Gastro

Gastro might just be every parent’s worst nightmare. It’s messy, exhausting, and downright unpleasant for everyone involved. While it’s not fun, there are ways to help your little one feel more comfortable and recover as quickly as possible.

Before diving in, it’s important to note: if vomiting or diarrhoea is severe, persistent, contains blood, or is accompanied by dehydration, lethargy, or significant pain, seek medical attention immediately. Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t feel right, it’s always better to get professional advice.

What Is Gastro?

Gastro (short for acute gastroenteritis) is often caused by a virus but can also stem from bacterial or parasitic infections. It’s characterized by vomiting and/or diarrhoea and, thankfully, is usually self-limiting, meaning it resolves on its own.¹

For most children, supportive measures like hydration, nourishing foods, and plenty of comfort are the best remedies. But when you’re in the thick of it, remembering what to do (while trying not to catch it yourself!) can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry – we’re here to guide you.

How you can help your child

Prioritise Hydration

Dehydration is the most immediate concern with gastro, especially with frequent vomiting or diarrhoea. Offering fluids often – even in small sips – is essential.

For Babies Under 6 Months:

• Breastmilk or formula: Continue feeding on demand.
• Frozen breastmilk: Use a sterilised silicone feeder to create soothing ice blocks.

For Children Who’ve Started Solids:

• Breastmilk or formula
• Water
• Coconut water (unsweetened)
• Bone broth or miso soup
• Cooled chamomile, ginger, or fennel tea
• Fresh fruit or vegetable juices (diluted with water in 1:1 ratio)
• Frozen breastmilk or formula ice blocks
• Rehydrate Me Drink (see recipe below)
• Oral rehydration solution (from the pharmacy)
• We also love the Hydramama sachets by Mini + Me (use the code BOOBTOFOOD for a discount)

Breastmilk is especially beneficial, no matter the child’s age, as it hydrates while delivering immune-supportive properties, including inflammation-reducing immunoglobulins.^2,3

Signs of Dehydration to Watch For:

• Dry mouth or lips
• Sunken eyes or fontanelle (soft spot on the head)
• Dark urine or decreased urine output
• Lethargy
• Rapid breathing or elevated heart rate
• Pale, clammy skin

If you notice these symptoms, or if you are otherwise very concerned about your child, seek medical attention immediately.

Rehydrate Me Drink Recipe

This gentle electrolyte drink helps replenish lost fluids and essential nutrients.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups coconut water (unsweetened)
• 1 / 8 tsp Himalayan salt
• 1 / 2 inch ginger, sliced
• Squeeze of lime juice

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a jar and shake to combine.
2. Serve in small amounts throughout the day.

Notes:

• Strain out the ginger before serving to babies (choking risk).
• Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

Offer Gentle, Nourishing Foods

After or during a bout of gastro, children’s digestive systems may be sensitive. Focus on easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense foods to nourish their little bodies.

Best Foods for Recovery:

• Vegetable-based soups (preferably with bone broth)
• Stewed apples
• Rice with broth and steamed veggies
• Plain crackers
• Bananas or banana smoothies
• Roasted root vegetables
• Papaya

Research suggests that complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables are better tolerated than high-fat or sugary foods.⁴ If your child has an appetite for something outside this list, that’s okay too – follow their cues.

Foods to Minimise or Avoid (Temporarily):

• Dairy (may cause transient lactose intolerance)
• Rich, fatty, or fried foods
• Sugary or processed snacks
• Raw vegetables and citrus fruits (can irritate the stomach)

Nourishing Ginger Congee Recipe

Congee is a soothing, easily digestible dish perfect for recovery. This thin rice porridge has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to harmonise digestion and relieve inflammation.⁵

Ingredients:

• 1 cup short-grain white rice
• 10 cups liquid (bone broth, chicken broth, or water)
• 2 cm ginger, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: 1 chicken breast or 2–3 chicken thighs

Method:

1. Combine rice, broth, ginger, and chicken (if using) in a pot. Bring to a boil.
2. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1–4 hours until rice breaks down into a watery porridge. Stir occasionally.
3. Remove chicken, shred, and return to the pot. Season to taste.
4. Serve warm, with optional toppings like steamed veggies or eggs for family members who aren’t unwell.

Therapeutic Additions

Some natural remedies and supplements can offer extra support for recovery. Always consult your healthcare provider before introducing new supplements.

• Slippery Elm Powder: Soothes the stomach lining and can be added to smoothies or drinks.
• Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG): A prebiotic that helps reduce diarrhoea in children.⁶
• Saccharomyces boulardii: A beneficial yeast that supports gut health and shortens diarrhoea duration.^7,8
• Probiotics: Specific strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus reuteri are effective for viral gastroenteritis.^9,10
• Carob Powder: A gentle, kid-friendly option for reducing diarrhoea, easily added to porridge or smoothies.^11,12

When to Seek Medical Attention

While gastro is often manageable at home, certain red flags signal the need for professional care:

• Babies under 6 months old
• Fever ≥38°C
• Blood in stools or black, tarry stools
• Blood in vomit
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea beyond 7 days
• Signs of dehydration (see above)
• Inability to keep any fluids down
• If your child has any underlying complex medical conditions or is immunocompromised

If in doubt, trust your instincts – your child’s health and safety always come first.

Vomiting can rarely be a sign of more severe infection or other illness. Although vomiting may precede diarrhoea in the initial stages of gastroenteritis, other causes should be considered in an unwell child who is vomiting without associated diarrhoea. Seek urgent medical attention if your child has vomiting associated with a high fever or if they have vomiting associated with excessive urination.

Need more help?

If you need further support, our team of experienced nutritionists and naturopaths in our online clinic can help you. Book online HERE.

References

1. Miguel G O’Ryan, Morven S Edwards, Mary M Torchia, Acute viral gastroenteritis in children in resource-rich countries: Clinical features and diagnosis, 27 September 2022, Up To Date, https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-viral-gastroenteritis-in-children-in-resource-rich-countries-clinical-features-and-diagnosis (accessed 02.12.22)

2. Caroline Atyeo, Galit Alter,The multifaceted roles of breast milk antibodies, Cell, Volume 184, Issue 6, 2021, Pages 1486-1499, ISSN 0092-8674, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.031 (accessed 02.12.22)

3. Morrow AL, Ruiz-Palacios GM, Jiang X, Newburg DS. Human-milk glycans that inhibit pathogen binding protect breast-feeding infants against infectious diarrhea. J Nutr. 2005 May;135(5):1304-7. doi: 10.1093/jn/135.5.1304. PMID: 15867329.

4. King CK, Glass R, Bresee JS, Duggan C; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Managing acute gastroenteritis among children: oral rehydration, maintenance, and nutritional therapy. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2003 Nov 21;52(RR-16):1-16. PMID: 14627948.

5. Pitchford Paul, Healing with wholefoods: Asian traditions and modern nutrition, 3rd edition, 2002

6. Alam NH, Meier R, Schneider H, Sarker SA, Bardhan PK, Mahalanabis D, Fuchs GJ, Gyr N. Partially hydrolyzed guar gum-supplemented oral rehydration solution in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000 Nov;31(5):503-7. doi: 10.1097/00005176-200011000-00010. PMID: 11144434.

7. Szajewska H, Kołodziej M, Zalewski BM. Systematic review with meta-analysis: Saccharomyces boulardii for treating acute gastroenteritis in children-a 2020 update. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Apr;51(7):678-688. doi: 10.1111/apt.15659. Epub 2020 Feb 13. PMID: 32056266.

8. Das S, Gupta PK, Das RR. Efficacy and Safety of Saccharomyces boulardii in Acute Rotavirus Diarrhea: Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial from a Developing Country. J Trop Pediatr. 2016 Dec;62(6):464-470. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmw032. Epub 2016 Jun 9. PMID: 27283364.

9. Szajewska H, Kołodziej M, Gieruszczak-Białek D, Skórka A, Ruszczyński M, Shamir R. Systematic review with meta-analysis: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for treating acute gastroenteritis in children – a 2019 update. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Jun;49(11):1376-1384. doi: 10.1111/apt.15267. Epub 2019 Apr 25. PMID: 31025399.

10. Patro-Gołąb B, Szajewska H. Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Treating Acute Gastroenteritis in Children. An Update. Nutrients. 2019 Nov 14;11(11):2762. doi: 10.3390/nu11112762. PMID: 31739457; PMCID: PMC6893691.

11. Goulas V, Stylos E, Chatziathanasiadou MV, Mavromoustakos T, Tzakos AG. Functional Components of Carob Fruit: Linking the Chemical and Biological Space. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Nov 10;17(11):1875. doi: 10.3390/ijms17111875. PMID: 27834921; PMCID: PMC5133875.

12. Gross H. Beitrag zur Behandlung des Säuglingserbrechens mit Johannisbrotkernmehl (Nestargel) [The treatment of vomiting in infants with carob flour (Nestargel)]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1954 Oct 30;104(44):885-6. German. PMID: 14348894.