cause a wide range of minor or severe diseases, cause vomiting and diarrhea (2). Your kid may or may not have a fever.
Symptoms: Symptoms are the same as stomach infection viz. vomiting or gagging with diarrhea, upset stomach, abdominal cramps, and fever.
3. Appendicitis:
Appendicitis is rare in infants and usually occurs in kids and teens aged between 10 and 20 years (3). An infected appendix could result in nausea and vomiting in toddlers, accompanied by excruciating pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, and a low fever. The infected appendix sends pain impulses throughout the nerves of the abdominal cavity, which causes the stomach muscles to move abnormally, causing nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms: Piercing pain in the lower right side of the abdomen. There could be a constant sense of nausea, along with vomiting. The toddler may also develop a fever.
4. Pediatric hernia:
A hernia happens when the bowel (small or large intestine) slips out of the abdominal cavity, causing discomfort and increasing the risk of infection. Toddlers can be affected by two types of hernia: inguinal hernia and umbilical hernia (4). An inguinal hernia occurs when the bowel moves into the inguinal canal leading to a swollen bump near the groin.
An umbilical hernia is when the abdominal wall right behind the navel is damaged, causing a portion of the small intestine to slip out of the damaged area. In either case, the hernia creates nerve pressure in the abdominal cavity, making the toddler throw up frequently.
Symptoms: Hernias are generally visible in the form of a bump in the lower abdomen or groin area. Symptoms apart from vomiting include constant nausea, abdominal cramps, and constipation.
5. Ingestion of toxic substance:
Toddlers tend to put things in the mouth. Vomiting could be the result of putting toxic substances, right from wild plants to soaps and detergents, in their mouth. These substances irritate the stomach lining, causing the muscles to contract and expel the contents. In the case of ingestion of toxic substances, the toddler may vomit but have no other symptoms such as fever or diarrhea.
Symptoms: In this case, symptoms are subjective and depend on the potency and quantity of the toxic substance consumed by the toddler. Vomiting could generally be accompanied by nausea and abdominal pain.
Dr. Lauren Chiriboga, a board-certified pediatrician from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida, says, “The first thing you should do is assess your child for the development of any new signs or symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, or change in mental status. If any of these are present, call 911 immediately. If your child has no concerning signs or symptoms, it is important to call Poison Control. Next steps may include observation at home or the recommendation to bring your child to the nearest emergency department if intervention is needed.”
6. Food allergy:
If your toddler is puking, usually after eating a particular food, then they may be allergic to that food. Vomiting is one symptom of food allergy (5). Throwing up white chunks of milk is a sign of milk allergy or lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is the inability of the small intestine to digest milk due to a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is necessary for milk digestion. Other common food allergies are caused by eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts (walnuts, pistachios, pecans, cashews), and fish (salmon, cod, tuna, shellfish) (6).
Symptoms: Vomiting is one of the many symptoms of a food allergy. Other symptoms could be abdominal pain, skin hives, and swollen lips and eyelids.
7. Acid reflux and bile reflux:
Acid reflux occurs when the esophageal sphincter, between the esophagus and stomach, opens abnormally and lets some of the stomach’s contents, including acid, move upwards through the food pipe. The irritation caused by the acid to the esophageal lining causes nausea and vomiting (7).
Sometimes, the toddler might throw up bile, which is a greenish-yellow fluid. This is caused by bile reflux. Bile reflux happens when the pyloric valve between the stomach and small intestine malfunctions, allowing bile to move from the small intestine to the stomach. It then irritates the stomach lining, causing the muscles to contract and expel the bile in the form of vomit through the esophagus.
Acid reflux and bile reflux can be distinguished by the color of the expelled liquid. If the toddler has acid reflux and bile reflux together, then it becomes easier for the bile to come out of the stomach with the refluxed stomach acid.
Symptoms: Vomiting along with a burning sensation in the upper abdominal region and esophagus, and constant dull pain in the abdomen.
8. Overeating and over-swallowing of air:
Overeating or swallowing of excess air during feeding can lead to vomiting (8). This may happen when the nipple of the feeding bottle has a big hole. The toddler may thus consume more milk than needed, causing his tiny stomach to fill till the brim and then throw up. Swallowing excess air due to poor positioning of the nipple in the mouth can also make the baby have nausea and vomiting. Gulping down the milk or feed too fast also causes the ingestion of air with food (9).
Symptoms: Along with vomiting, there could be a stomachache, and bloating in the abdomen area, with heavy burping.
9. Indigestion:
Indigestion can lead to vomiting due to the accumulation of undigested food in the stomach. The toddler may throw up undigested food hours after eating, indicating that the food has not been digested. This could happen when the little one has eaten the food too quickly, overeaten, or consumed extremely spicy or oily food.
Symptoms: Symptoms are subjective here. Generally, vomiting could be accompanied by pain in the stomach.
10. Certain medication:
Certain medicines could also make toddlers feel sick and vomit, especially if the toddler consumes them on an empty stomach. Vomiting can also be a known side-effect of some medicines.
Symptoms: Individual medicines have specific symptoms. Vomiting could be one of them.
11. Motion sickness and headaches:
If your toddler has no symptoms or history of illness but suddenly throws up in a moving vehicle, then it is possible that they suffer from motion sickness. Motion sickness can be an indicator of vertigo, a condition where an individual feels the sense of a shifting balance. This happens when the toddler is in a situation (like a roller-coaster), where there is a constant shift of equilibrium and orientation.
This quick shift of balance overloads the inner ear, which is responsible for maintaining the body’s balance and makes it send erratic signals to the brain (10). This disorients the brain, leading it to send distress nerve signals to the stomach muscles and making the toddler vomit. Other brain-related conditions, such as headaches, can also cause vomiting.
Symptoms: Dizziness, loss of balance, and a headache.
12. Ear infections:
Ear infections can induce vomiting, along with dizziness (11). The symptoms here are similar to motion sickness, but in this case, the condition is caused by a bacterial or viral infection of the middle or inner ear. Labyrinthitis is one such inner ear infection that can lead to vomiting along with vertigo. Similar to motion sickness, the inner ear sends disoriented signals to the brain (due to infection), which in turn stimulates the abdominal muscles to contract and throw up.
Symptoms: Dizziness and imbalance, along with severe nausea and vomiting.
13. Pneumonia:
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the alveoli of the lungs due to bacterial or viral infection. A cough and trouble breathing are the major symptoms of this condition, but it can also manifest through vomiting (12). Vomiting and constant nausea are often triggered by a cough. It may also be triggered as a general effect of the infection since pneumonia leads to loss of appetite that makes the toddlers feel sick every time they eat something.
Symptoms: Vomiting is a less common symptom of pneumonia and is accompanied by more common symptoms such as a cough, cold, fever, and shortness of breath.
14. Certain infections and diseases:
Vomiting is one of the several symptoms of infections, such as septicemiaiXA severe blood infection, also called blood poisoning, caused when germs invade the body and meningitisiXA bacterial or viral infection that can cause inflammation of the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (13).
Symptoms: Vomiting with a severe headache, body pain, fever, and cold shivers.
15. Rumination syndrome:
Rumination syndrome is a rare and underdiagnosed condition in which an individual can regurgitate the contents of the stomach unconsciously, without any pain or trouble (14). Unlike the classic case of vomiting, rumination does not make the toddler feel uneasy or cause any discomfort or heartburn. It is a natural contraction of abdominal muscles to push the food upwards, which is beyond the control of the toddler.
This generally happens about 30 minutes after the last meal and does not create any secondary symptoms and problems. The expelled food tastes fresh, and the toddler will usually chew and swallow it back. It is a key trait that differentiates rumination from vomiting, in which case the expelled food is stale, semi-digested, and not fit to swallow.
There is no known cause for rumination, and it is speculated to occur due to problems in the nervous system. Since the cause is unknown and the condition rare, rumination syndrome is often misdiagnosed as some other reason for vomiting. Treatment of rumination syndrome is physiotherapy involving muscle training to promote the normal movement of abdominal muscles. The doctor may also prescribe some oral medication to subdue the involuntary urge of the nerves to stimulate regurgitation.
Considering the many causes there are for vomiting, it is essential to know about the other symptoms associated with vomiting that warrant immediate medical attention.
When To See A Doctor?
Sometimes, your toddler’s vomiting could indicate a serious health ailment. One such instance is the case when the toddler is not able to hold any clear liquids in the body (15). Likewise, there are some other circumstances, when you should take your baby to a doctor (16):
- There is blood in vomit: If the toddler is throwing up blood, then it could indicate a serious problem. They could be vomiting blood due to a severe stomach infection, bruised esophageal lining due to acid reflux, inflammation in the small intestine, and many other reasons. You must take your little one to a pediatrician as soon as possible.
- Vomiting is accompanied by high fever and acute diarrhea: As mentioned earlier, vomiting, accompanied by diarrhea, can dehydrate the child. If your toddler has a high fever, then it can make the condition even more distressful. A quick medical response is the best way to alleviate the condition.
- The vomit is always green or black in color: If the vomit is greenish in color, then it can be due to bile reflux, which could be an indicator of a serious intestinal infection or even ulcer. Black and dark brown vomit could be an indicator of blood clots due to internal bleeding previously. It can happen due to reasons ranging from milk allergies to deficiency of vitamin K.
- The abdomen is swollen: A visibly swollen tummy could be due to severe infection or fluid retention caused by a fundamental problem. Either way, it is an alarming sign and should be brought to swift medical attention.
- The toddler is fatigued and has a weakened pulse: These symptoms will be accompanied by decreased alertness and general disorientation. The toddler will urinate fewer times in the day, maybe once in eight hours. All these can be signs of severe dehydration due to loss of water and electrolytes through vomiting. The condition is aggravated if the toddler is also suffering from diarrhea.
- Stiff neck: If a child with vomiting has a stiff neck with or without photophobia (discomfort under bright lights), they should be provided immediate medical attention (17).
Vomiting could be spontaneous or acute, depending on the severity of the problem.
Treatment For Vomiting In Toddlers
The treatment for your toddler’s vomiting is subjective as the medicine for vomiting will depend on the underlying problem. Generally, vomiting is a symptom of an underlying problem. Therefore, a doctor will look for the other signs to diagnose the condition.
Similarly, precautions to prevent vomiting also depend on the underlying condition.
Precautions To Prevent Vomiting
However, you can follow some generic safety measures to try and avoid the conditions that lead to vomiting (18).
- Always provide clean and hygienic food: Maintain cleanliness at home and in your kitchen. Clean the utensils you use for your toddler and sterilize them. Prepare your baby’s food under hygienic conditions, as eating clean food is one way of preventing exposure to disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
- Limit the quantity of acid reflux and indigestion-causing foods: Foods such as chocolates, processed foods, and citrus fruits may cause acid reflux. If your toddler is prone to acid reflux, then limit the quantity of these foods. Also, ensure they eat slowly and not more than they need, to prevent overeating and digestive problems.
- Learn the side-effects of medicines before giving them to your baby: Medicines may have side-effects when consumed on an empty stomach. When giving your baby such medicines, inquire from the doctor about all the probable effects on the baby’s digestion.
- Manage your toddler’s food allergy: If you know your toddler is allergic to a certain food, then prevent them from eating that food. Also, avoid the products that have the allergy-causing food as an ingredient.
- Avoid situations that may cause motion sickness: Do not take your motion-sick toddler for a ride on a mini-roller coaster in a theme park. Also, avoid other triggers like traveling through a long twisty road, a super-fast elevator, or anything that might make them throw up.
- Keep your baby hydrated: Vomiting can dehydrate the body, and if it is accompanied by diarrhea, then it can quickly deplete the body’s water reserves. Keep a steady inflow of water and electrolytes to prevent the risk of severe dehydration in the case of vomiting.
How To Make Your Toddler Feel Better?
If the precautions do not work, and your toddler is feeling sick, then you would want to make every effort to ease the condition. Here are some things you can do to make the child feel better:
- Do not force your little one to eat: Do not force your toddler to eat anything when they seem visibly distressed due to constant vomiting. It is okay if they skip a meal since they are doing so because of the discomfort caused by vomiting and the underlying problem. Even if they are hungry, give them liquids. Solid food may not be the right choice as their digestive system is not in a condition to digest it.
- Provide plenty of fluids: Feed them fluids since vomiting and diarrhea drain the body of water and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium. Give your toddler fluids, such as dissolved oral rehydration solution/salts (ORS), in small sips or with a tablespoon. ORS is available in liquid or powder form over the counter and may be prepared by adding water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. ORS can also be made at home by mixing six leveled teaspoons of sugar and half a leveled teaspoon of salt dissolved in one liter of clean water. Do not mix ORS with formula or juice. This should rehydrate the child while giving them supplementary calories until they can eat solid food. Avoid giving milk and juices, as they can be difficult to digest (19) (20). The table below shows the minimum amount of liquid your child may need if they have dehydration.
| Child’s weight in pounds | Minimum amount of fluid to give per hour |
| 7 to 10 | 4 tablespoons or 1/4 cup |
| 11 to 15 | 5 tablespoons |
| 16 to 20 | 1/2 cup |
| 21 to 40 | 3/4 cup |
| 41 to 60 | 1 1/4 cups |
- Make your toddler rest: Ample rest helps the body in dealing with the infection that may have induced vomiting.
- Follow the prescribed course of medicines: The doctor will generally prescribe a course of treatment, which could involve multiple drugs. Follow the course without deviation to prevent a relapse of the infection.
What To Feed A Vomiting Toddler?
When the toddler vomits, the nutrients you have just tried to put into them are all gone. Moreover, they may simply refuse to eat after this unpleasant experience. In such a scenario, how will you make sure that they are getting enough energy? Follow these steps on feeding your toddler when they are vomiting (21):
- Stick to water and electrolytes initially: For hours after your little one last puked, give them small amounts of water and electrolyte solution. Do not attempt to feed them solid food any time soon since it can worsen the condition.
Dr. Chiriboga recommends, “In mild cases, provide extra hydration to the child. The best forms of hydration are plain water or an electrolyte solution. Avoid sugary beverages such as soda or juice. In severe cases, toddlers may need administration of an anti-emetic medication, either by mouth or injection.”
- Start with a liquid diet: Once your baby seems better, you can start feeding them liquid food such as vegetable or chicken stock, with added salt and no added condiments. You can also give them rice stock but avoid lentil stock since certain lentils can be hard to digest. Tender coconut water works well, as it contains minerals and amino acids.
- Give bland solid food: Once they are fit enough to eat solid food, begin by giving them simple and bland foods. You can give them boiled and mashed rice with some vegetable or chicken stock. Boiled lentils and vegetables can be good, but stick to boiled vegetables, as they are easy to chew.
Do not give high fiber vegetables such as spinach and beans yet, since they are still recovering. You may blend and strain vegetables to make thin, easy-to-digest soups. You can put them back on a solid diet around eight hours after the little one last vomited.
- Once recovered, feed normally: If it has been 24 hours since the baby vomited and they are responding well to the elementary diet, you can introduce them to solid foods. If your toddler consumes milk, you can reintroduce it along with other foods, such as plain bread. Start with small quantities of milk of not more than 100ml. Once everything seems fine, let your toddler have regular food that they are used to eating.
Remember, your toddler can speak a lot of basic phrases, therefore, they will let you know when they are hungry and want regular solid food. Do not force them to eat something or overwhelm them with food right after they have recovered. Giving some extra time for their body to get back on track will help prevent another round of vomiting.
Vomiting in toddlers is unpleasant, but it is frequently a sign of a health problem and is accompanied by fever. However, don’t be alarmed if you notice that your toddler is vomiting but has no fever. Toddlers can vomit due to various reasons, including stomach and intestinal diseases, food allergies, and acid reflux. Treating the underlying condition will help your little one recover faster. In the meantime, ensure they drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. If you notice any other serious symptoms in your toddler or frequent vomiting, visit a doctor promptly.
Key Pointers
- The primary cause of vomiting among toddlers is gastrointestinal infection.
- Common symptoms that accompany vomiting include stomach pain, fever, and loose stools.
- Signs such as the presence of blood in vomit, high fever, diarrhea, green or black vomit, and a swollen abdomen require immediate medical attention.
- The treatment for vomiting in toddlers is subjective and depends on the underlying problem.
- Preventing vomiting can be aided by providing clean and hygienic food, limiting acid reflux, managing food allergies, avoiding motion sickness triggers, and keeping the baby hydrated.
Learn the best way to care for a child with vomiting and diarrhea. Get tips on how to keep them hydrated, what foods to avoid, and when to seek medical help.
