Rotavirus, an intestinal illness, causes vomiting and severe diarrhea in babies. It is vital that your child takes in as much fluid as he can tolerate to prevent dehydration, which can be tricky when he can't keep liquids down or just doesn't feel like feeding. Continue to feed your baby breastmilk or formula for nourishment and look into other drink remedies that are suitable.
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is an intestinal virus that leads to diarrhea and vomiting in small children and babies. Rotavirus is spread when children come into contact with infected feces. The virus lives on hard surfaces -- such as door handles and toilet seats -- for several hours. Once your baby has been exposed to rotavirus, it takes one to three days to develop symptoms. Babies in day care centers may contract the virus from other children or from day-care personnel who have cared for a baby infected with the disease.
Symptoms
Your baby’s symptoms may include fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The vomiting should end by the fourth day of the illness, but the diarrhea may last for as long as two weeks. The baby’s diarrhea may be explosive and he may go through 20 to 30 diapers per day in the first days of the virus. Rotavirus usually hits children by their third birthday, and it is possible to get the disease more than once. Not all cases of rotavirus are severe; some cases are mild.
Preferred Drink Remedies
Continue feeding your baby breast milk or formula. If she is vomiting, give her smaller amounts; two to three tablespoons every 15 minutes may be easier to keep down than a full feeding. Avoid very sugary drinks, such as soda or fruit juice, which can make diarrhea worse. Older children can drink water, half-strength lemonade or frozen treats. If your baby begins showing signs of dehydration, feed her an oral rehydration solution especially for children.
Prevent Dehydration
Severe vomiting and diarrhea put your baby at risk of developing dehydration. A baby who has had no wet diapers in three or more hours and who doesn't produce tears when crying may be dehydrated. A child who hasn't passed urine for more than six hours, has cracked lips and appears listless may also be dehydrated. As long as you are breastfeeding your baby as much as he is able to tolerate, he should stay hydrated. If you are formula-feeding, ask your doctor about switching temporarily to a lactose-free formula. The lactose in regular formula may make your baby’s diarrhea worse, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
