Seeing your child suffering from stomach problems can be distressing. You would like to be able to alleviate his discomfort but, sometimes, there are no solutions. Stomach pain is often the main culprit when a child is particularly agitated. It does not require immediate clinical attention, however, so do not get upset right away. You can try to manage this problem if you have colic, a viral infection, or general stomach pain.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Managing Colic
Step 1. Keep the baby warm
Keeping your baby indoors will relax him and give him relief when he has major stomach pains.
- You can decide to warm his whole body or just his stomach.
- Just wrap it in a blanket.
- To give it more warmth, with your body, hold it in your arms.
- In this way the baby will feel more warm and reassured by your presence.
Step 2. Massage the baby to calm stomach spasms
Try massaging his belly in clockwise circular motions to relieve pain and tension in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Put some baby oil on your hands and rub them between them before touching her body.
- The massage will stimulate blood circulation to the stomach, helping to calm colic.
- You can also try massaging his feet and hands, as there are the ends of some nerves that can relieve pain in other parts of the body.
Step 3. If you are breastfeeding your baby, try to eat healthily
Pay attention to your eating habits, avoiding substances and foods that can negatively affect his pain, as what you ingest comes through the milk you give him.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, beans, peas, mushrooms, soy, spicy food, and even oranges and strawberries; essentially, anything that creates bloating and intestinal gas.
- Avoid dairy products, as your baby may be lactose intolerant.
- Try to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to give them the nutrients that can heal colic.
Step 4. Get the child to exercise to free the intestines
You can make him do leg movements, such as cycling, to speed up digestion and clear the intestines.
- Lay the baby on his back.
- Take his legs and gently move them forward in a circular motion, as if he were riding a bicycle.
- For results, do this exercise for a few minutes.
Step 5. Pay attention to how the baby eats
Find out if he's eating properly.
- Make sure that the breast attachment is correct and that she is not ingesting air.
- Swallowing air while breastfeeding can cause gas and pain.
- In the same way, even breastfeeding with artificial milk, through the use of the bottle, can create cramps, both due to the composition of which this milk is made, and because the attachment to the bottle is not as adherent as that to the breast and lets air pass.
- You can also change the type of formula by taking the specific one for stomach problems. In this case it is however necessary to consult the pediatrician first.
- If you think that the bottle may cause the most problems, try changing the teat, perhaps taking one with different holes that are more suitable for your baby.
Step 6. Burp after or during the feed
Having your baby burp helps him expel the air in his stomach and free up space for digestion.
- You can lift the baby up and give him a few light taps on the back.
- Do this after breastfeeding, either with formula or mother's milk.
Step 7. To calm the baby, you can take him around in the car
Have him sit in his car seat and take him for a walk in the car; even better is if you can sit next to him, to give him more comfort.
- The pace and noise of the car could make him feel better.
- If you do not have the possibility to use the car, you can try singing him a song or playing him relaxing music, moving him with rhythmic movements.
Step 8. If you are unable to relieve the pain of colic with these remedies, contact your pediatrician, who may prescribe some remedies
These are usually herbal drops or syrups that can relieve pain
Method 2 of 3: Treating a Gut Virus
Step 1. Check for symptoms of any intestinal virus
Check the baby's temperature to see if he has a fever or if there are any other signs of a viral infection.
- He may have diarrhea or vomit.
- If you are not sure what you are experiencing, consult your pediatrician.
Step 2. Try to keep the baby hydrated
Good hydration is essential when you have a gut virus.
- Vomiting and diarrhea eliminate a greater quantity of liquids which are, therefore, reintroduced by drinking a lot; you can give him breast milk, formula or, for older babies, water.
- Remember that children become dehydrated more easily than adults.
- The first signs of dehydration are: dry mouth, tearless crying and a general state of weakness.
Step 3. Maintain proper nutrition levels, with food or milk
If you have vomiting or diarrhea, you need to maintain adequate levels of electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium and calcium) by eating food or milk.
- If your baby has already been weaned, try to give him some soups.
- In fact, soups contain salt and electrolytes, in addition to the nutrients given by vegetables.
- Give him the soup gradually and not all at once.
- Try to get him to eat a teaspoon of soup every 2 minutes.
Step 4. To make digestion easier, chop solid food with the blender
By doing this, digestion will be facilitated, because the stomach will have less work to do.
- Try blending cooked food such as, potatoes, rice, carrots, and white meat, such as chicken.
- You could also try feeding him by pre-chewing his food.
Step 5. Feed the baby some yogurt
If it is old enough to eat it, yogurt introduces adequate lactic ferments into the body that can help settle stomach and intestinal problems.
- The digestive system, in fact, contains certain bacteria that help digest food.
- Intestinal viruses can create disorders at the level of this bacterial flora.
- Yogurt with lactic ferments helps restore bacterial flora.
Step 6. Do not give your child fried, fatty or sweet foods
These, together with carbonated drinks, in fact, increase stomach problems and hinder digestion.
- As a good eating habit, these foods and drinks should not usually be given to children, however try to avoid them completely in case of stomach problems.
- They can cause nausea and diarrhea.
Step 7. Make him drink lemon juice
This, mixed with water, can ease stomach problems, but only give it if it is old enough to drink.
Lemon juice, in addition to providing a good dose of vitamin C and fighting viruses and bacteria, refreshes the mouth after rejecting it and reduces the feeling of nausea
Step 8. If you have serious dehydration problems, take your child to the pediatrician
In case of dehydration, tiredness and nervousness, take him to the doctor for a visit.
- The first signs of dehydration are dry mouth, dry and hot skin, cold sweat and the absence of pee or a significant decrease in it.
- The pediatrician will give instructions to quickly hydrate him adequately.
- Consider that you may have to go to the pharmacy to take what is prescribed before returning home after the medical examination.
Method 3 of 3: Managing Generic Stomach Pain
Step 1. Keep the baby well hydrated
Get him to drink a lot as soon as you see he has diarrhea, even if he doesn't feel like it.
- Avoid sugary drinks or fruit juices, as sugar can exacerbate dehydration.
- The best drink in these cases is plain water.
- The water has no ingredients that can accentuate diarrhea or vomiting.
Step 2. Supplement your child's diet with fiber to increase bowel movements
If you are already eating solid foods, increase the ones that are high in fiber.
- Also increase pectin-containing foods, such as rice, bananas, or potatoes.
- Increase your consumption of these foods gradually, with small portions divided throughout the day.
- The fibers help regulate digestion by promoting the evacuation and movements of the intestinal tract.
Step 3. Massage the baby's stomach
Massage can relieve pain and help release gases mechanically.
- Lay the baby on his back.
- Massage his belly with light, circular movements in a clockwise direction, and finish by moving your hands towards the outside of the belly.
- Repeat this massage several times to expel excess gas.
- Do this only while the baby is awake.
Step 4. Have him do the bicycle exercise
You can get rid of excess gas in the stomach or intestines with the exercise of the bicycle, replicating the rotating movement of the legs when pedaling.
- Lay the baby on his back on the bed.
- Move his legs as if he were pedaling.
- It is an exercise that relieves pain caused by excess gas.
Step 5. Lay the baby prone
Lying on his stomach can help release air.
- Do this only if the baby is old enough, if he can turn sideways, and if he can hold his head up on his own.
- Having him stay in this position for some time will help him to decrease the air pressure.
Step 6. Try giving medicines to relieve this pain
You can try giving your child some medicine, but only under the supervision of the pediatrician.
- Do not give your child medicines that your pediatrician has not prescribed.
- Act in time, do not wait long before contacting the pediatrician.
Step 7. If symptoms do not go away or if they come back, see your doctor
If there are relapses or you are unable to relieve these intestinal pains at all, despite the attempts described, it is necessary to consult the competent doctor. You should also look out for the following symptoms and call your doctor right away if you have any:
- Presence of pus or blood in the stool.
- I was very dark.
- Green feces continuously.
- Diarrhea and excruciating abdominal pain.
- Dry mouth, lack of tears, dark urine or apathy - these are all symptoms of dehydration.
- Persistent diarrhea or vomiting that has occurred for at least 8 hours.
- High fever. If present, along with stomach or intestinal pains, it can be a sign of several other problems, such as food poisoning or infections. It is always best to consult your doctor so that diagnosis and treatment are correct and timely.
- These symptoms can indicate much more dangerous problems than the simple presence of gas, such as food allergies, intestinal blockages or poisoning.
- If you think your child has ingested something toxic, such as a drug, plant, or some chemical, and if they exhibit symptoms of poisoning such as vomiting and diarrhea, immediately call 911 or your local health emergency phone number..
