Your child has belly pain. Belly pain happens to many kids and usually isn't serious. Common causes include constipation (having fewer poops than usual or large, hard-to-pass poops), stress, food allergies or intolerances, gas, and reflux (heartburn).

At home, make any changes to your child's diet and routine, keep track of your child's belly pain, and follow up as recommended by your healthcare provider. This will help you find out what is causing your child's belly pain and get treatment, if needed.

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for:

• Any changes in diet
• Giving your child any medicines
• When to follow up

Keep track of your child's belly pain on paper or on your phone. Include:

• When they have pain
• What was going on when it happened (such as what your child was eating or if they were getting ready for school)
• How long the pain lasted
• If anything helped the pain go away
• Anything else your healthcare provider tells you to write down

For belly pain:

• Help your child get their mind off the pain by doing something they enjoy, such as reading a book, watching a show together, or playing relaxing music.
• Put a cold pack or heating pad wrapped in a towel on the area for 20 minutes a few times a day, if your child finds it comforting.
• If your healthcare provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often.
• Don't give aspirin to your child. It can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

Help your child manage stress:

• Encourage them to have healthy everyday habits, such as being physically active and getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, limiting screen time, and balancing schoolwork and activities with enough time to relax/recharge.
• Ask them if they want to talk to a counselor for more support.

General care:

• Have your child eat four or five small meals each day (instead of three large meals).
• Offer your child plenty of liquids to drink.
• Have your child keep a regular routine for pooping. Sitting on the toilet after meals is a good time to try to poop.
• Don't give your child laxatives, antacids, or other medicines unless recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Talk to your healthcare provider before giving your child any supplements or herbs.

Your child:

• Has belly pain that gets worse, lasts more than 24 hours, or moves to one area of the belly
• Is straining to poop or hasn't pooped in a few days
• Gets new symptoms, such as fever, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), vomiting (throwing up), blood in the poop, pain when peeing, a rash, or a cough
• Seems to be getting sicker
• Doesn't want to go to regular activities (such as school, family and friend get-togethers, and sports) because of the belly pain

Your child:

• Has a hard or swollen belly
• Isn't drinking at all or has signs of dehydration (not enough water in the body), such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, less pee or darker pee than usual, little or no tears when crying, or unusual sleepiness

What causes belly pain in kids? Along with constipation, stress, food allergies or intolerances, gas, and reflux, belly pain may also be caused by an infection (such as strep throat, pneumonia, or a urinary tract infection), swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the belly, or period cramps. Sometimes the cause of belly pain isn't found, and very rarely, a more serious cause is found .

Can belly pain be prevented? Not all belly pain can be prevented. But to avoid common types of belly pain, it can help to have your child:

• Wash their hands before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom (to prevent infections).
• Eat healthy portions and try not to eat right before going to sleep.
• Drink plenty of water and eat fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables (to prevent constipation).
• Avoid foods that have passed their expiration date or weren't stored properly (to prevent food poisoning).
• Avoid foods that make them sick if they have a food allergy or intolerance. 
• Manage stress.

Should my child go to school or other activities with belly pain? If the pain is not too severe, encourage your child to do their regular activities. If needed, they can take a break from whatever activity they are doing. For example, if they have belly pain while playing a sport, they can ask the coach if they can sit out for a bit. Or if it happens at school, they can ask to go to the nurse's office to lie down for 15 minutes.