During the holiday season, there’s no shortage of Christmas cookies, decadent desserts, and special treats for kids. Yet if your kids tend to overindulge as mine do, you might be looking for natural remedies to ease kids’ tummy aches.
In this post, I’ll be covering:
- Are kids’ stomach aches common?
- Natural remedies to ease kids’ tummy aches.
ARE KIDS’ STOMACH ACHES COMMON?
When my daughters complain that they have stomachaches, the first words out of my mouth are always, “are you going to vomit?!”
I know no one likes dealing with a kid who is vomiting, but when I see someone else getting sick, I start gagging myself.
Most of the time, however, they have a stomach ache because they ate a bag of chips, too many sweets, or even went overboard on fruit, despite my best efforts to teach them about portion control.
As it turns out, stomachaches are a surprisingly common complaint for kids.
According to a May 2016 study in the journal American Family Physician, about 9 percent of kids’ doctor visits are due to stomachaches.
A May 2015 study in the journal PLOS One, found that chronic abdominal pain is common for kids, affected between .3 and .19% of school-age children. However, in almost 90% of these children, there was no cause for them.
Rest assured, that most of the time, stomachaches are mild and short-lived.
Yet if they seem severe or persist, checking in with your pediatrician is always a good idea.
An infection, food allergies or an intolerance, constipation, and even anxiety and stress can cause tummy aches.
When it’s your run of the mill stomachache, however, there are some natural remedies that can help ease your kid’s discomfort. Here are 6.
NATURAL REMEDIES TO EASE KIDS’ TUMMY ACHES
When it’s your run of the mill stomachache, however, there are some natural remedies that can help ease your kid’s discomfort. Here are 6.
1. CHAMOMILE TEA
My go-to remedy when my kids have tummy aches is a cup of decaffeinated chamomile tea, which is a well-known remedy for an upset stomach.
Chamomile leaves are high in flavonoids, a type of plant pigment that is thought to be responsible for its healing properties. Research suggests chamomile may reduce inflammation and help the muscles relax.
Infants and young children, however, should never consume chamomile tea, because (like honey), it may be contaminated with botulism spores.
2. FIBER RICH-FOODS
If your child has a tummy ache because he’s constipated, a green vegetable smoothie, a few prunes, or a small amount of prune juice may do the trick.
Related: How To Make Smoothies For Kids
If constipation is a persistent problem, however, it’s important to talk to your child’s pediatrician to rule out a medical condition.
Of course, taking a closer look at his diet is also a good first step.
Avoid fast foods, processed foods, and greasy foods, and prioritize fresh fruits and vegetables and other fiber-rich foods that can ease and prevent constipation.
Related: 10 Foods That Relieve Kids’ Constipation
3. WATER
Sometimes drinking water is enough to get things moving and ease a tummy ache.
If you have a tough time getting your child to drink plain water, add slices of cucumber or strawberries which add a hint of flavor.
4. GINGER
Ginger is another ancient remedy for tummy aches, as well as nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy.
Related: [VIDEO] 11 Natural Ways To Deal With Morning Sickness
Studies suggest ginger’s effectiveness is due to its antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nausea properties. The oily resin from the roots of ginger contain bioactive compounds that are believed to help ease gastrointestinal (GI) distress.
If you decide to try ginger, ginger ale won’t cut it because it’s not made with ginger root and is mostly sugar and high fructose corn syrup anyway.
Related: What is High-Fructose Corn Syrup?
Instead, try ginger tea, or add freshly grated ginger to a cup of warm water.
5. HEATING PAD
If you’ve used a heating pad for menstrual cramps or back pain, you know how soothing it is, which is why it’s also one of the best natural remedies to ease kids’ tummy aches.
When my kids get stomach aches that linger after they’ve used the bathroom, a heating pad (set on low) for about 20 minutes often does the trick. It helps relax the muscles in the abdomen and it can be soothing while your child is resting.
6. PEPPERMINT
Peppermint, an herb which is a cross between water mint and spearmint, has been well researched and shown to be an effective remedy for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), according to a July 2014 study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.
Less is known about peppermint’s effectiveness for indigestion or nausea but it’s still worth a try.
Peppermint tea seems to be safe for kids, but be sure to read warning labels.
Peppermint essential oil in a diffuser may be OK too, but the oils should never be applied to an infant or child’s face or chest because serious side effects can occur if they inhale it, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
