12 answers

3 Yr Old Son Vomits Frequently

My 3 yr old vomits frequently. Especially when he is upset or doesn't get his way. He makes himself gag and them throws up. I am worried that he is slightly underweight for his age and height, but dont know how to stop him from doing this. Help!

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

It sounds like he's doing it for attention. My niece used to do this as well. What worked for her parents was to give her a spoonful of sugar water and told her it was medicine to stop her from throwing up. It worked like a charm!

I hope this helped.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

I work in behavure health with adults. It is his way of having a temper tantrum . I would say talk to his doc. about his behavure. I have a 3 year old girl that has Gerd and when she was smaller she vomited when she cried too, so it could be that too.

2 moms found this helpful

It sounds like he's doing it for attention. My niece used to do this as well. What worked for her parents was to give her a spoonful of sugar water and told her it was medicine to stop her from throwing up. It worked like a charm!

I hope this helped.

1 mom found this helpful

My son use to do that, he is five now. When he use to get upset and put him self throw a trantrum I would look at him and say breath and breath with him to com him down so that way he would not get himself so worked up. Then after he commend down I would ask him did this help you get your way and he would say no. And I would ask him depending on what he wants what is the process you need to go through to earn what you want being a new toy, tv, ect. And reward him extra when he follow the way he is suppose to ask and let him know he did a very good job. My son stopped the throwing up tantrum right before he turned four. Hope this helps.

-A.

1 mom found this helpful

is he physically doing this by sticking his finger down his throat, etc. or is he getting upset/crying to the point that he gags? If he is doing it because he has figured out that this works on you... he's litterally making himself, then there needs to be some sort of discipline for doing it. If he's getting upset and gagging, I think you need to take him to a Dr. and have him checked. Some people have problems with their "flapper" that allows things to come up whenever the muscles are stressed. My daughter has a hiated hernia/acid reflux which causes a lot of upset stomachs, gagging, etc.

1 mom found this helpful

MY SECOND DAUGHTER DID THAT AT THE AGE OF 2. THIS MAY SOUND HARSH BUT THE MINUTE THEY START THIS JUST WALK AWAY. DONT GIVE THEM THAT ATTENTION. THEY DO GROW OUT OF IT. IF THERE IS A SITUATION THAT YOU KNOW WILL CAUSE HIM TO THROW A FIT. AVOID THE SITUATION BY CHANGING THE SUBJECT OR GIVING THEM A CHOICE. MAKE IT YOUR CHOICES TELL THEM EXSAMPLE THIS OR THAT? YOU CHOOSE. BE A BIG GIRL OR BOY. IT WORKED FOR ME.... MY OLDER DAUGHTER IS THE SKINNY ONE FROM THE TWO. KEEP FEEDING THEM AND DONT FORGET THE VITAMINS. MY VITAMIN I HAVE FOR MY GIRLS IS A PRESCRIPTION FROM THE DR. POLYVITAMINS W/FLUORIDE.

1 mom found this helpful

Another look at the medical issue is celiac disease. That is a gluten intolerance. I noticed another responder suggested ruling out medical issues to know if it behavioral or not. My son had horrible GERD as an infant and while he does not do what your son is doing with the self-gagging, he was diagnosed with celiac when he was 3 years old. There are many symptoms that can be present with Celiac and each person shows it differently. Maybe you can research Celiac's online and see if any other symptoms fit your son. Just another thought to throw out there for you.

1 mom found this helpful

Dear B.:

I want to let you know that your sense of loving should be commended. I would be scared if I experienced ongoing vomiting with either of my sons. I have a 3 year old and I find that there are lessons with each new behavior he develops. I also have a 7 month old and I can see how much the 3 year old has learned & grown since his birth.

I think all of the suggestions have been something to consider, and I would not presume to know exactly what is happening. My Advice: Do what feels right in your heart. He is the best source of information about WHY he is vomiting. Asking your son is where I would start. You can draw the body and explain to him why you are concerned. If it is voluntary he should stop with the understanding that Mommy is scared and worried for him. Involuntary vommiting would be more of a physical response...that a doctor...or holistic health care professional can give answers to.

Best of luck with this issue! I hope the advice serves you well & know that you are a wonderful & caring mother. Blessings.

1 mom found this helpful

If you are worried about the weight issue, I'd take him to your pediatrician.

As far as the throwing up, I would make him clean it up. Of course he can not do it on his own, but you need to be firm and tell him that he made the mess and now he needs to clean it up. If he were truly sick, you would do it of course.

This totally sounds like an attention seeking behavior that needs to be handled immediately. I would sit him down and tell him exactly what consequence he will get if he throws up because of him being upset. Have this conversation when he is not angry or in trouble. Just randomly. Tell him that you do not approve of it and that he is the only one that can control his body and needs to do so.

If you try to talk to him during the episode, you probably won't get anywhere. Don't get mad. Don't show emotion while he is getting upset. Sometimes you just have to walk away and let him gag and throw up. Leave the mess until he is calmed down enough to help you clean it up.

You do not want this becoming a behavior that continues. I think your pediatrician could probably give you some advice on this as well.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

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