Quick and Easy Home Remedies for Kids’ Stomachaches

By: Em Cruz

One thing I’ve learned in my almost 5-years of motherhood is that kid’s moods can shift in as quick as a snap-of-a-finger. My daughter can be all smiles and cuddles one minute, and will be giving me her tiger-look the next. Aside from her mood, the same can be said when it comes to her general overall health — she could be a limitless ball of energy in the morning and be a sniffly, lethargic puppy in the afternoon. Hence, I try to read up and be prepared for different remedies just in case the need arises.

Aside from the typical sniffles, my daughter seems to be prone to tummy aches, which as it turns out, are common for kids aged 4 to 8 years old. Her first few bouts of the achy tummy got me head over heels with worry and resulted to a number of visits to the Pedia or the ER. But as several doctors have said, the main causes of tummy aches in kids are typically diet, stress, or even growing pains. So simply put, some stomachache cases do not necessarily warrant a trip to the doctor. And in such times, there are a number of home remedies that I do to alleviate my child’s discomfort. Here are a few:

Turn up the heat.

This is one remedy I also use personally when my tummy acts up and it has also proven to be effective for my daughter. I apply either a hot water bottle or a hot compress on my daughter’s tummy while she’s lying down or even sleeping. I just make sure that she can handle the heat and would not result in paso. The reason why hot compresses can provide pain relief is the fact that heat increases blood flow to the skin surface, which can then minimize the perception of pain coming from the lower abdomen. Personally, I prefer using herbal pillows as aside from the heat, both my daughter and I find the peppermint and lavender smell soothing.

Rub a dub-dub — the foot.

Never underestimate the powers of foot rubs or reflexology in fact. It’s a known fact that our feet and hands have thousands of nerves. So when the proper or specific techniques are applied, could make our body more relaxed and calm. And the same applies to kids.

The center arch of the left foot corresponds to the tummy region. So whenever my daughter complains of an achy tummy, I ask her to lie down and sit on her foot area. I hold her left foot on the palm of my right hand and with my left hand on the ball of her foot, I apply a steady, even pressure using my thumb. I then press one spot, move a little forward, then press again — quite similar to a forward-moving caterpillar going across her foot. I then switch hands and repeat the movement from right to left, continuing until I cover the center of the arch. It’s also a great time to bond and is a relaxing moment for both of us.

Go bland.

Whenever my daughter has a tummy ache, she has a small appetite if ever she feels like eating at all. Despite her lack of appetite, I still make it a point to offer her foods as much as possible. In order to not aggravate her tummy, I switch her to a bland diet. So I offer her plain foods such as bread toast, rice, yogurt, or oatmeal. Other options you can consider are pasta and applesauce (I don’t offer these as my daughter doesn’t eat these on normal days, so chances are she wouldn’t eat especially when she’s not feeling well. Bland foods such as these are more gentle to the stomach compared to spicy and greasy foods. And are less likely to induce vomiting or even diarrhea, and could help the digestive system return to its normal state.

Good ol’ rest.

Of course, nothing beats the benefits and values of rest in days whenever we feel discomfort or an illness sets in. The same is true for our kids. So whenever my child comes to me complaining of an upset tummy, the first thing I do is ask her to take a break from whatever she’s doing and lie down to rest. Normally, lying face down might help relieve stomach pains brought about by gas. But there’s no optimal position aside from what feels most comfortable at the moment for the child.

Promote overall tummy health.

One possible way to minimize the occurrence of stomachaches is to boost overall gut health. And one way to do it is through the use of probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can help maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract. Our digestive tract, including our kids,’ typically has around 100 trillion healthy bacteria. These aid in our body’s digestion and help defend it against certain illnesses. However, the balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in our body could be affected by a number of factors, such as poor diet, stress, and even the intake of medications and antibiotics for certain health issues. Probiotics can help restore and maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in our bodies. Ultimately aiding in immunity and helping protect us from tummy issues, and even colds and the flu.

Probiotics can be had from certain foods such as yogurt, miso, and pickles. And since I can only give so much yogurt to my daughter in a week, and there’s no way I can get her to eat miso or pickles, I’ve turned to probiotic supplements specially formulated and marketed for kids. Instead of giving her probiotics drinks that might be high in sugar, I’ve decided to give her Erceflora ProbiBears.

Erceflora ProbiBears is a yummy tummy probiotics supplement that has a combined 2-in-1 PROBIO-BOOSTER of not just Lactobacillus acidophilus, but also Bifidobacterium lactis — good bacteria that can help prevent tummy problems such as diarrhea, upset stomach, and other digestive illnesses. Aside from these obvious health benefits, my daughter always looks forward to her everyday dose of ProbiBears — thanks to its cute bear-shaped vanilla-flavored goodness that tastes like white chocolate!

Always, always know when it’s time to seek help and do so.

Although home remedies can help, I still closely monitor my daughter’s condition until she doesn’t complain of an achy-tummy for one whole day. Although if she gets to the point wherein she has already vomited or pooped a number of times, is lethargic, and having a hard time keeping anything including water down, then I pack her up and go to our Pediatrician or the ER. Always remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

With a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, you can help promote your child’s overall tummy health by giving him Erceflora ProbiBears every day (of course, ideally upon the recommendation of your Pediatrician). You can get Erceflora ProbiBears from Mercury Drug and South Star Drug branches for only PhP 540 SRP per box of 20s.

Learn more at Erceflora Probibears.

References:

Radhakrishnan, K. (2016, April 20). How your child can benefit from probiotics. Health Essentials. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/child-can-benefit-probiotics/

Can gut bacteria improve your health? (2016, October). Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-gut-bacteria-improve-your-health

Moyer, M.W. (2015, December 4). Should your kids take probiotic? Slate. Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_kids/2015/12/are_probiotics_goof_for_kids_what_research_says_about_culturelle_florastor.html

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