Updated: August 2026
Vomiting and diarrhoea can make a baby or young child look weak very quickly. The greatest immediate concern is often not the loss of food but the loss of water and essential salts, which can lead to dehydration.
Parents sometimes respond by stopping food, giving only fruit juice, trying herbal remedies or waiting for the diarrhoea to stop before feeding again. These approaches can make matters worse.
For most children, the priorities are straightforward: replace lost fluids with Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), continue breastfeeding, continue age-appropriate nutritious foods as tolerated, and recognise signs that require medical care.
WHO recommends ORS, continued feeding including breast milk, and appropriate zinc supplementation as key measures in managing childhood diarrhoea. (World Health Organization)
Why Vomiting and Diarrhoea Can Be Dangerous for Children
Diarrhoea causes the body to lose water and electrolytes through frequent watery stools.
Vomiting can increase these losses and make it more difficult for the child to replace fluids.
Babies and young children can become dehydrated more quickly than adults.
The risk is particularly important when a child:
Has frequent watery stools
Is vomiting repeatedly
Cannot drink normally
Has fever
Is very young
Has poor nutritional status
Has another illness
The goal should therefore not simply be to "stop the stool." The immediate priority is preventing or treating dehydration while continuing to provide nutrition.
1. Continue Breastfeeding
For a breastfed baby, continue breastfeeding during diarrhoea and vomiting.
Do not stop breastfeeding because the baby has diarrhoea.
Breast milk provides fluid, energy, nutrients and immune components and remains valuable during illness. WHO specifically recommends continuing nutrient-rich foods, including breast milk, during episodes of diarrhoea. (World Health Organization)
Offer the breast frequently.
If the baby vomits after feeding, do not assume breastfeeding must stop. Allow the baby to settle and offer another smaller feed.
If the baby is unable to breastfeed, repeatedly vomits everything taken or becomes unusually weak or sleepy, seek medical care.
2. Give Oral Rehydration Solution
Oral Rehydration Solution, commonly called ORS, is one of the most important treatments for diarrhoea in children.
ORS replaces water and essential salts lost through watery stools and vomiting. WHO describes ORS as a proven life-saving treatment for childhood diarrhoea. (World Health Organization)
ORS does not necessarily stop diarrhoea immediately. Its purpose is to prevent and treat dehydration while the illness runs its course or receives appropriate treatment.
How to Give ORS
Prepare packaged ORS exactly according to the instructions on the sachet.
Use the amount of clean water specified on the package. Do not make the solution stronger or weaker by changing the amount of water.
Give the child frequent small amounts.
A cup and spoon can be particularly useful for young children.
If the child vomits, wait briefly and restart more slowly, giving small frequent sips rather than a large amount at once.
Continue breastfeeding while giving ORS.
What If Packaged ORS Is Not Immediately Available?
Commercially prepared ORS is preferable because it contains the correct proportions of glucose and electrolytes.
When standard ORS is unavailable and immediate rehydration is necessary, a temporary home solution can be made using:
1 litre of safe drinking water
6 level teaspoons of sugar
½ level teaspoon of salt
Mix thoroughly.
Measurements must be accurate. Too much salt can be dangerous, particularly for a small child.
Obtain properly formulated ORS as soon as possible and seek medical attention if the child has signs of dehydration or cannot drink adequately.
3. Continue Normal Age-Appropriate Feeding
A child with diarrhoea does not usually need to be starved.
Continued feeding helps provide the energy and nutrients needed for recovery and reduces the nutritional effects of diarrhoeal illness.
WHO recommends continued feeding together with oral rehydration therapy for children with diarrhoea. (World Health Organization)
Once a child is able and interested in eating, offer appropriate foods in small amounts.
The exact foods depend on the child's age and what the child normally eats.
For a child already receiving complementary foods, options can include:
Soft rice
Pap or appropriately prepared cereal
Potatoes
Yam
Beans or other pulses where tolerated
Mashed vegetables
Banana
Eggs
Fish or meat prepared appropriately for the child's age
Other familiar nutritious family foods with an appropriate texture
There is no need to restrict the child to only one or two "special diarrhoea foods."
The important principle is to continue safe, nutritious, age-appropriate food.
4. Give Small Meals More Frequently
A sick child may not want to eat a normal-sized meal.
Do not force a large amount at once.
Instead, offer smaller amounts more frequently.
A child who refuses one meal may accept food later as nausea improves.
After recovery, continued nutritious feeding is important because children may need to regain weight and nutrients lost during the illness.
5. Banana Can Be Part of the Child's Diet
Banana can be offered to a child who is already old enough to eat complementary foods.
It provides carbohydrate and potassium and is usually easy to prepare in a soft texture.
But banana is not a treatment that stops diarrhoea.
It should be viewed simply as one nutritious food that can form part of the child's diet during recovery.
The child still needs adequate fluids, and ORS remains the appropriate treatment for fluid and electrolyte losses caused by diarrhoea.
6. Rice, Potatoes and Other Starchy Foods Can Be Offered
Soft rice and other familiar starchy foods can provide energy during recovery.
Depending on the child's age and normal diet, suitable options may include:
Rice
Potatoes
Yam
Oats
Appropriate cereal
Pap
Other locally available staple foods
These foods do not cure the infection causing diarrhoea, but they can help maintain the child's nutritional intake.
Do not rely on plain starch alone for prolonged periods. As the child's appetite improves, return to a varied, nutritious diet.
7. Vegetables and Nutritious Soups Can Be Given
A child who normally eats complementary foods can continue receiving appropriately prepared vegetables and soups.
The food should be:
Prepared with safe water
Properly cooked
Appropriate for the child's age
Served using clean utensils
Easy for the child to eat
Very watery soup should not replace ORS when the child is losing significant fluid through diarrhoea.
ORS contains a carefully designed balance of glucose and electrolytes specifically intended for rehydration.
What About Buttermilk?
The previous version of this article recommended homemade buttermilk made by adding lemon juice or vinegar to milk.
That recommendation has been removed.
A child with vomiting or diarrhoea does not need homemade buttermilk as a treatment for dehydration.
Improper preparation or storage of milk products can introduce additional contamination, particularly where refrigeration and safe water are uncertain.
Use properly prepared ORS for rehydration and continue appropriate feeding.
Should You Give Fruit Juice?
Fruit juice should not be used as a substitute for ORS.
Many fruit juices contain large amounts of sugar but do not contain the appropriate electrolyte balance needed to treat dehydration.
Large amounts of sugary drinks can sometimes worsen diarrhoea.
For children old enough to eat fruit, appropriate whole or mashed fruits can form part of the normal diet.
When dehydration is the concern, use ORS rather than relying on juice.
What About Pomegranate Juice or Pomegranate Peel?
The previous article suggested pomegranate juice and pomegranate peel because of supposed astringent effects.
This should not be relied upon as a treatment for childhood diarrhoea.
The priority is evidence-based management:
ORS + continued breastfeeding/feeding + appropriate zinc + medical assessment when necessary.
Parents should not delay effective rehydration while trying herbal or traditional remedies.
Zinc and Childhood Diarrhoea
Zinc is an important part of childhood diarrhoea management.
WHO and UNICEF recommend zinc alongside ORS because zinc can reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoeal episodes. (World Health Organization)
Guidance on zinc dosing has been evolving. WHO's newer guidance has considered lower-dose zinc to reduce vomiting, while implementation and product availability vary between settings. UNICEF's July 2026 update notes that existing co-packaged ORS and zinc products remain in use while newer formulations become available. (UNICEF)
For that reason, parents should obtain an appropriate paediatric zinc product and follow current instructions from a healthcare professional, pharmacist or national treatment programme, rather than estimating a dose from adult tablets.
Zinc does not replace ORS.
Should You Give Medicine to Stop Diarrhoea?
Do not give a baby or young child anti-diarrhoeal medicine simply because the stools are frequent.
Some medicines used by adults to slow bowel movement are inappropriate or potentially dangerous for young children.
Similarly, antibiotics should not automatically be given for diarrhoea.
Many episodes of childhood diarrhoea are caused by viruses and do not benefit from antibiotics.
Antibiotics are required only in particular situations determined by a qualified healthcare professional.
What About Vomiting?
A child who vomits may still be able to absorb fluid when it is given slowly.
Instead of giving a large cup at once:
Offer small amounts frequently
Continue breastfeeding
Give ORS slowly
Allow a short pause after vomiting
Restart with smaller amounts
Repeated vomiting that prevents the child from keeping down fluids requires medical assessment.
How Can You Tell If a Child Is Becoming Dehydrated?
Watch carefully for signs such as:
Unusual thirst
Dry mouth or tongue
Sunken eyes
Reduced urination
Fewer wet nappies
Unusual tiredness
Irritability
Weakness
Poor drinking
Increasing sleepiness
Severe dehydration can cause:
Extreme weakness
Very little or no urine
Inability to drink
Cold hands and feet
Rapid breathing
Very fast or weak pulse
Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Severe dehydration is a medical emergency.
When Should You Take the Child to a Health Facility?
Seek medical assessment promptly when:
The child cannot drink or breastfeed
The child vomits everything
There is blood in the stool
Diarrhoea is unusually frequent or severe
The child shows signs of dehydration
The child becomes unusually weak or sleepy
Fever is persistent or concerning
There is severe abdominal pain
The child has repeated vomiting
Diarrhoea persists rather than improving
You are concerned about the child's condition
WHO particularly recommends professional assessment for persistent diarrhoea, blood in the stool or signs of dehydration. (World Health Organization)
A young infant with diarrhoea or repeated vomiting deserves particular caution, because dehydration can develop rapidly.
Diarrhoea, Vomiting and Cholera
Profuse watery diarrhoea accompanied by vomiting and rapid dehydration can sometimes occur with cholera.
Cholera requires immediate attention because severe fluid loss can become life-threatening within hours.
ORS should be started immediately while medical care is being sought.
For more information, read the AnjKreb guide: Cholera in Nigeria: Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, Treatment and When to Seek Medical Care.
How to Reduce the Risk of Diarrhoea in Children
Many episodes of diarrhoea are caused by infections transmitted through contaminated food, water, hands or surfaces.
Risk can be reduced by:
Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months
Using safe drinking water
Washing hands with soap
Preparing food hygienically
Cooking food thoroughly
Keeping feeding utensils clean
Using safe sanitation
Disposing of children's stools safely
Following the recommended childhood vaccination schedule, including rotavirus vaccination
WHO identifies safe water, sanitation, handwashing, exclusive breastfeeding, food hygiene and rotavirus vaccination among important measures for preventing childhood diarrhoea. (World Health Organization)
Common Myths About Feeding During Diarrhoea
Myth: Stop breastfeeding until the diarrhoea ends.
False.
Breastfeeding should generally continue and can be offered more frequently.
Myth: A child with diarrhoea should not eat.
False.
Continued age-appropriate feeding is recommended. (World Health Organization)
Myth: ORS stops diarrhoea immediately.
No.
ORS primarily replaces the water and electrolytes lost through diarrhoea. It prevents and treats dehydration.
Myth: Fruit juice works just as well as ORS.
No.
Fruit juice does not have the carefully balanced composition of ORS and should not replace it for treating dehydration.
Myth: Antibiotics should be given whenever a child has diarrhoea.
No.
The need for antibiotics depends on the cause and clinical circumstances.
Myth: Herbal remedies are safer because they are natural.
Not necessarily.
Their ingredients, concentrations, contamination risk and effects on young children may be uncertain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important thing to give a child with diarrhoea?
Preventing dehydration is the immediate priority. Give properly prepared ORS and continue breastfeeding and appropriate feeding. (World Health Organization)
Should I stop breastfeeding when my baby has diarrhoea?
No. Continue breastfeeding frequently unless a healthcare professional gives different advice for a specific medical reason.
Can I give ORS if my child is vomiting?
Yes. Give small amounts frequently. If the child vomits, pause briefly and restart slowly.
Can a child eat rice during diarrhoea?
Yes. A child already eating complementary foods can receive soft rice and other familiar nutritious foods as tolerated.
Can I give banana?
Yes, if the child is old enough for complementary foods. Banana can be part of the diet but does not replace ORS.
Should I give fruit juice?
Fruit juice should not replace ORS for rehydration. Excessive sugary drinks may worsen diarrhoea in some children.
Does a child need zinc?
Zinc is recommended as part of childhood diarrhoea management and is commonly used together with ORS. Follow current professional or national guidance for the appropriate product and dose. (World Health Organization)
Should I stop food because the child is vomiting?
Not routinely. Prioritise small frequent fluids and breastfeeding while vomiting is active, then continue age-appropriate food as tolerated.
When is diarrhoea dangerous?
Diarrhoea becomes particularly dangerous when it causes dehydration, when there is blood in the stool, when the child cannot drink, when vomiting prevents fluid intake or when the child becomes unusually weak or sleepy.
Key Takeaways
When a baby or child has vomiting and diarrhoea, the main priorities are:
Continue breastfeeding
Give properly prepared ORS
Continue age-appropriate nutritious foods as tolerated
Give smaller, more frequent feeds if necessary
Use appropriate zinc according to current professional guidance
Watch carefully for dehydration
Do not routinely give antibiotics or anti-diarrhoeal medicines without medical advice
Seek medical care when warning signs appear
The old idea that a child with diarrhoea should be starved or treated mainly with special juices and homemade remedies is not supported by modern diarrhoea management.
The goal is to replace lost fluid, maintain nutrition and recognise serious illness early.
References and Further Reading
World Health Organization: Diarrhoeal Disease
WHO: ORS, Zinc and Childhood Diarrhoea
UNICEF: Oral Rehydration Salts and Zinc
UNICEF 2026 ORS and Zinc Market Update
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