Getting your child to sleep through the night can be challenging when they complain of a stomachache at bedtime. Most often, our warm cuddles and hugs are just what the doctor ordered. However, when unfamiliar complaints or upsets arise, I often feel unprepared and stressed, which doesn’t help.
So, to boost my confidence when the next foreign belly ache presents itself, I decided to do some research. Hopefully, with these tips and tricks, the pain will subside, and getting your child to sleep through the night will be easier. The first step, according to experts, is to identify if it’s stress-related or a physical illness, like a stomach virus. Let’s start by reacquainting ourselves with everyday nervous-related tummy tumblers.
Nervous, Stressed Related Stomach Aches
Believe it or not, kids get as stressed as we do at times. When we slow down and put ourselves in their tiny shoes, it’s clear why toddler’s often shifted into overwhelm, melting down at a moment’s notice. Remember, everything is so much taller and more extensive than them! If we tune in, tots are always looking up to see us, often tugging on a pant leg to get our attention. Yep. Buildings, people, and objects are constantly towering over our little beings. I mean, size alone can be naturally intimidating. Plus, we expect them to absorb so much information, adapting to new rules and regulations at a very rapid pace. It’s like being thrown into a swimming pool and expecting them to “swim”… impossible, right? We all wish it were that easy, but it’s not. So, if you have a toddler, stress-related belly aches are expected, and all they can usually communicate is their “belly hurts” or “feels funny.”
So, to help you acclimate to their limited language, here are a few tight tummies upsets questions that will help you rule out a doctor’s visit.
*Do you feel like your tummy has butterflies inside?
We’ve all felt butterflies in our tummies at times. They often begin fluttering in anticipation/fear of a new experience or event, like the first day of school, a class performance, or going on a playdate to meet a new friend.
Solution:
Here’s an idea:
To ease the butterflies, first, acknowledge it’s normal to have fluttering tummies at times. Share a story about when you had butterflies. If it’s their first day of school creating the nervousness, you can say something like, “When I was your age, I felt the same way on my first day of school. I didn’t know it at the time, but the butterflies were flying excitedly toward my new fun school. Once we got there, I had a great time, and my butterflies flew away to enjoy the fun”. Your kiddo loves hearing stories about you having the same experiences as them. Naturally, they see you’re ok, so they know they’re going to be ok. Be playful yet sincere in your effort to help their butterflies settle.
*Do you feel like your tummy is in knots?
Tightness in the tummy often appears with unspoken fear. Maybe your child fears the dark, monsters in the closet, or sleeping in their new big kid bed. Putting a voice to the knotted stomach will help alleviate the upset. Ask them where their belly is hurting and move into the solution.
Solution:
Here’s an idea:
Place your ear on the upset and listen. Be compassionate yet softly animated and begin a dialogue to resolve their unspoken upset by saying something like, “Your tummy is trying to tell me what’s bother it, but it says you need to tell me.” If they’re hesitant and say they don’t know, guess a few times, pretending their tummy is trying to tell you, making the conversation light and playful yet sincere.
Does your tummy feel like it’s wavy like the ocean or too full like a balloon?
If you’ve been on a playdate or to a kid’s birthday party, our clever, sweet eaters may have consumed more than you know. And if you’ve had a fun-filled day at a theme park, just thinking about the sticky cotton candy plus the swirling, twirling rides is enough to make my belly hurt!
Solution
Here’s an idea for nausea:
Have some frozen yogurt popsicles on hand, just for the health of it:). So, when an unexpected belly ache happens, you can have a frozen yogurt popsicle. I mean, everything tastes better when it’s a popsicle, right? Other tummy soothers to have on hand are teas such as ginger, peppermint, or chamomile. Make these helpful digestive track soothers appealing in tea brewed popsicles, or buy some hard mint and ginger candies at your local health food store.
Other nausea soothers are jello, applesauce, saltine crackers, dry toast. And a sprite or 7 p always helps me.
Here’s an idea for the full belly:
Run a warm Epsom salt bath for your kiddo. These beautiful salts help soothe muscles and are known to relieve constipation. This all-natural bath magic will also help lull your little one into a sound night’s rest since its main ingredient is magnesium, a kid-friendly way to relax our bodies, minds, and spirits:)
As mentioned earlier, these tips are for mild tummy upsets. Getting your child to sleep through the night may take a doctor’s visit if:
*Pain progresses
*Difficulty walking or standing
*Appetite diminishes the next day
*Pain moves from belly button to the right of the abdomen
*Vomit is green, yellow, or has blood
*Urinating is painful
*Fever is high with headache and sore throat
*Stool is black or bloody
*Unusual rash appears on buttocks and legs
So, if you have any doubts, I’m a fan of leaving the tough stuff to our outstanding medical communities. My philosophy is “better safe than sorry.” From my first-hand experience, an early evening doctor’s visit beats the wee hours of the morning wake-up call anytime. After all, getting your child to sleep through the night means you can also recharge with uninterrupted rest:)
At Tucked+Covered, our mission is better sleep for the whole family:)
We understand being a parent is no joke! It’s full of bedtime battles and the sweet smell of victories. That why getting your child to sleep through the night is at the core of our bedding design. Our clever button design keeps your wiggly kiddo comfy covered all night. No more runaway sheets hitting the floor at all hours of the night. You can depend on us to do what we say. Yep. Your sleep is our mission. And we know when your kids sleep, then YOU sleep. It’s that simple:)