Why does a child vomit regularly, for example in the morning or at night?
Applies to age: 0–36 months
In short
Cyclical vomiting, meaning severe episodes separated by periods of feeling well, often starts in children around 5 years old, and in babies reflux usually starts before 8 weeks and improves by 1 year. For persistent vomiting, especially with traces of blood, call the ambulance service on 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) or 112 (the emergency number in Poland).
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Cyclical vomiting syndrome is a rare condition that causes severe episodes of nausea and vomiting.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Cyclical vomiting syndrome is a rare condition that causes severe episodes of feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting).
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- In cyclical vomiting syndrome, episodes of nausea and vomiting are followed by periods of feeling well.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
The main symptoms of cyclical vomiting syndrome are severe episodes of feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting), followed by periods of feeling well.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Episodes in cyclical vomiting syndrome usually start at the same time of day or night and last the same length of time.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Episodes usually start at the same time of day or night and last for the same length of time.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A single episode in cyclical vomiting syndrome can last from a few hours to a few days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Each episode can last anything from a few hours up to a few days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Cyclical vomiting syndrome often starts in children around 5 years old and improves with age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Cyclical vomiting syndrome often starts in children around 5 years old and improves as they get older.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Reflux in babies usually starts before 8 weeks of age and improves by the time the baby is 1 year old.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Reflux usually starts before a baby is 8 weeks old and gets better by the time they're 1.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A baby under 1 year old often brings up a little milk during or right after a feed, without signs of discomfort.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
It's common for a baby under the age of 1 to bring up a little bit of milk during or shortly after a feed, without being distressed.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- Not gaining weight or losing weight in a baby with reflux is worth discussing with a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is not gaining weight or is losing weight
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Reflux that appears for the first time after 6 months of age is worth discussing with a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
gets reflux for the first time after they're 6 months old
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Reflux that continues after 1 year of age is worth discussing with a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is older than 1 and still has reflux
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Vomiting blood or vomit that looks like ground coffee needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Yellow-green or green vomit in a child needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
have yellow-green or green vomit (children)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A stiff neck with eye pain when looking at bright light needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
have a stiff neck and eye pain when looking at bright lights
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A sudden, severe headache needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
have a sudden, severe headache
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A sudden, severe tummy ache needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
have a sudden, severe tummy ache
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A child who is confused or not responding as usual needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
are confused or not responding as usual
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Call the ambulance service on 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) or 112 (the emergency number in Poland) for persistent vomiting, especially with traces of blood.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
uporczywe wymioty zwłaszcza z domieszką krwi
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
- Call the ambulance service on 999 or 112 for loss of consciousness.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
utrata przytomności
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
- Call the ambulance service on 999 or 112 for disturbances of consciousness.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
zaburzenia świadomości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
- Call the ambulance service on 999 or 112 for sudden acute abdominal pain.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nagły ostry ból brzucha
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- Continuous vomiting, when the child cannot keep fluids down, needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Peeing less than usual (in a baby, fewer wet diapers) needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you or your child are peeing less than usual (or your baby has fewer wet nappies)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- In a baby, projectile vomiting, meaning vomiting with more force than usual, needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is projectile vomiting (being sick with more force than usual)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- A baby who refuses to feed needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is refusing to feed
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]
- Outside the working hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic, medical help is provided by night and holiday care (NiŚOZ).
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [3]
- Go to NiŚOZ when vomiting or diarrhea appear, especially in children and seniors.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
pojawią się wymioty lub biegunka (szczególnie u dzieci i seniorów).
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cyclical-vomiting-syndrome/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/reflux-in-babies/
License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS. - Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.