What To Do For Toddler Stomach Ache

How Common Are Migraines In Children

Migraine, also called an acute recurrent headache, occurs in about 3% of preschool children, 4% to 11% of elementary school-aged children, and 8% to 15% of high school-aged children. In early childhood and before puberty, migraine is more commonly seen in boys than girls.

Factors that can lead to a headache in your child include:

• Illness or infection
• Short-sightedness or needing glasses

• Food allergies or intolerances such as lactose intolerance or a wheat allergy
• Appendicitis, which is inflammation of the appendix
• Lead poisoning
• Problems with the intestines such as intussusception, where one part of the intestines slides into another part and causes a blockage
• Stress and anxiety

Stomach pain without other symptoms that goes away completely in less than three hours is usually not serious.

A specific illness known as a pediatric abdominal migraine can also lead to stomach ache. It is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. While its called a migraine, it doesnt actually cause a headache. Abdominal migraines are one of the most common causes of abdominal pain in children.

Try Burping Your Baby

Burp your baby after every feed by tapping gently on his back, while his head rests on your shoulder. If your baby doesnt burp easily, try the football hold. Place him face-down on your forearm, with his legs straddling your elbow. Rest his chin in your hand and apply gentle pressure while stroking his back. This should release the excess air which he may have swallowed while feeding.

Fennel Seeds To Relieve Stomachache

The phrase volatile oil is not normally associated with relieving stomach pain, but thats just what anethole, found in fennel seeds, can do. Anethole will stimulate the production of digestive juices, which, if you have indigestion, can be just the thing to provide natural pain relief for inflammation of the stomach.

Pregnant women, however, should not use fennel seeds.

• Chew on one-half to one teaspoon of fennel seeds after each meal.
• Or, add one teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds to one cup of boiled water. Steep for eight to 10 minutes before straining tea. Add a dab of honey for taste. Drink tea after each meal.

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How To Stop The Vomiting

Theres no single surefire way to halt puking in its tracks. The sad-but-true reality: The best course of action is usually to simply let an illness run its course.

In fact, though it might be tempting to reach for medication for a vomiting child, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using any over-the-counter or prescription anti-vomiting drugs in kids .

Using antibiotics to treat throwing up is especially discouraged, as many stomach illnesses are caused by viruses, not bacteria.

Typically, the more important goal is to make sure your child stays hydrated throughout their bout of sickness. As they lose fluids through throwing up, giving them plenty to drink is your best bet.

You Need To Contact A Doctor Or Nurse Today

Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 – dial 111

We recognise that during the current COVID-19 crisis, at peak times, access to a health care professional may be delayed. If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, then consider taking them to your nearest ED.

If your child:

• Is alert and interacts with you
• Develops diarrhoea & vomiting but no red or amber signs
• Experiences pain associated with menstruation in a girl
• Is frequently constipated
• Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies click here.

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Using Apple Cider Vinegar As A Stomachache Cure

Another paradoxical-sounding remedy is using acidic drinks to relieve pain from gastric reflux. Since gastric reflux can result in stomach acid leaking out into places its not wanted, your stomachs acidity can end up lower than is optimal for digesting food.

Drinking apple cider vinegar can help improve the levels and ease an upset stomach. This assumes that youre able to, well, stomach the drink in the first place. While apple cider vinegar does its work best if taken raw, you may find mixing it with water, a teaspoon of honey, and sipping slowly to be the more tolerable option.

• Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one cup of warm water.
• Mix in one tablespoon of honey.
• Drink this remedy every three hours until pain is gone.

Know When To Seek Help

Home remedies can work wonders, but it’s necessary to know when it’s time to call the doctor. Dr. Lonzer says that pain around the belly button is often the least concern. “Loss of appetite is more serious and would concern me after a few days,” she adds. “Constipation should be addressed within a week if a change in diet is not helping.” As a general rule, if your child is vomiting, has a fever, has blood in his stool, is not thriving, or looks worn-out all the time, it’s best to take him to the pediatrician.

All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

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Using Hot Water Bottles To Relieve Stomachache

Hot compresses can help soothe stomach pain. The word hot is used loosely here, since the desired level of heat will depend on both the level of pain and personal preference.

Fill the bottle or similar object with warm or hot water, place a cloth between it and your skin, and find a comfortable place to lie down.

• Place the hot water bottle, or a cloth soaked in hot water, on stomach for a five- to 10-minute treatment throughout the day.
• Take a warm shower or bath twice a day for 15- to 20-minute intervals.

How To Relieve Stomach Cramping In Kids

Children can experience stomach cramping for a variety of reasons. Constipation, diarrhea, infections, stress, overeating, food poisoning, eating foods they are allergic to and, in severe cases, appendicitis can cause stomach pain and cramping in children. Stomach cramping can wake children at night, cause them to miss school or miss out on playing with friends. As a parent, there a number of actions you can take to help ease stomach cramping in children and get your child back to his normal self. However, always consult with your child’s pediatrician in case the pain calls for medical care.

Apply a heating pad or warm water bottle to your child’s stomach. Heating pads are best for older children, while warm water bottles work better for babies. Lie your child on her belly on top of the heat for babies, put the bottle on your knees and gently put the baby’s belly on top. Use a heating pad on a low setting. Apply heat for 15 minutes at a time, a few times per day. A parent should always be present when a child is using a heating pad or warm bottle to prevent burns.

Massage your child’s stomach. Gently massage his stomach in a circular motion for 15 minutes several time per day. A massage can help relieve gas and constipation in children.

Consult your child’s doctor about taking an over-the-counter pain medication to help alleviate pain. Give your child the appropriate amount of medication as indicated on the bottle for his age and weight.

Tips

Warnings

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What Are The Symptoms And Signs Of Stomach Pain In Children

A parent or caregiver usually can notice pain in a child’s abdomen. Infants and very young toddlers may cry, express pain facially, and curl up. Young children are usually quick to tell you what is wrong. Some teenagers may be reluctant to report pain, and you must try to get a clear explanation of what they are feeling. Ask about these conditions:

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• CT scan of the abdomen

Diagnosis Of Abdominal Pain In Children

When a problem is quite obvious, no tests are needed. If tests are needed, they may include:

• blood tests
• other special tests
• review by a specialist doctor.

If your child does undergo tests, the doctor should explain the results to you. Some results may take a number of days to come back and these results will be sent to your local doctor.

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Treatment For The Stomach Flu

Most babies and kids wont need treatment for the stomach flu. Theres no specific treatment for the viruses that cause it.

Unless your doctor recommends it, dont give your child antidiarrheal and anti-nausea medications. Although it doesnt seem like it, some diarrhea and throwing up can be good because its part of getting rid of the virus.

Your doctor might recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to make your child more comfortable.

You can give babies over the age of 6 months pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Ask your pediatrician about the exact dosage. Too much pain relief medication can make babies ill.

Never give aspirin to babies and children. Aspirin and children dont mix. It can lead to a condition called Reyes syndrome.

Several home remedies can help make your baby or child more comfortable while dealing with the stomach flu.

• Let the stomach settle. Avoid feeding your baby or child solid food for a few hours.

• Give older children frozen juice treats or ice chips. This helps to prevent dehydration.

• If your baby is throwing up, wait 15 to 20 minutes before giving them any liquids. Try nursing your baby if they want to feed. Drinking milk may help hydrate your baby its OK if they throw up some or all of it right after.

• Try using as syringe to give babies small amounts of liquids if they dont want to nurse or bottle feed.

How Is Chronic Abdominal Pain Treated

Healthcare providers may not find a medical problem that is causing your child’s abdominal pain. If no problem is found, they will work to decrease your child’s symptoms so he or she can return to his or her normal activities. With treatment, your child’s abdominal pain may decrease, happen less often, or go away. Your child may need any of the following:

• Medicines may be given to decrease stomach acid or treat a bacterial infection. Your child may also be given medicine to decrease diarrhea or to calm his or her stomach and control vomiting. Antidepressants may also be given to help decrease your child’s anxiety or help relax his or her upper abdomen. Do not stop giving this medicine to your child unless his or her healthcare provider tells you to.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy can help your child learn to cope with stress. Your child will learn how to decrease or cope with his or her pain if it happens when he or she is scared or worried.
• Surgery is rarely needed, but may be done if there is something wrong with your child’s abdomen. This could be because an organ in your child’s abdomen is out of place, or not working correctly. A blocked intestine is an example of why your child may need surgery.

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Stress Anxiety And A Nervous Stomach

While risk of contracting COVID-19 is variable for everyone, its safe to say that almost no one is immune to pandemic-related stress and anxiety. And as you probably already know, stress and anxiety can lead to a host of physical ailments, including stomach aches, headaches and nausea. This is especially true for children who arent able to verbalize their feelings.

If your child has recurrent stomach aches that dont seem connected to a medical problem, stress and anxiety may be the cause.

And theres a lot to feel anxious about these days, from social distancing guidelines and loneliness to canceled vacation plans to disrupted school schedules. If your child has recurrent stomach aches that dont seem connected to a medical problem, stress and anxiety may be the cause. One way you can help is by encouraging conversation about whats on your childs mind.

• Ask open-ended questions: How do you feel like school is going so far?
• Listen and make sure you understand: It sounds like you are frustrated about not being able to see your friends very often.
• Validate your childs experience: I can understand why thats frustratingI miss my friends, too.
• Reframe their worries positively: This is a temporary thing. Some day we wont have to worry about all these social distancing rules .
• Provide encouragement: Im proud of how you are handling this. We will get through it together!

Repeat Attacks Of Stomach Pain

Some children suffer repeat attacks of stomach pain, which can be worrying for parents. Often, no health problem can be found.Children may feel stomach pain when they are worried about themselves or people around them. Think about whether there is anything that is upsetting your child at home, school or kindergarten, or with friends. See your local doctor for advice. A referral may be needed to a paediatrician .

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They Keep Complaining About A Stomachache

If your child is complaining about their stomach pain more than they usually would complain about something, that could be an indication that the pain is severe. See if you can distract them from what theyre feeling if their favorite movie or game doesnt take their mind off of it, thats probably because its really bothering them.

Dr. Leann Poston of Invigor Medical, says, If the pain is severe and your child cannot be distracted from the pain, contact your doctor. If the pain is not as severe, consider the age of the child. Children who cannot express their pain well warrant a call to a physician more quickly than those who can describe where the pain is located and what it feels like and thus provide reassurance.

What To Expect At Your Office Visit

Talk to the provider about the location of the pain and its time pattern. Let the provider know if there are other symptoms like fever, fatigue, general ill feeling, change in behavior, nausea, vomiting, or changes in stool.

Your provider may ask the questions about the abdominal pain:

• What part of the stomach hurts? All over? Lower or upper? Right, left, or middle? Around the navel?
• Is the pain sharp or cramping, constant or comes and goes, or changes in intensity over minutes?
• Does the pain wake your child up at night?
• Has your child had similar pain in the past? How long has each episode lasted? How often has it occurred?
• Is the pain getting more severe?
• Does the pain get worse after eating or drinking? After eating greasy foods, milk products, or carbonated drinks? Has your child started eating something new?
• Does the pain get better after eating or having a bowel movement?
• Does the pain get worse after stress?
• Has there been a recent injury?
• What other symptoms are occurring at the same time?

During the physical examination, the provider will test to see if the pain is in a single area or whether it is spread out.

They may do some tests to check on the cause of the pain. The tests may include:

• Blood, urine, and stool tests
• CT scan
• Ultrasound of the abdomen
• X-rays of the abdomen

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Home Remedies For Your Childs Upset Stomach

When youre watching your kid upchuck for the fourth time in an hour, its only natural to want to do something. But with medications more or less off the table as a treatment, are there any ways you can actually help your poor sick kiddo? Yes to a degree.

As mentioned, staying hydrated is the name of the game for bouncing back from gastrointestinal ailments.

To keep your baby hydrated, offer breast milk or formula at least 15 to 20 minutes after vomiting has subsided. Even if they only take in a small amount of liquid, thats OK. Continue to offer frequently.

For toddlers and older kids, you have more options for hydrating drinks. Besides water, you can try offering:

• popsicles
• ginger ale
• nonsugary electrolyte beverages

In addition to providing fluids, focus your energy on offering appropriate foods, especially as your child recovers. A diet of mild, easily digestible foods is best. These may include:

• non-acidic fruits like bananas, melons, and figs
• lean meats without added seasonings
• rice or mashed potatoes
• toast, crackers, or plain cereal
• breast milk or formula for babies and toddlers

And what about probiotics, you may wonder? The most current research shows that the good gut bugs dont do much to help kids get over stomach flu.

According to a 2018 study, probiotic supplements didnt affect the duration or severity of acute gastroenteritis in children.