Stomach Pain in Kids: Causes, Symptoms & Safe Home Remedies

Stomach pain is one of the most common complaints among children and a leading reason parents visit a paediatrician. While most tummy aches are harmless and temporary, they can cause discomfort in young children who struggle to express what they’re feeling.

From gas and indigestion to constipation and food sensitivities, several everyday triggers can lead to abdominal pain in children. This blog explores the common causes of stomach pain in kids and shares safe and effective natural home remedies to provide relief, right from your kitchen.

Common Causes of Stomach Pain in Children

Many factors may cause your little one to complain of stomach or abdominal pain:

• Overeating (root of gastric problems)
• Excessive feeding (in the case of an infant being overfed by the mother)
• Junk and fried foods
• Intolerance or allergy to specific foods (milk, pickles)
• Lactose intolerance is a condition in which a person is unable to digest dairy products
• Vegetables that cause bloating (cauliflower, radish, cabbage, beans, broccoli, etc) can lead to gas.
• Infestation of worms (highly common in children)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Dysentery
• Using contaminated water and eating food from the roadside

Natural Home Remedies Used to Relieve Stomach Pain in Kids

1. Use a Warm Compress to Soothe Pain

Warm compresses relieve stomach aches quickly. Most importantly, they are non-toxic and provide immediate relief. The heat application promotes peristaltic movement, reducing abdominal pressure and providing relief in many cases.

You can use a heating pad or wrap a warm water bottle in a cloth. Remember to use warm compresses, not hot ones.

2. Apply Hing (Asafoetida) Paste to Relieve Gas

According to traditional medicine, Asafoetida or Hing can relieve stomach pain in children by releasing gases. 

Apply a hing powder and water paste to the child’s belly. A few minutes of abdominal massage with hing powder and olive oil may provide children with stomach relief.

3. Castor Oil and Betel Leaf for Constipation

Castor oil is believed to relieve stomach pain in kids by accelerating digestion and enhancing peristaltic activity, which relieves constipation. Digestion is improved by using castor oil.

How to use?

• Put a spoonful of castor oil in your hand and warm it to lukewarm. It should be used on the tummy. 
• After application, cover with a betel leaf. 

This is not a proven method to relieve stomach pain in children and is often used only in traditional medicine.

4. Jeera (cumin) concoction with water

Some studies state that jeera water can reduce abdominal bloating, flatulence, belching, constipation, and diarrhoea. It is safe for children to consume and can relieve stomach aches caused by digestive trouble.

How to prepare jeera water?

• Add two teaspoons of cumin seeds to one litre of water. 
• Heat it and strain the liquid into a bottle. 
• Ensure the child drinks this jeera water throughout the day.

5. Maintain adequate hydration

Proper hydration is essential when your child has a stomachache. Encourage them to sip on water throughout the day and consider offering unsweetened herbal teas like mint, ginger, or ginger ale tea. These teas help soothe the digestive system, relax stomach muscles, and ease discomfort.

You can also make a simple herbal tea for children over two by soaking freshly chopped ginger in warm water or brewing mint leaves with a few drops of lemon juice. Mint helps eliminate harmful gut bacteria, while lemon supports digestion and relieves constipation.

If your child is experiencing vomiting, visit your doctor immediately. It helps to  avoid solid foods and switch to a light, liquid diet until symptoms subside. Also, avoid dairy and oily foods during recovery, as they aggravate the stomach.

Remember: Always consult your paediatrician before trying any herbal remedy, especially in younger children.

6. Comforting foods and probiotics

Yoghurt is a probiotic food. It is said to relieve nausea and diarrhoea. The beneficial bacteria in yoghurt replace lost gut germs and help restore the microbiome. 

Soak fenugreek seeds, crush them into a paste, and mix them into your child’s yoghurt. Give your child tiny portions of bland, non-spicy comfort meals like rice or khichdi. While preliminary investigation states that probiotics may reduce stomach pain or related gastric issues, the exact mechanism is still unclear. More research is needed in this regard.

7. Try reflexology on your kid’s feet

Numerous nerves in our hands and feet can heal a specific area of the body when gently pressed. 

• Hold your child’s left foot with the palm of your right hand. 
• Apply consistent pressure with your thumb under the ball of his foot with your left hand. 
• Apply pressure to his left foot’s central arch for a minute and then repeat 4-5 times.

Takeaway!

While most stomach pain in kids is mild and resolves on its own with simple home remedies, always monitor your child’s symptoms closely. 

Seek medical attention immediately if your child has:

• Persistent pain lasting more than a few hours
• High fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea
• Blood in stool or vomit
• Severe bloating or swelling
• Inability to eat or drink

Listening to your child, maintaining a balanced diet, and practising good hygiene can go a long way in preventing tummy troubles.

Expert Quote:

“ Most stomach aches in children are caused by issues like gas, indigestion, or infection. While home remedies may be effective, they should be used as supportive therapy. If other symptoms like fever or vomiting accompany your child’s stomach pain, consult their paediatrician as soon as possible.”

Dr Lakshmi Vaswani

References:

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11216127/ 
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5506628/ 
• https://ijpbs.net/details.php?article=7172&articleid=NzE3Mg==&subs=QXV0aG9ycw==