My toddler keeps vomiting at night. Anyone else go through this?

(May 6, 2010)

Many parents complain that their toddlers vomit at night. It has been observed that these complaints usually come in between the ages of 10 to 26 months. In most cases, there is a simple explanation behind the recurring vomiting.

•   Your child may be eating too much at night before going to sleep. If her/his stomach is too full, it may cause indigestion, heartburn and nausea. Plan your toddler’s day and meals in such a way, that they do not eat too late at night, or just before going to bed. Keep the last meal of the evening light, and make sure, they do not lie down immediately after eating.

•   Drinking too much milk can also cause vomiting. Whole milk has a large percentage of fat which makes it difficult to digest. Try and monitor if your baby threw up on the days s/he drank too much milk. If that is so, you may consider reducing the quantity of milk.

•   Lactose intolerance may be another reason for vomiting at night. In the first few months, an infant usually drinks only mother’s milk or formula, and also in very small quantities. It is only later that milk is introduced in the diet. Besides, the quantity of milk is increased in later months, and this is when you begin to see signs of lactose intolerance. You can combat this by decreasing the amount of milk in your baby’s diet, or by removing it altogether, by substituting other products such as soy.

•   A chest cold or a cough could also trigger off vomiting. A long spell of coughing or accumulation of thick mucus can cause a baby to vomit. This however, is not serious, since this is nature’s way to expel the mucus. You might however like to consult your doctor, who may prescribe a cough syrup to soothe the throat and clear up the phlegm.

•   Sometimes, the cause could be as simple as a nasal drip, which accumulates at the back of the throat while sleeping (horizontal position), causing your toddler to have a coughing fit. You can try propping him up with pillows to prevent this.

•   Sometimes, in deep sleep, the tongue may slip backward causing gagging. Again, propping with pillows is effective.

•   A food allergy may be another culprit. At this age, children are usually introduced to new foods. Monitor if any new food has caused the vomiting. In any case, introduce a new food only in the morning.

•   Doctors and parents have also found that some emotional trauma could be the cause behind the vomiting. It may be a simple case of wanting extra attention.

However, if the vomiting is acute, and is accompanied by diarrhea, or stomach pain, it could mean a serious gastro-intestinal disorder. It would also be advisable to check with your baby’s doctor, and rule out any other serious causes.

Submitted by P T on May 6, 2010 at 01:45