For most babies with an upset stomach, the best things you can give are the fluids they already know: breast milk or formula. Beyond that, small sips of an oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte), gentle tummy massage, and gas drops can help depending on the cause. What you should not give matters just as much, since many common remedies safe for older kids are off-limits for infants.
Keep Breast Milk or Formula Going
The single most important thing for a baby with an upset stomach is to keep fluids coming in. If you’re breastfeeding, continue nursing on demand. Breast milk is easy to digest and provides antibodies that help fight infection. If your baby is formula-fed, stick with their regular formula unless your pediatrician says otherwise. A lactose-free or lactose-reduced formula can sometimes help during a bout of diarrhea, but full-strength regular formula is fine for most babies once vomiting has settled.
The instinct to stop feeding and “rest the stomach” is understandable, but babies dehydrate faster than adults and need a steady intake of fluids. Withholding milk or formula for more than a few hours can do more harm than good.
What to Do When Your Baby Is Vomiting
If your breastfed baby vomits once, nurse for half the usual time every one to two hours. If vomiting happens more than once, shorten feedings to about five minutes every 30 to 60 minutes. Once your baby goes four hours without throwing up, return to normal nursing. If vomiting continues even with shorter feeds, try giving pumped breast milk by spoon or syringe: one to two teaspoons (5 to 10 mL) every five minutes.
For formula-fed babies who vomit more than once, switch temporarily to an oral rehydration solution. Spoon or syringe-feed one to two teaspoons every five minutes. After two hours with no vomiting, double the amount. Once four hours pass without any vomiting, go back to regular formula, starting with small amounts and increasing gradually. If you don’t have an oral rehydration solution on hand, give smaller amounts of formula more frequently until you can get some.
Oral Rehydration Solutions
Oral rehydration solutions (sold as Pedialyte, store-brand equivalents, or generic versions) contain a precise balance of water, sugar, and salts designed to replace what’s lost through vomiting and diarrhea. They’re available at most grocery stores and pharmacies without a prescription.
For a mildly dehydrated baby (showing some dry lips, slightly fewer wet diapers), aim for about 50 mL per kilogram of body weight over two to four hours. That works out to roughly 8 to 10 ounces for a 10-pound baby, given in small sips. For each watery or loose stool your baby passes, offer an additional 10 mL per kilogram, and about 2 mL per kilogram after each episode of vomiting. The key is small, frequent amounts. Starting with a teaspoon at a time and gradually increasing helps the stomach hold it down.
Do not substitute water, juice, or sports drinks. Plain water lacks the electrolytes babies need and can actually worsen the problem. Juice and sports drinks have too much sugar, which can make diarrhea worse.
Physical Comfort Techniques
When gas or general belly discomfort seems to be the problem, gentle physical techniques can bring real relief. Bicycle legs are simple: lay your baby on their back and slowly move their legs in a pedaling motion. This helps trapped gas move through the intestines.
The “I Love You” (ILU) abdominal massage follows the natural path of the large intestine and can ease gas, bloating, and constipation. With your baby on their back, use gentle pressure to stroke straight down the left side of the belly (from below the ribs to the hip) about 10 times. Then trace an “L” shape: across the upper belly from right to left, then down the left side, 10 times. Finally, trace a “U” shape: up the right side, across the top, and down the left side, 10 times. Finish with small clockwise circles around the belly button for a minute or two. Use a little lotion or oil and keep the pressure gentle but firm.
Warm (not hot) baths can also relax a baby’s abdominal muscles and provide comfort during a rough stretch.
Gas Drops and Probiotics
Simethicone drops (sold as Mylicon, Little Remedies, or store brands) break up gas bubbles in the stomach and intestines. They’ve been tested in children and have not been shown to cause side effects different from those in adults. They won’t cure the underlying cause of an upset stomach, but if your baby seems gassy, bloated, or uncomfortable after feeding, they can take the edge off. Your pediatrician can recommend the right dose for your baby’s age and weight.
Probiotics, particularly a strain called Lactobacillus reuteri, have solid evidence behind them for infant digestive issues. In breastfed babies with colic, this probiotic reduced daily crying time from about 90 minutes to 35 minutes over three weeks. It also shortened the duration of diarrhea from acute stomach bugs by roughly a day and a half. In formula-fed infants with frequent spit-up, it cut regurgitation episodes from about four per day down to one. Probiotic drops formulated for infants are available over the counter, but check with your pediatrician on dosing before starting.
Foods for Older Babies on Solids
If your baby is six months or older and eating solid foods, you may have heard of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). This was once the standard recommendation, but the American Academy of Pediatrics no longer endorses it. It’s too low in protein, fat, and other nutrients to support recovery, and following it strictly for more than 24 hours may actually slow healing.
Instead, offer your baby their normal foods as tolerated. Bananas and rice cereal are still fine choices since they’re gentle on the stomach, but they should be part of a varied diet, not the only things you serve. Starchy vegetables, plain yogurt, and small amounts of lean protein all help the gut recover. Avoid anything high in sugar or very high in fiber until things settle down.
What Not to Give
Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications are not recommended for children under 2 years old and can be harmful even in older children. This includes bismuth subsalicylate (the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol), which carries a risk of Reye’s syndrome in young children. Never give your baby any anti-nausea or antidiarrheal medication without explicit guidance from their doctor.
Honey is unsafe for babies under 12 months due to the risk of botulism. Herbal teas and gripe water vary widely in ingredients and aren’t regulated, so it’s best to avoid them unless your pediatrician specifically recommends a product.
Signs That Need Immediate Attention
Most upset stomachs in babies resolve within a few days with fluids and comfort. But certain signs point to something more serious. Watch for these red flags:
- No wet diapers for three hours or more, which signals dehydration
- A sunken soft spot on the top of the skull, or sunken eyes or cheeks
- Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in any baby under 3 months old, measured rectally. This is an emergency that requires an ER visit regardless of other symptoms
- Blood or mucus in the stool, or stools that are black, white, or clay-colored
- Vomit that is green (bile-stained) or contains blood
- Extreme fussiness or unusual sleepiness that doesn’t improve between episodes
Watery, loose stools are common with stomach bugs, but if diarrhea is frequent and your baby can’t keep fluids down, dehydration can develop within hours. Dark, hard stools mean constipation rather than infection, which calls for a different approach. When in doubt, a quick call to your pediatrician’s nurse line can help you figure out whether you’re dealing with something that will pass on its own or something that needs a closer look.