Tummy aches are a common occurrence among children, and they are usually not a cause for concern. The pain mostly comes from constipation, gas, indigestion, or a stomach bug. Unless your child is suffering from severe pain or the discomfort is accompanied by high fever and excessive vomiting or diarrhea, their sakit sa tyan or stomach ache is most likely harmless and does not require a visit to your pediatrician.
Mild abdominal pain often goes away after resting for some time. Nonetheless, you may want to speed up the recovery process so that your little one can go back to playing and laughing. Here are several home remedies for bellyaches that you can try to help your child feel better:
Warm Compress
One of the safest and most soothing home remedies you can try to relieve your kid’s tummy ache is by applying a warm compress on the belly area. The heat will help relax the abdominal muscles and increase blood flow, thereby providing quick and calming relief.
You can use a heating pad or make a warm compress using uncooked rice and a clean, long sock. Just fill the foot part of the sock with rice, then tie the top to secure it. Place the sock in the microwave for 30 seconds or so to warm it up. Whether you use a heating pad or a homemade compress, make sure that your child can handle the heat to prevent paso or burns.
Engage in Physical Activities
Constipation is a common cause of abdominal pain among children, especially if they do not get enough water and fiber in their diet or tend to resist the urge to go to the toilet. If your precious one is suffering from constipation, it is best to bring them outdoors so that they can play and keep moving instead of lying down.
Besides taking their mind off the pain, physical activities can help with the movement of food in the gastro intestinal tract. Just make sure that they do not engage in “tummy twirling” activities that could intensify their discomfort, such as tumbling or hanging on monkey bars.
Yogurt
If your toddler can already eat solid foods, you may want to let them snack on yogurt since it is known to help alleviate basic stomach pains. Yogurt, like other probiotic foods, is packed with good bacteria that support a healthy gut. Try mixing slices of bananas in the yogurt to make it tastier. Besides being rich in potassium, bananas are also easily digestible and known to relieve indigestion and bellyache.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is one of nature’s most effective remedies for an upset stomach and digestive cramping. This root vegetable hastens the passing of food through the gastrointestinal tract and reduces gas and bloating. Although ginger is undoubtedly safe for children, its slightly spicy flavor may not sit well with your little one. To make it more palatable, you may want to add lemon and honey to the tea.
Preparing ginger tea or salabat is easy. You need about a teaspoon of chopped fresh ginger, a cup of water, two slices of lemon, and honey to taste. Just mix the first three ingredients in a pot and boil for about 5 minutes. Turn the heat off and let the mixture steep for 10 minutes. Strain and add honey to sweeten.
If your child is less than a year old, use brown sugar instead of honey. Take note that honey or any processed foods containing honey are not recommended for babies younger than 12 months to prevent infant botulism.
Tummy Rub
Perhaps the easiest and safest home remedy to relieve stomach pain among children is an abdominal massage. A good belly rub supports healthy digestion, reduces gastric upset, and soothes the organs connected to the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. You may not realize it, but your mere touch has healing powers.
When the skin of your hands touches the skin of your baby’s tummy, their body responds by increasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps alleviate pain and promote relaxation. Physical contact or touch also reduces cortisol or stress hormones. As such, you should never discount the benefits of a gentle and loving massage.
To massage your child’s tummy, make a circular motion in a clockwise direction around the belly button area using your palms and fingers. Making repeated downward strokes from the chin to the lower part of the tummy may also help ease the discomfort.
While the home remedies discussed above have been proven safe and effective for most stomach aches, you should never let your guard down. If your child’s condition is not improving despite trying any of these methods, it is best to seek medical attention. You may also want to keep a diary of tummy aches with details of what they ate, the appearance of their stool, and the level of discomfort if your little one suffers from recurrent stomach pains. This information can significantly help your pediatrician in figuring out the issue and planning the best type of care.
Thank you for reading up mommies, hope your little one will feel better soon, and till next post!