How to Gauge the Pain
Before you panic, assess how much the pain is affecting your child’s life right now.
- Mild: Your child tells you it hurts, but they are still playing, sleeping, and acting normally.
- Moderate: The pain stops them from doing some things (like playing) or wakes them up from sleep.
- Severe: The pain is bad enough that they cannot do any normal activities.
When to Get Help
Call 911 Now
- Your child is not moving or is too weak to stand.
- You suspect a life-threatening emergency.
Call Doctor Now or Go to ER
- Location: The pain is low on the right side (could be Appendicitis).
- Duration: The pain or crying has been constant for more than 2 hours.
- Fever: Temperature is over 104° F (40° C).
- Appearance: Your child looks or acts very sick.
- History: Recent injury to the stomach, or the child has a high-risk condition (Diabetes, Sickle Cell, recent surgery).
- Age: The child is less than 2 years old.
- Pregnancy Risk: If the child is old enough, consider if she could be pregnant.
Contact in 24hrs
- Moderate pain keeps her from some activities.
- Mild cramping comes and goes but has lasted more than 24 hours.
- Fever: Any fever is present with the pain.
- Urination: You suspect a Bladder Infection (painful peeing, bad smell, or new bedwetting).
🔍 What Caused This? (Common Triggers)
Acute Causes (Happening Now)
If it is not an emergency, check this table to see what might be causing the issue.
| Possible Cause | Symptoms & Clues |
| Overeating or Hunger | Mild pain. Occurs after a big meal or when the child hasn’t eaten in a while. |
| Stomach Bug (Virus) | Cramps accompanied by vomiting and/or diarrhea. Usually Rotavirus. |
| Food Poisoning | Sudden vomiting/diarrhea hours after eating bad food. Usually clears in 24 hours. |
| Constipation | Cramps in the lower belly. The child needs to poop. |
| Strep Throat | Surprisingly, a Strep infection causes stomach pain with fever in 10% of cases. |
| Bladder Infection (UTI) | Pain in the lower belly, painful urination, urgency, or foul-smelling urine. |
| Menstrual Cramps | In older girls, consider if this is related to her cycle. |
Acute Causes (Happening Now)
| Possible Cause | Symptoms & Clues |
| Overeating or Hunger | Mild pain. Occurs after a big meal or when the child hasn’t eaten in a while. |
| Stomach Bug (Virus) | Cramps accompanied by vomiting and/or diarrhea. Usually Rotavirus. |
| Food Poisoning | Sudden vomiting/diarrhea hours after eating bad food. Usually clears in 24 hours. |
| Constipation | Cramps in the lower belly. The child needs to poop. |
| Strep Throat | Surprisingly, a Strep infection causes stomach pain with fever in 10% of cases. |
| Bladder Infection (UTI) | Pain in the lower belly, painful urination, urgency, or foul-smelling urine. |
| Menstrual Cramps | In older girls, consider if this is related to her cycle. |
Serious Conditions (Rare but Important)
Appendicitis: Suspect this if the pain is low on the right side. The child may walk bent over, refuse to hop or jump, and want to lie perfectly still.
Intussusception: This affects children aged 6 months to 2 years. Look for sudden, severe pain where the child screams and pulls legs up, followed by periods of being calm. This is a medical emergency.
Recurrent Causes (Happening Often)
- Stress (“Worried Stomach”): Very common (10% of children). Pain is near the belly button. Often affects sensitive, “model” children during stressful times (school changes, family issues). The pain is real, but the cause is emotional.
- Abdominal Migraine: Sudden attacks of pain and vomiting. Strong genetic link to migraine headaches.
- School Avoidance: Pain happens mostly on school mornings and stops the child from attending.
🏠 Home Care Advice
If the pain is mild and you don’t need a doctor immediately, follow these steps to make your child comfortable.
- Rest and Position
- Have your child lie down. Resting often relieves the pain. Usually, with mild causes, the pain will improve or disappear within 2 hours.
- Hydration
- Offer clear fluids only (water, flat soda, or half-strength Gatorade).
- Avoid solid foods until they feel better.
- If the pain is very mild, a regular diet is okay.
- Bathroom Habits
- Encourage your child to sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool. This often relieves pain from constipation or diarrhea.
- Tip: For constipation, a warm, wet cotton ball moved gently on the anus may help younger children.
- Prepare for Vomiting
- Keep a pan or bucket nearby. Young children often say their “tummy hurts” when they are actually nauseous and about to throw up.
- Manage Stress (For “Worried Stomachs”)
- If the pain is recurrent and linked to stress:
- Help your child identify what is worrying them.
- Teach relaxation techniques: slow deep breaths making the belly go up and down.
- Ensure they get enough sleep and do not miss school for mild stomach aches (avoidance increases stress).
- If the pain is recurrent and linked to stress:
⚠️ Medication Warning
Do not give Ibuprofen or Aspirin
These drugs can irritate the stomach and make the pain worse.
Do not give laxatives for stomach cramps.
You may give Acetaminophen (Tylenol) if the child has a fever over 102° F (39° C).
What to Expect Next
- Harmless Causes: Pain usually improves in 2 hours.
- Stomach Flu: Cramps may happen before vomiting or diarrhea for a few days.
- Serious Causes: The pain will not go away; it will get worse and become constant.
Medically Reviewed by Dr Michael Villadelgado
Disclaimer: This information is
for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how
you
use it. If you are unsure, always call your doctor.