“My Tummy Hurts!” - Natural Remedies for Kids

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You’ve had it happen: your child comes to you complaining about a tummy ache. You want to turn their frown upside-down fast—ideally with a natural remedy—but it’s not always clear why they have digestive problems in the first place. So how do you fix it? The most common digestive issues are gas, bloating, and stomach pain. The most likely culprits are diet, stress, and an unhealthy gut.

The great news is there are some proven natural home remedies that work like a charm.

The next time your kid has an upset tummy, consider these seven home remedies.

  1. Fresh Ginger

Remember drinking ginger ale for stomach aches when you were a kid? It’s one of those old-fashioned home remedies that really works. The tummy-soothing compound in ginger is gingerol. Gingerol is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that soothes stomach pain and decreases nausea. However, be aware, most of today’s ginger ale is simply flavored to taste like ginger—it rarely has any real ginger in it. Instead, slice fresh ginger thin and steep it in hot water for 15 to 30 minutes. Remove the ginger slices; if they need a touch of sweetener, adding honey will do the trick. You can also go with candied ginger, ginger chews, or crystallized ginger. Just make sure whatever you choose contains pure ginger, not just ginger flavoring.

  1. Avoid Certain Foods

If your child’s tummy aches are more frequent, it could be something in his or her diet. Foods that can trigger digestive problems include spicy foods, fried foods, soda and other bubbly drinks, and dairy. Try removing these foods from your child’s diet and seeing if the problem goes away. Then reintroduce each type of food one at a time to discover the troublemaker.

  1. Probiotics for Kids

If your child has digestive problems, one reason could be an unhealthy gut. This is when the populations of healthy bacteria, or “gut flora,” in your child’s gastrointestinal tract have been damaged. Damage to gut flora can be caused by antibiotics, not enough fiber in your child’s diet, and more. Probiotics can really help by providing healthy bacteria to support your child’s healthy digestion. Flora’s Toddler’s Blend Probiotic (US/CA) was formulated to supply friendly bacteria specifically for children under the age of 5. This easy-to-use powder can be added to juice, yogurt, or formula. If your child is between 5 and 15 years old, Flora’s Children’s Blend Probiotic (US/CA) was designed to support their healthy digestion as they grow. Both blends successfully survive stomach acids for maximum effectiveness.

  1. Smaller Meals

Sometimes we pile our kid’s plate as high as our own without thinking. Big meals can be too much for your child’s developing digestive system. Instead, smaller meals eaten more frequently can help reduce excess stomach acid. Think three meals plus two snacks. Encourage your kids to chew their food slowly and thoroughly rather than wolfing down their meals. This allows their digestive system to keep up.

  1. Peppermint Tea

Not only is peppermint tea (US/CA) refreshing, it’s also a great tummy soother. The menthol in peppermint relaxes the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract to quickly relieve stomach pain. It also stimulates bile production, helping your child’s digestion work optimally. In addition to tummy aches, peppermint helps relieve nausea, heartburn and bloating. However, reserve this home remedy for your school-age or older children. The menthol in peppermint tea can make babies and toddlers choke or cough.

  1. Heat It Up

A hot water bottle or heating pad can be just the ticket for an aching stomach. Have your child rest lying down with the heat source on their tummy. Heat increases blood flow to the abdominal area which helps reduce cramps and pain. This home remedy is especially helpful for stress-related tummy aches. Resting quietly with the comforting heat source can reduce your child’s stress and help their stomach pain melt away.

  1. Baking soda

Some children’s stomach aches are caused by excess stomach acid. The most obvious choice, in that case, is antacids. But there’s no need to give your child a strong commercial antacid like Tums when what you have sitting in your kitchen cupboard works just as well. Yup, baking soda! Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is the active ingredient in most drugstore antacids. It works quickly to relieve stomach upset, heartburn, and acid indigestion. Just mix a teaspoon of baking soda in some warm water for your child to drink. By using these natural home remedies, your child’s tummy will feel better fast!

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