Indigestion is a phenomenon that plagues adults as well as children. It affects children of all age groups, including infants. Did you know that almost 50% of babies under four months fall victim to indigestion? While it is a common phenomenon in children, it is quite discomforting. Indigestion is also commonly known as a stomach upset and is clinically known as dyspepsia. It mainly occurs when your little ones overeat, eat too quickly or consume food that doesn’t agree with them. Indigestion is closely related to heartburn, a condition in which stomach acid reaches the oesophagus and causes a burning sensation in the chest and throat.
The only upside to indigestion is that it usually clears up by itself and the symptoms can be treated using home remedies. Since you want the best for your children, it’s best to avoid using medicines like antacids and resort to home remedies for indigestion. Let us look at what causes this annoying condition in children and understand certain home remedies for indigestion treatment.
Do you know what causes upset stomachs in children?
“Indigestion usually happens when people eat too much, too fast, or foods that don’t “agree” with them. Called heartburn, this is a burning feeling that travels from a person’s chest up to the neck and throat.”
J.Fernando del Rosario, MD. Doctor at Nemours Children’s Health
4 Possible Causes of Indigestion in Children
- Two of the most striking causes of indigestion in children include eating too much and too quickly without chewing the food properly.
- Eating food that is very spicy or even too oily can trigger indigestion.
- Some of the other noteworthy causes of indigestion include not consuming regular meals, not eating on time, disturbed sleep cycles, stress, and even obesity.
- Since indigestion is a condition that your kids may have from time to time, parents should learn natural remedies for indigestion treatment at home.
Therefore, understanding the various upset stomach causes will help relieve your children’s discomfort quickly.
Symptoms of Indigestion in Children
Seeing your little ones in pain and suffering can be a difficult task. Luckily, with indigestion, symptoms aren’t too serious. However, while they aren’t very serious they cause a lot of discomfort and can be very annoying. Before detecting the condition, one must be well-informed of the symptoms associated with indigestion. Some of the most commonly seen symptoms of indigestion in children include stomach bloating and discomfort, nausea, vomiting, excessive burping and passing of wind, and difficulty in normal breathing.
7 Natural Remedies to Treat Children’s Indigestion at Home
Indigestion can be treated and managed at home through natural remedies if the condition is detected early. It is best to avoid heavy medication that can have long-lasting effects on your children. Furthermore, the natural remedies discussed can be easily performed at home. Some of the gastro home remedies for indigestion for babies and children are listed below.
- Water is a natural resource and is easily accessible in almost all places. Believe it or not but increasing intake of water can reduce some of the effects of indigestion.
- When it comes to babies it is crucial to burp your baby every few minutes to allow trapped gas forming in his or her stomach to release. Burping is one of the most effective home remedies for stomach pain in toddlers and children.
- If your baby is older than one, giving him or her cold milk can help treat acid reflux and indigestion. Understanding stomach pain in toddlers’ home remedies can provide parents with easy options, like milk, to relieve their kids of discomfort.
- Gripe water is commonly viewed as a miracle solution for babies when it comes to indigestion. It contains a mixture of herbs and is available in a liquid form, making it easy for your baby to consume.
- Ginger, an ingredient that can be found in almost every kitchen can work wonders for stomach-related issues like an upset stomach or indigestion in children. Rather than chewing on it as an adult could do, extract a teaspoon of ginger juice, and mix it with half a teaspoon of honey and lime juice. Further, ginger is also one of the efficient indigestion treatments for your children. This concoction will not only ease the discomfort associated with indigestion but will also target the root cause of it.
- Peppermint is another helpful quick cure for indigestion and heartburn. Mint leaves can be crushed and made into juice so your child enjoys drinking it. Including mint leaves into gastro home remedies is one of the comforting solutions to your baby’s indigestion.
- Apple cider vinegar is known for its medicinal properties and works wonders in the case of an upset stomach or indigestion in kids. It can be mixed with water and consumed on an empty stomach for best results. These are the 7 gastro home remedies for your children.
4 Must-Know Ways to Prevent Indigestion in Children
Once parents are aware of the home remedies for indigestion for babies and children, they become better equipped on how to treat indigestion. However, treating indigestion isn’t a one-time thing as it occurs numerous times in the life of a child. Since you know that prevention is better than cure, let’s learn how to prevent indigestion or reduce the chances of your child falling victim to it.
- Limit the amount of food that your child consumes in a single sitting.
- Ensure that your little ones do not eat too fast and chew their food properly.
- Avoid fatty, spicy, and oily food.
- Tell your child to allow his or her food to digest before engaging in any physical activity.
Preventing indigestion is one of the key remedies to treat children’s indigestion.
Conclusion
As parents you might be concerned with indigestion problems when your children faces them. You might have tried to figure out the root cause and home remedies to relieve your child’s discomfort. Worry not! In this article, we have provided detailed information on the four possible causes of indigestion, symptoms of indigestion, seven natural remedies to treat indigestion, and four must-know ways to prevent indigestion for your child. We hope that the information provided helped you gain insights on your child’s indigestion treatment. Do you know any other magic potions to treat indigestion? Please share your valuable thoughts.
Here, at EuroKids, we ensure that children imbibe good eating habits that help reduce the possibility of indigestion. Your little ones are loved, cared for and taught under the guidance of experts at EuroKids. You can visit our blog for more concerns relating to infants, toddlers and children regarding health and education. If you’re seeking to learn more about how to treat indigestion in children, visit us at a EuroKids centre near you.
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