Having a little one who has an upset stomach can be extremely frustrating for both her and for you. The most important thing to consider when trying to ease your child’s upset stomach is to know what exactly is causing the upset stomach. Infection, indigestion, the flu, poisoning, motion sickness or the common cold could be causing your child to not feel well. The first step in easing your child’s upset stomach, then, is determining what the cause is.
There are some serious problems that can cause an upset stomach. Serious infections or poisoning are problems that require immediate medical attention. If your child’s upset stomach is accompanied by convulsions, repeated vomiting, decreased urination, blood in the vomit, a swollen abdomen, or lethargy or irritability, you should contact your health care provider immediately, as there is probably a very serious cause.
Assuming that your child just has a belly ache, there are several things that you can do to try to ease his suffering. The best way to ease your toddler’s upset stomach will depend on what is causing it. If he has the flu, for example, laying down and giving him clear liquids to keep him from getting dehydrated is most appropriate.
If you are traveling and your child gets an upset stomach due to motion sickness, you might try using a toddler seat. While many toddlers are too big for baby seats, most states require a use of some sort of seat for your child until at least the age of 5. Giving him a toddler seat might help him be up high enough that he can watch the scenery as you go by, which should help to fix the confused signals that cause motion sickness. If your child is not a toddler but older, encourage him to take a break from the book he is reading or the game he is playing to look out the window for a while. If his motion sickness is not really motion sickness but anxiety about the trip, try to reassure your little one and comfort him through his anxiety.
if your child has an upper respiratory infection or sinus troubles, post-nasal drip may cause an upset stomach. Swallowing the extra mucus and phlegm can cause a great deal of irritation to your child’s stomach. Try using a bulb syringe to clear the mucus and phlegm out of her nose. If she is older, encourage her to blow her nose to get all of the mucus and phlegm out. In addition, you can give her a decongestant to lessen the amount of mucus that is produced.
In general, if your child has an upset stomach, it is best to stick to some basic foods that are known to have a soothing effect. This is known as the BRAT diet. This stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. Using the BRAT diet will help your child to be able to keep down some food while his belly is still aching. Again, if his symptoms become more severe or are accompanied by other symptoms, it is best to contact your health care provider.