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wikiHow to Cure a Child's Stomach Ache

Two Methods:Assessing the Stomach AcheStomach Ache RemediesCommunity Q&A

Does your child have a sore stomach? Find out what to do to cure it, whatever the cause, here.

Assessing the Stomach Ache

  1. 1
    Find the cause of her stomach ache. Stomach aches can be linked to different foods and drinks, such as ones that cause gas or bloating, excess consumption of acidic fruits, allergy related conditions such as celiac disease, appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach flu, diarrhea, food poisoning, strained abdominal muscles, constipation and indigestion. Determine the amount of food that your child has consumed during recent meals, as she might have overeaten. You should also check for other symptoms, such as a fever, diarrhea or vomiting.
  2. 2
    Assess the danger. Stomach aches can be a result of consuming a dangerous substance, such as a chemical, medicine or tablet. If your child has consumed a non-edible item or liquid, call your local poison control center. You may also have to call for an ambulance. If you child has been down grandpa's allotment and gorged on barely ripe raspberries, let natural take its course.
  3. 3
    Check for other symptoms. A stomach ache may only be one of the symptoms that appears in your child. Others could include constipation, vomiting, Diarrhoea or suffering from a high fever. Take your child's temperature, and call her doctor or a local nurse line for advice. Note that most hospitals have a free nurse line, but they normally direct you to the hospital or a doctor's office.

Stomach Ache Remedies

Use an appropriate remedy. If your child is suffering from a simple stomach ache, there are different methods you can choose from.

  1. 1
    Give your child suitable medicine. You can purchase over-the-counter stomach ache medication made specifically for children. Ask the pharmacist for some advice. Give her the correct dosage based on her age and weight, and be sure to follow the instructions printed on the medication. Check to ensure that it does not contain any ingredients that your child may be allergic to.
  2. 2
    Allow your child to rest. Instruct her to lie down on her side. Encourage her to rest in order to allow her body to recover from the pain. You can allow her to press a pillow against her stomach. If need be, lie down beside her and gently rub her stomach.
  3. 3
    Have your child slowly drink a glass of water. Drinking water can help make sure your child is adequately hydrated and may provide some relief for the ache.[citation needed]
  4. 4
    Use natural remedies. Give your child papaya, ginger, or peppermint. You can feed it to her in different forms, ranging from fresh/dried to an ingredient in food. Candy peppermints or chewable papaya pills can also be found at natural food stores. It is best to ensure that the form tastes good; otherwise, your child may refuse to eat it.
  5. 5
    Use distractions. Stories and movies can be used to pass the time and help your child forget about her stomach ache. Hopefully, the pain will have dissipated by the time the activity is over.
  6. 6
    Comfort your child with affection. Give her hugs and kisses in order to help her feel better. If she feels loved and supported throughout the period of pain, she will be less likely to experience negative feelings, such as panic or anxiety.
  7. 7
    Feed her bland foods. These will help absorb the excess acid floating around in your child's tummy. A plain slice of whole wheat bread is an excellent snack for her, as well as dry crackers or plain boiled rice. During this time, it is best to avoid oily or rich foods that may aggravate your child's stomach ache.
    • Avoid feeding your child oily foods or milk.
  8. 8
    Give your child a warm bath. Hot water will encourage her to relax, as well as distract her from the pain. You can provide her with bubbles or bath toys to encourage her to forget her stomach ache for a while.
  9. 9
    Place a heated pad on your child's stomach. This can encourage her stomach muscles to relax, allowing the pain to ease. Simply warm a cloth or heating pad in the microwave before applying it to her stomach.
  10. 10
    Ask your child if she needs the bathroom. Stomach aches are sometimes caused by bloating or excess gas. If your child relieves herself, she may be able to ease the pain in her tummy. Encourage her to use the toilet and release the excess gas.
  11. 11
    Call a doctor, if needed. Sometimes, a stomach ache can be serious or a sign of a medical condition such as appendicitis. If it hasn't cleared up after twenty-four hours, it is necessary to call the doctor.
  12. 12
    Expose your child to fresh, cool air. You can also rub oil onto her stomach, and leave it on for a while. Certain oils, such as peppermint oil, can help the stomach muscles to relax while encouraging bile flow.
  13. 13
    Encourage your child to lay down on her left side. Laying on your left side will cause the pain to dissipate. The acid or gas in the stomach rises up, causing to need to burp and release the excess gas. Also, have her keep her feet elevated to improve the healing process.
    • Make her a cup of tea, preferably chamomile.
  14. 14
    Massage your child's tummy. With soft hands, rub circles around her stomach to encourage the muscles to relax. Continue this for five to ten minutes. Avoid rushing the massage, as you could aggravate the pain and hurt your child. Make sure you don't press down too hard.
  15. 15
    Feed your child chicken broth. Certain foods may upset her stomach, so you can use soup as a safe alternative. Chicken broth not only soothes stomach pains but also provides the body with necessary nutrients.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Can my child eat lemon and tomato when she has a stomach ache?
    wikiHow Contributor
    No, this would not be a good idea, as both are very acidic and could make the stomach ache worse. Try the B.R.A.T. diet: Banana, Rice, Apple sauce, and Toast. These foods are bland but nutritious, and are okay to eat with an aching tummy.
  • Does sleep help a stomachache?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes. When your body is fighting a virus or bacteria, it needs lots of energy. Sleep will help the body regain some of that spent energy. Sleep can also help a child forget about his or her stomach ache.
  • Could a child do this on his/her own if he/she knows how?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes. A child can do most of these on his/her own. It might be a good idea for the parent to prepare the medicine ahead of time however, to prevent the child from accidentally overdosing or taking the wrong medicine.
  • Do I need to see a doctor if diarrhea persists due to stomach flu?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Not initially but if this has been going on for over two days and hasn't stopped, go to a doctor to make sure everything is alright.
  • Can my child drink lemonade with a bad stomach ace?
    wikiHow Contributor
    I wouldn't recommend it. Lemonade is acidic and it's possible that the acids could worsen the stomach ache.
  • Can my child eat tomato soup?
    wikiHow Contributor
    They could, but it's possible that the acids from the tomato would make the stomachache worse (depending on the type of stomachache). Chicken soup would be the safest choice.
  • Can antibiotics cause a stomachache in a four year old?
    wikiHow Contributor
    It depends on what kind, but it's possible.
  • Is it okay if I drink apple cider vinegar?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes, apple cider vinegar is fine to drink and can be helpful.
  • How do I find the cause of a tummy ache?
    You can ask your child what she ate or drank or you could ask your local doctor.
  • My stomach feels terrible and the other night I vomited and I am still feeling pain. What should I do?
    You need to see your doctor and have your stomach examined. Try to stay calm. Sip small amounts of water or try and eat crackers until you can see your doctor.
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  • Ask them questions like, "When did it start? , "How bad does it hurt on a scale of 1-10?".
  • Try telling your child to "pass gas", burp or use the restroom. Sometimes stomach aches are caused by trapped gas.
  • Try to keep the room that your child is in cooled down.
  • Give them some ginger ale and take them to the bathroom .
  • Ask them if they had too much to eat; overeating can cause bloating or stomach aches.
  • If a bug is going around your child may just have a different type of bug with big stomach pains!
  • Don't give them any soda. It will make the stomach ache worse.
  • Always have a bucket or bowl near you at all times.
  • Make sure that they get lots of rest, it will help the stomach ache a lot.
  • Talk to your child and anyone else that he/she was with. Stomach aches can be serious, you need to find out as much background information as you can to get them better.
  • Yogurt is full of good bacteria and is therefore a good choice for a child with disturbed digestive system.
  • Give them some peppermint tea, give them a hot bath, and let them lay down on the couch or in their bed and watch TV or read books. Let your child rest on her left side and massage his/her stomach. If need be, you can also put a heating pad on low on the child's stomach.
  • Try to have your child cooperate with you when asking questions.
  • Lay down on your left side. Laying on your left side will cause the pain to go away because the acid or gas in the stomach is rising up and causing them to need to burp.
  • Convince him/her to lie down on the couch or in bed, let your child watch a movie or favorite tv show. Peppermint extract in water works well to soothe the stomach.
  • Try giving them a peppermint in a cup of water and let it dissolve.
  • Contact your doctor if you are not sure what to do.
  • Don't give them any oily foods and soda and or junk food.
  • Make sure they didn't swallow anything that is bad for them like chemicals.
  • Don't panic or stress the child out.
  • Rubbing the child's tummy is a good idea because it's comforting for them and it will show them that you care.
  • Reading a book, watching TV or doing other activities will distract the child for some time. Make sure that the kids do not lay on their stomachs, it might cause more pain from the pressure.
  • If your child is a girl, make sure she is not on her period.
  • Drink warm tea.
  • If your child throws up, encourage and patiently help him/her to drink water after to get rid of the taste.
  • If the stomach ache was caused by a "sour stomach" give them a peppermint. This usually helps to calm the tummy ache.[1]


  • "I've got tummy ache" is one of the top excuses used by children to get out of doing things they don't want to do, such as go to school. Make sure your child is telling the truth about their symptoms.

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Categories: Summarization | Childhood Health | Articles in Need of Sources

In other languages:

Français: soigner le mal de ventre chez l'enfant, Italiano: Curare un Bambino con il Mal di Pancia, Español: curar el dolor de estómago de un niño, Deutsch: Bauchschmerzen bei einem Kind behandeln, Português: Curar Dor de Estômago em uma Criança, Русский: лечить боль в животе у ребенка

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