If your child tells you on New Year's Eve 2025 that their stomach hurts, you'll likely want to find a way to relieve their discomfort. There are many things that can cause stomach pain in children, but fortunately, most of them can be treated at home. The pain could be due to something they ate, a combination of foods from the festive night, or perhaps they're feeling stressed about something.
The good news is that there are several home remedies for stomach pain that you may already have on hand, from herbal teas to heating pads. Here’s an overview of some of these natural remedies you can try at home, along with common causes of stomach pain in children and when to contact a doctor.
Safe Home Remedies for Stomach Pain in Children
Stomach pain is common among children and can be caused by various factors. Most stomach aches last for a few hours or less and can be easily treated at home. The method of treatment depends on the underlying cause of the pain, but here are some remedies recommended by experts and doctors to try when your child suddenly complains of stomach pain on this special night.
1. Let Your Child Rest
When your child experiences stomach pain, it’s important to let them rest. Encouraging them to take deep breaths can also help, as deep breathing has been shown to relieve stress, which can exacerbate stomach issues (and even cause them).
If the cause of your child’s stomach pain is unclear, take this opportunity to ask your child if there is anything they are worried about. Encourage open communication and provide a supportive environment for them to share their thoughts and feelings.
2. Apply Heat
Placing a warm water bottle or heating pad on your child’s stomach while they sit or lie down can help alleviate some of the pain. Alternatively, you could give them a warm, soothing bath to relieve discomfort. The heat increases blood flow to the skin's surface, which can reduce the feeling of pain coming from deep within the stomach.
3. Massage the Stomach
If you suspect your child’s stomach pain is due to gas or indigestion from overeating, gentle abdominal massage can help. Your child may instinctively place their hands on their stomach. You can offer comforting touches or encourage them to massage their stomach if they feel comfortable doing so.
4. Offer Chamomile Tea
Doctors suggest offering your child a cup of chamomile tea (one cup of water per tea bag). Chamomile is an excellent home remedy for mild stomach disturbances due to its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. Chamomile helps relax the muscles of the upper digestive tract, easing the contractions that move food through the stomach and small intestines, which can reduce cramps and stomach discomfort.
5. Offer Ginger Tea
The main soothing compound in ginger is gingerol, a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce free radicals in the body and ease nausea and discomfort. Additionally, ginger's anti-inflammatory properties boost digestive juices and neutralize stomach acid. You can offer small amounts of ginger soda (with real ginger) or ginger tea to your child when they have stomach pain. Fresh ginger tea or crystallized ginger is better because it contains more gingerol and avoids the gas and added sugars found in sodas.
6. Offer Peppermint Tea
If your child is not fond of ginger flavor, try offering peppermint tea instead. Peppermint has been shown to have a soothing effect on the stomach muscles and can help improve bile flow, which the body uses for digestion. If your child doesn’t want to drink tea, peppermint candies can also help calm their stomach (just be cautious not to offer these to infants or toddlers, as they can pose a choking hazard).
7. Try Reflexology
The feet are known to contain reflex points that correspond to different organs in the body, including the stomach. When specific techniques are applied to these reflex points, they can help relax the entire body and induce a sense of calm. The stomach area corresponds to the arch of the left foot. To activate this reflex:
Hold your child's left foot with your right hand, and with your left hand under the foot’s front, apply gentle pressure with your thumb in a steady, even motion.
Use a forward, rolling motion, pressing on one point and then moving slightly forward, repeating the motion to cover the arch.
Swap hands and repeat on the right foot.
Your child will likely respond positively to these comforting touches, and you’ll feel wonderful for being able to help them feel better.
8. Offer Mild Foods
If your child still has an appetite despite their stomach pain, allow them to eat small amounts of simple foods like toast, pasta, oatmeal, rice, or applesauce. Avoid sauces and spices, as these can irritate the stomach. Mild foods are less likely to cause vomiting and are easier to digest than spicy or fatty foods, which helps the child’s digestive system return to normal faster.
9. Give Yogurt
Yogurt is effective in treating basic stomach cramps and is a common remedy for diarrhea. Probiotic bacteria, or “good” bacteria, live in your child’s gut and aid in digestion. If your child has been sick with a stomach virus or diarrhea, they may have lost some of these beneficial bacteria, which can prolong symptoms. Offering yogurt with live bacteria (or supplementing with a probiotic powder like Culturelle) helps restore balance in their gut and supports healthy digestion.
10. Try the CRAP Diet
Is your child’s stomach pain caused by constipation? Doctors recommend the CRAP diet for relieving constipation-related cramps naturally. CRAP stands for Cherries, Raisins, Apricots, and Prunes, all of which are high in fiber. If your school-aged child doesn’t get five servings of fruit a day, offer them half a cup of any of these fruits three to five times daily. For children under age four, it’s best to mash these fruits to reduce the risk of choking. Half a cup is sufficient for younger children.
Common Causes of Stomach Pain in Children
Stomach pain in children can range from mild discomfort to more severe symptoms like cramping, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. While stomach aches are never fun, most are not caused by serious health problems. Here are some of the most common causes of stomach pain in children:
Gas: Gas can accumulate in your child’s stomach, often from swallowing air while eating or drinking. Most of the gas in the stomach is released through burping. Gas in the intestines occurs when bacteria ferment carbohydrates, fibers, certain starches, and sugars that aren’t digested in the small intestines.
Constipation: Insufficient water intake, lack of physical activity, and eating low-fiber foods can contribute to constipation. Eating high-fiber foods can help facilitate bowel movements.
Indigestion or Overeating: Indigestion occurs when the stomach’s mechanical process of emptying is disrupted, and the food stays in the stomach too long. Some children are more sensitive to certain foods, causing discomfort or bloating.
Milk Protein Allergy: This occurs when your child’s immune system reacts to proteins in milk, producing antibodies to neutralize the “harmful” proteins. This can cause stomach pain and other symptoms.
Lactose Intolerance: This happens when the small intestine reduces lactase production after an illness, injury, or surgery involving the intestine. Conditions like Crohn's disease or infections can contribute to secondary lactose intolerance.
Food Poisoning: Caused by eating spoiled or contaminated food, food poisoning can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Stomach Virus (Gastroenteritis): Viral infections cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Stress or Anxiety: Stressful events, whether big (like a holiday or birthday excitement) or small, can lead to stomachaches in children.
Is It Safe to Treat Stomach Pain in Children with Medications?
Most everyday stomach pain can be successfully treated with home remedies. However, more severe or chronic stomach problems may require medication, and it’s always best to consult with a doctor before giving your child any medication for stomach pain. Many over-the-counter remedies for adults (like Pepto-Bismol) are not safe for children, and some, like ibuprofen, can actually worsen stomach discomfort.
When Should You Contact a Doctor?
While home remedies can alleviate common stomach pain, sometimes it’s necessary to take your child to a doctor. You should contact a healthcare professional if:
Stomach pain doesn’t improve with home remedies or gets worse.
The pain is moderate or severe (preventing your child from engaging in normal activities).
There is severe pain in the lower right side of the abdomen (which may indicate appendicitis).
The pain follows an injury or accident.
There are other concerning symptoms like dehydration, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in stools, fatigue, heartburn, or difficulty swallowing/breathing.
If your child is experiencing persistent or worsening symptoms, it’s always best to seek professional medical advice.
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