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How long should a child stay home after a stomach bug?

Most kids can go back once vomiting has stopped and they can keep food/fluids down, and diarrhea is improving and contained (not leaking from a diaper or causing 'accidents'). There isn't one fixed number of days for all viral stomach bugs, though norovirus specifically calls for waiting longer.

For norovirus specifically, Canadian guidance says to stay home an extra 2-3 days after symptoms fully stop, and avoid preparing food for others during that time.

Strength of evidence

Good

Based on consistent pediatric guideline and infection-control recommendations (Canadian Paediatric Society, HealthLinkBC, CDC, AAP), not on controlled trials comparing return times.

What the evidence says

There's no single 'wait exactly X days' rule that covers every stomach bug, but the guidelines agree on the same practical signs of readiness. A child can usually return once vomiting has stopped and they're able to hold down food and liquids, and diarrhea has clearly improved and is contained (not leaking from a diaper, and not causing accidents in a toilet-trained child). Canadian guidance from the Canadian Paediatric Society says a child with diarrhea should be kept home if stool can't be contained in a diaper or controlled by a toilet-trained child, or if there are signs of a bacterial infection like fever or blood/mucus in the stool.

Until you know the cause isn't infectious, HealthLinkBC also advises keeping a child with diarrhea home from school or daycare. If norovirus is confirmed or suspected, Canadian advice (HealthLinkBC) is more specific: stay home for 2 to 3 days after symptoms fully end, not just until they stop, and avoid handling food for others during that window since the virus can still spread. US guidance (CDC) offers similar day-to-day markers: vomiting resolved overnight with food/liquids tolerated the next morning, and diarrhea improved with no more than about 2 loose stools above the child's normal count per day.

Symptoms usually last 1 to 10 days overall, so the exact time off varies by child and by which virus is involved. Watch for bloody diarrhea, high fever, or signs of dehydration (very little urine, no tears, lethargy) — these need a doctor's assessment before your child returns, and sooner rather than later for care.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked August 2, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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