Stomach Aches

Common Illnesses

Coughs

Colds

Flu

RSV

Ear Infections
(Otitus Media)

Fevers

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Cavities

Stomach Aches

Sore Throats

Contagious Diseases
Lifelong Health Issues
Unavoidable Conditions
Why Kids Get Sick So Often
When To Call The Doctor
When To Send Your Child to Daycare
Safe Use of Antibiotics

Stomach Aches

Stomachaches are difficult to cope with because it can herald an acute abdominal emergency such as appendicitis, or nothing at all. Decide whether or not to call the doctor on the basis of:

How sever the pain is

How long it lasts

How ill the child seems

Any other symptoms

In babies, a stomachache can cause the infant to scream and to draw his legs and thighs up to his tummy. Intense stomachache can be caused by gas that needs to be expelled. Hold, burp, and walk. If cuddling comforts him, and he seems otherwise well, you can afford to wait for other symptoms.

If burping and cuddling doesn't comfort him, although he seems otherwise well, he might have colic.

If your baby has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and/or seems ill, and cries for more than two hours without cease, call the doctor.

Young children often cannot help locate pain accurately or differentiate pain from nausea. If your child seems very ill, has other symptoms, or has such severe pain that he cries, lies curled up, and walks bent double, call the doctor at once.

If the pain is milder and or there are no other symptoms, wait a few hours and phone for advice if the pain is still bothering him.

Sometimes, children get periodic bouts of stomachache as a reaction to stress. Treat your child with sympathy -- the pain hurts as much as one caused by a germ) and try to relieve the stress-cause. Provide reassurance, affection, and distraction.

Colic

Colic most often develops during the first month of life. Normal crying is an indicator of hunger, a wet diaper, or the need to be held. Colic-y babies exhibit no identifiable reasons for crying but do so without ceasing for between 60 to 90 minutes every day during the first three weeks of life. Crying often increases to two to four hours of crying each day by six weeks and gradually decreases by 3 months of age.

No one knows the cause of colic, although some theories suggest immature digestive system, food allergies, abdominal gas or sensitivity to a busy, noisy home. Crying happens about the same time of day each day, often during the late afternoon or early evening.

If your baby is crying, try to find out why. Check to see if the baby is hungry; needs a diaper change, is too warm/too cold, tired, scared, hurt, lonely, bored, etc.

If you can't find a reason for the crying, you may want to try different things to soothe your baby. No method will work every time, but you can try:

Feeding your baby slowly in an upright position and burping the baby at least once during and after the feeding.

Not letting your baby get hungry, but not over feeding.

Cuddling, swaddling, or carrying your baby in your arms

Rocking your baby in your arms, cradle, or infant swing.

Push your baby in a stroller or carriage

Take your baby for a ride in the car using a car seat

Wrap your baby in a blanket

Lay your baby on a warm blanket

Give your baby a warm bath

When your baby is awake, lay your baby on its tummy and pat/rub the baby's back.

Massage your baby

Lay your baby down on his back for a nap

Darken your baby's room at naptime

Allow your baby time alone to settle and go to sleep

Keep the noise level and stimulation down if baby is upset

Take care of yourself and rest

Take naps when baby is napping

Try to relax so your baby doesn't feel your stress

Call a friend or relative for support

Give yourself a break by having someone else watch your baby

Talk with your healthcare provider

Give infant chiropractic care a try

Change baby's formula if you're not breast feeding

No one knows why babies get colic. It isn't your fault the baby has colic. It can be frustrating and upsetting. NEVER shake your baby.

Call your physician if:

Your baby's cry becomes a painful cry rather than a fussy cry

If your baby cries constantly for more than 2 hours

If your baby vomits more than three times in 24 hours

If your baby shows signs of dehydration.

If your baby has a fever

If your baby has diarrhea or loose stools:

More than one per hour

Blood in the stool

If you're afraid you might hurt your baby

If you can't find a way to soothe your baby

If you or someone else has shaken your baby

COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES & INFECTIONS | YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT
PARENTING CHALLENGES | RESOURCES AND INFORMATION | ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
BACK TO PRAIRIE PUBLIC TELEVISION | RETURN TO PRAIRIEPUBLIC.ORG HOME PAGE

Missed A Program?
Healthworks on Videotape
If you missed seeing Healthworks on Prairie Public Television, you still have a chance to keep up to date with these important health issues. Order a videotape copy of any of these interesting and informative programs for only $24.95 per program. Order online or call 1-800-359-6900 to order your copies today.

© 2001 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.

Common Illnesses Coughs Colds Flu RSV Ear Infections (Otitus Media) Fevers Vomiting Diarrhea Cavities Stomach Aches Sore Throats Contagious Diseases Lifelong Health Issues Unavoidable Conditions Why Kids Get Sick So Often When To Call The Doctor When To Send Your Child to Daycare Safe Use of Antibiotics		Stomach Aches Stomachaches are difficult to cope with because it can herald an acute abdominal emergency such as appendicitis, or nothing at all. Decide whether or not to call the doctor on the basis of: How sever the pain is How long it lasts How ill the child seems Any other symptoms In babies, a stomachache can cause the infant to scream and to draw his legs and thighs up to his tummy. Intense stomachache can be caused by gas that needs to be expelled. Hold, burp, and walk. If cuddling comforts him, and he seems otherwise well, you can afford to wait for other symptoms. If burping and cuddling doesn't comfort him, although he seems otherwise well, he might have colic. If your baby has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and/or seems ill, and cries for more than two hours without cease, call the doctor. Young children often cannot help locate pain accurately or differentiate pain from nausea. If your child seems very ill, has other symptoms, or has such severe pain that he cries, lies curled up, and walks bent double, call the doctor at once. If the pain is milder and or there are no other symptoms, wait a few hours and phone for advice if the pain is still bothering him. Sometimes, children get periodic bouts of stomachache as a reaction to stress. Treat your child with sympathy -- the pain hurts as much as one caused by a germ) and try to relieve the stress-cause. Provide reassurance, affection, and distraction. Colic Colic most often develops during the first month of life. Normal crying is an indicator of hunger, a wet diaper, or the need to be held. Colic-y babies exhibit no identifiable reasons for crying but do so without ceasing for between 60 to 90 minutes every day during the first three weeks of life. Crying often increases to two to four hours of crying each day by six weeks and gradually decreases by 3 months of age. No one knows the cause of colic, although some theories suggest immature digestive system, food allergies, abdominal gas or sensitivity to a busy, noisy home. Crying happens about the same time of day each day, often during the late afternoon or early evening. If your baby is crying, try to find out why. Check to see if the baby is hungry; needs a diaper change, is too warm/too cold, tired, scared, hurt, lonely, bored, etc. If you can't find a reason for the crying, you may want to try different things to soothe your baby. No method will work every time, but you can try: Feeding your baby slowly in an upright position and burping the baby at least once during and after the feeding. Not letting your baby get hungry, but not over feeding. Cuddling, swaddling, or carrying your baby in your arms Rocking your baby in your arms, cradle, or infant swing. Push your baby in a stroller or carriage Take your baby for a ride in the car using a car seat Wrap your baby in a blanket Lay your baby on a warm blanket Give your baby a warm bath When your baby is awake, lay your baby on its tummy and pat/rub the baby's back. Massage your baby Lay your baby down on his back for a nap Darken your baby's room at naptime Allow your baby time alone to settle and go to sleep Keep the noise level and stimulation down if baby is upset Take care of yourself and rest Take naps when baby is napping Try to relax so your baby doesn't feel your stress Call a friend or relative for support Give yourself a break by having someone else watch your baby Talk with your healthcare provider Give infant chiropractic care a try Change baby's formula if you're not breast feeding No one knows why babies get colic. It isn't your fault the baby has colic. It can be frustrating and upsetting. NEVER shake your baby. Call your physician if: Your baby's cry becomes a painful cry rather than a fussy cry If your baby cries constantly for more than 2 hours If your baby vomits more than three times in 24 hours If your baby shows signs of dehydration. If your baby has a fever If your baby has diarrhea or loose stools: More than one per hour Blood in the stool If you're afraid you might hurt your baby If you can't find a way to soothe your baby If you or someone else has shaken your baby
		COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES & INFECTIONS \| YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT PARENTING CHALLENGES \| RESOURCES AND INFORMATION \| ABOUT THIS PROGRAM BACK TO PRAIRIE PUBLIC TELEVISION \| RETURN TO PRAIRIEPUBLIC.ORG HOME PAGE
		Missed A Program? Healthworks on Videotape If you missed seeing Healthworks on Prairie Public Television, you still have a chance to keep up to date with these important health issues. Order a videotape copy of any of these interesting and informative programs for only $24.95 per program. Order online or call 1-800-359-6900 to order your copies today.
		© 2001 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.