What Can Kids Take for an Upset Stomach?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCan Children Take Medicine for Nausea and Vomiting?How to Safely Treat an Upset StomachWhat Not to Give Your ChildWhat Causes Stomach ProblemsWhen to Seek Medical Attention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Can Children Take Medicine for Nausea and Vomiting?

How to Safely Treat an Upset Stomach

What Not to Give Your Child

What Causes Stomach Problems

When to Seek Medical Attention

An upset stomach in a child can be distressing for both the parents or caregivers and the child. Ifvomiting and diarrheaare present, hydration and a diet focused on easily digestible foods are key to aiding in recovery.

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the use of anti-nausea drugs in children. However, in more severe cases, healthcare providers may prescribe medications to manage vomiting.

One oral dose of ondansetron may help minimize vomiting, intravenous fluids administration, and hospital admissions in children with the stomach flu.

Antidiarrheals likePepto Bismol (bismuth salicylate)and Imodium (loperamide) are not recommended for children with a stomach virus.

However, they can help if your child is dealing with mild nausea or indigestion that is not due to a virus. Pepto Bismol is approved for use in children 12 years and older.Pepto Kids is specially formulated for children ages 2 to 12 since the original formula is unsafe for children in that age group.

Still, you should always consult your child’s healthcare provider before giving them any medications.

Stomach upsets are common. Typically, the child recovers quickly and without severe problems. Mild symptoms can usually be safely treated at home with supportive care. If vomiting and diarrhea occur,treatment should focus on rehydratingand preventing dehydration.

Oral rehydration beverages, such as Pedialyte or Ceralyte, are recommended. These contain the right mix of salt, sugar, and minerals. Give your child small sips every few minutes. Plain water is not usually recommended, as it will not provide theelectrolytesneeded.

For older kids, you may give hydrating drinks such as:

It’s also common for children to have decreased or no appetite during an upset stomach. Avoid high-fat foods at first because these are more difficult to digest. When your child feels up to eating, start with small amounts at first. Give easy-to-digest foods such as:

You can also contact your child’s healthcare provider for advice and support if necessary.

Avoid giving them foods and drinks that can irritate the stomach, such as:

You should also avoid giving the child any medications without consulting their healthcare provider. These include:

What Causes Stomach Problems in Children?

If their symptoms don’t go away or become severe, contact their healthcare provider so they can help determine the cause and best course of action for treatment.

Seek medical attention for stomach upset if your child experiences any of the following symptoms:

Summary

Stomach upset can cause pain, discomfort, diarrhea, and vomiting in children. They can occur for many reasons, such as infections (such as viral gastroenteritis), gas, constipation, food allergies or intolerance, or indigestion.

If your child is vomiting and has diarrhea, the best way to manage their condition is to keep them hydrated, feed them easily digestible food, and allow plenty of rest. It is not typically recommended to use anti-nausea or antidiarrheals in children, although healthcare providers may prescribe them if vomiting becomes severe.

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Romano C, Dipasquale V, Scarpignato C.Antiemetic drug use in children: what the clinician needs to know.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(4):466-471. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002225DailyMed.Label: Ondansetron injection solution.Merck Manual.Gastroenteritis in children.DailyMed.Label: Pepto Bismol- bismuth subsalicylate suspension.DailyMed.Label: Pepto Kids- calcium carbonate tablet, chewable.UpToDate.Patient education: nausea and vomiting in infants and children (beyond the basics).Leung AK, Hon KL.Paediatrics: how to manage viral gastroenteritis.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-11-7. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-11-7MedlinePlus.Abdominal pain-children under age 12.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Romano C, Dipasquale V, Scarpignato C.Antiemetic drug use in children: what the clinician needs to know.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(4):466-471. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002225DailyMed.Label: Ondansetron injection solution.Merck Manual.Gastroenteritis in children.DailyMed.Label: Pepto Bismol- bismuth subsalicylate suspension.DailyMed.Label: Pepto Kids- calcium carbonate tablet, chewable.UpToDate.Patient education: nausea and vomiting in infants and children (beyond the basics).Leung AK, Hon KL.Paediatrics: how to manage viral gastroenteritis.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-11-7. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-11-7MedlinePlus.Abdominal pain-children under age 12.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Romano C, Dipasquale V, Scarpignato C.Antiemetic drug use in children: what the clinician needs to know.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(4):466-471. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002225DailyMed.Label: Ondansetron injection solution.Merck Manual.Gastroenteritis in children.DailyMed.Label: Pepto Bismol- bismuth subsalicylate suspension.DailyMed.Label: Pepto Kids- calcium carbonate tablet, chewable.UpToDate.Patient education: nausea and vomiting in infants and children (beyond the basics).Leung AK, Hon KL.Paediatrics: how to manage viral gastroenteritis.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-11-7. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-11-7MedlinePlus.Abdominal pain-children under age 12.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).

Romano C, Dipasquale V, Scarpignato C.Antiemetic drug use in children: what the clinician needs to know.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(4):466-471. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002225

DailyMed.Label: Ondansetron injection solution.

Merck Manual.Gastroenteritis in children.

DailyMed.Label: Pepto Bismol- bismuth subsalicylate suspension.

DailyMed.Label: Pepto Kids- calcium carbonate tablet, chewable.

UpToDate.Patient education: nausea and vomiting in infants and children (beyond the basics).

Leung AK, Hon KL.Paediatrics: how to manage viral gastroenteritis.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-11-7. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-11-7

MedlinePlus.Abdominal pain-children under age 12.

National Institutes of Health.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).

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