When your child is sick, you want to do your best to make him feel better. Abdominal pain is common and can be caused by a variety of things. By making sure your child doesn't have an emergency, making him feel more comfortable, and providing natural treatments, you can help reduce the pain.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making Sure Your Child Doesn't Have an Emergency
Step 1. Know when to call the doctor
Sometimes, stomach pain signals a serious illness or problem. However, this disease is usually accompanied by a variety of other symptoms. Call the doctor immediately if your child has any of the following symptoms:
- Continuous pain in the right side of the abdomen (a symptom of appendicitis)
- Pain only in one particular part of the stomach
- Severe pain or pain that gets worse rapidly
- Pain for more than 24 hours
- Pain when the stomach is pressed
- Swelling in the stomach
- Stomach feels hard or stiff to the touch
- Pain or swelling in the groin (including the testicles)
- Pain when urinating
- High fever
- Frequent vomiting or diarrhea so unable to hold fluids in the body
- Vomiting or bloody stools, or rectal bleeding
- Recent stomach injury
Step 2. Know when to call the Poisons Information Center
Stomach pain can also be caused by the consumption of toxic materials such as chemicals, drugs, cleaning agents, or other hazardous materials. If your child has swallowed (or you suspect he has swallowed) an object or liquid that is not allowed to be eaten, contact a Poisons Information Center. You can contact the Poison Information Center by telephone 1500533. The following are some signs that your child has swallowed poison:
- Vomiting or diarrhea for no apparent reason
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Stains on clothes for no apparent reason
- Numb
- Shivering
- Fever
- Burns on the lips, mouth, or skin
- Excessive salivation
- Bad breath
- Difficult to breathe
Method 2 of 3: Calming the Child
Step 1. Distract the attention
You can use stories, movies, and games to spend time with your child and help them forget their stomach ache. Do your best to make him happy while waiting for the pain to subside.
Step 2. Bathe the child with warm water
Warm water can help relax your child and make him feel better. Plus, it's fun to take a warm bath! Give him soap bubbles and toys to help him forget his stomach ache for a while.
Step 3. Ask him to drink water
If not caused by an emergency, abdominal pain in children may also be caused by mild dehydration. Try giving him water and asking him to drink. You can also add pieces of fruit (such as watermelon or oranges) to water so that it tastes fresher for children.
Step 4. Provide unsalted food
Bland foods can help absorb excess acid in the child's stomach. A slice of whole wheat bread is an excellent choice, as are crackers or white rice.
Step 5. Offer warm chicken stock
Chicken broth (especially those made from real chicken bones) is light, nutritious, and easy to digest. In addition, its warmth also has a calming effect. Try offering your child chicken broth, especially if he doesn't want to eat, to provide him with nutrients and to meet his fluid needs.
If your child doesn't like eating chicken, you can give him vegetable stock instead
Step 6. Show your affection
Sometimes, your hugs and kisses can be the best medicine for your child! If your child feels love and support during a time of discomfort, the negative feelings are likely to be lessened. Give him more attention to stay happy and calm.
Step 7. Ask the child to rest
To recover from illness, your child needs to get plenty of rest. He may also want to press his stomach with a pillow. Accompany him lying cuddled on the sofa or bed while rubbing his stomach.
Have your child lie on his side if he seems to be bloated
Method 3 of 3: Providing Natural Treatment
Step 1. Offer papaya, ginger, or peppermint chewing gum
Papaya, ginger, and peppermint are effective for relieving an upset stomach. Papaya, ginger, and peppermint chewing gums are also available at many health food stores. It looks like candy and tastes delicious. So, chances are, your child will like it.
Make sure you always read the recommended number of sweets a child can eat in a day. Also make sure your child is old enough so that it is safe to eat this candy
Step 2. Make a tea to soothe your child's tummy
Ginger and mint are also available in tea form. This warm drink can very quickly relieve discomfort in the stomach. Make a cup of hot mint or ginger tea for your child. You can add honey if it helps make the taste more delicious.
- Do not add sugar to tea because it can aggravate stomach pain in children.
- Do not add honey if your child is less than 2 years old. Some babies and toddlers do not yet have a perfect digestive tract. As a result, honey can cause a dangerous disease called infant botulism.
Step 3. Try giving gripe water to the child
Gripe water is a product sold to relieve colic and other stomach problems in babies. However, this product can also be beneficial for children. The main ingredient is fennel oil, which can help relieve bloating, gas in the stomach, or stomach pain. Try to avoid gripe water products that contain sweeteners (sucrose) or alcohol.
Step 4. Place a heating pad on the child's tummy
Warm temperatures can help relax your child's abdominal muscles, thereby helping to relieve discomfort. Use a regular heating pad (on low heat), or warm a washcloth in the microwave.
Step 5. Massage the child's tummy
Gently rub the child's stomach in a circular motion. This movement should make him feel more comfortable as well as relax his muscles. Continue massaging for 5-10 minutes. However, don't press too hard or rub the tummy too fast.
Tips
- Don't panic or stress the child.
- If your child vomits, ask him to drink water slowly to help relieve the taste.
- Do not give soda to children while they are sick. The acid content in this drink will make the symptoms of the disease worse.
- Give your child tea. The warmth of this drink will help expel trapped gases.
- Ask him if he ate too much. Overeating can cause bloating and stomach pain.
- If you are not a professional medical practitioner or have never had first aid training, but are concerned that your child may have a serious illness, contact a doctor immediately.
- Ask if he has had a bowel movement. Irregular bowel movements can cause bloating and abdominal pain.
- Yogurt contains a lot of good bacteria so it is good for consumption by children who have digestive system disorders.
- If your child feels like throwing up, ask him to drink warm ginger and eat saltine crackers.
- If you suspect that menstruation is causing your daughter's stomach pain, don't stress her out as it will only make her more scared. Do your best to calm him down. Or give fruits that can help relieve stomach pain during menstruation.
Warning
- "My stomach hurts" is one of the most common reasons kids avoid doing things they don't want to do. So make sure your child is telling the truth about the symptoms.
- Be sure to tell the doctor if your child has any special medical needs or concerns.
- Call the doctor if your child does not respond to the steps above.
