Q: Both my 3-year-old and 11-month-old are vomiting severely. They fell asleep exhausted. Should I wait until morning to see a doctor or try giving them water now?

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Question:

Both of my children are vomiting. My 3-year-old threw up from 7 PM to 9 PM, then fell asleep exhausted. My 11-month-old started vomiting around 8 PM and is still throwing up clear, mucus-like fluid even while sleeping in my arms.

What should I do? There is no emergency room nearby, so I am wondering if I should monitor them at home and go to the pediatrician in the morning for IV fluids. If they wake up, should I try to give them some water?

My family suggests waiting until morning, but they look so exhausted that I am really worried something worse might happen. They have both vomited about 10 times. My older child hasn't urinated in about 5 hours, and my younger one last urinated around 6 PM. For food, they had an apple for lunch and rice with seaweed for dinner.

Answer:

It must be incredibly worrying to have both of your children vomiting at the same time. I understand you must feel even more anxious since there is no emergency room nearby tonight.

[Current Situation Assessment]

• Older child (3.5 years old): Vomited for 2 hours and fell asleep exhausted.

• Younger child (11 months old): Continues to vomit, bringing up only clear, mucus-like fluid.

• Both children have vomited more than 10 times.

⚠️ Urgent Things to Check:

1. Has your 11-month-old gone without urinating for over 8 hours?

2. Are their lips dry, or do their eyes look sunken?

3. Do they produce tears when they cry?

[What You Should Do Immediately]

1. Younger child (11 months old) - Requires extra attention:

• Give 1-2 spoons of water or breast milk slowly every 5-10 minutes.

• If they vomit, wait 5 minutes before trying again.

• If the baby constantly wants to be held and appears unusually lethargic, it could be a sign of dehydration.

2. Older child (3.5 years old):

• Monitor their breathing while they sleep (watch their chest rise and fall).

• If they wake up, give water little by little (one small sip at a time).

[When to Go to the Emergency Room]

→ Go Immediately: If there is no urination for over 8 hours, continuous extreme lethargy, or no tears when crying.

→ Leave Even During the Night: If the vomiting persists and they cannot keep any fluids down at all.

Rather than waiting until morning, it is safer to go to a hospital right now if you are highly concerned about your 11-month-old's condition. Dehydration can progress very quickly, especially in infants around 11 months of age.

For extra peace of mind and clear guidance when tracking your child's symptoms, the FeverCoach app is always there to help.

https://fevercoach.us