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Best Tips for Treating Indigestion in Toddlers

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Toddlers often suffer from digestive issues. OTC medications may bring some relief. But experts are suggesting modifications to the child’s diet and lifestyle can be more helpful- and they won’t produce any unwanted side effects.

Read on to find out what may be causing your little one’s tummy aches and how to get rid of them.

What Is Indigestion?

Indigestion or dyspepsia refers to pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen that occurs occasionally or often. Doctors often associate it with eating and drinking. Recommended treatments include OTC medications and changes in diet.

What Dietary Changes Can Cause Indigestion

Many foods and drinks can cause indigestion. Common ones include:

  • Foods high in fat
  • Chocolate
  • Caffeine
  • Citrus products
  • Tomatoes
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Onions
  • Peppermint

A healthy diet may be beneficial in treating indigestion. It may also prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn. If you notice your child experiences the onset of indigestion symptoms after they consume certain foods, try eliminating them from their diet to see if they produce results.

Lifestyle Changes May Help with Indigestion

Certain lifestyle changes may also help your child’s digestive health. You may reduce symptoms by:

  • Not letting your child lie down within 3 hours of eating a meal
  • Making sure your child’s head is elevated when they sleep
  • Feeding your child smaller meals instead of a few large meals

Medications

If your child is experiencing indigestion that isn’t going away with food and lifestyle changes, your doctor may recommend medications. Common indigestion medications include:

  • Proton Pump Inhibitors: PPIs reduce stomach acid but may produce side effects like upset stomach, diarrhea, and headache.
  • H2 Blockers: H2 blockers also reduce stomach acid. But they are not as effective as PPIs in terms of healing the esophagus. They can also cause side effects like headaches, upset stomach, or an increased risk of infections.
  • Antacids: Antacids can relieve symptoms of mild GERD but can cause diarrhea and constipation. Children should not use them long-term.

Behavioral Treatments

Your child may be suffering from indigestion due to behavioral or psychological issues. If this is the case, do your best to promote a stress-free environment. Encourage them to participate in stress-relieving exercises.

Surgery

If your child has GERD, they may not respond to conservative treatments. Surgery may be necessary.

GERD can usually be treated by minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. However, it can lead to some complications.

Alternative Remedies

Many alternative remedies have been shown to minimize indigestion. These include:

  • Mint leaves
  • Chamomile
  • Peppermint oil
  • Ginger
  • Cumin
  • Aloe vera juice
  • Fennel seed
  • Apple cider vinegar

It can be heartbreaking to see a child deal with digestive issues. Fortunately, relief may be as simple as a few lifestyle and dietary changes. Here’s hoping you find the remedies that keep your child pain-free.

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In Nutrition

Study Shows Kids Drinks are Higher in Sugar and Lower in Nutrition

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When shopping at the grocery store, you will see tons of drinks marketed for kids. They are easy to consume, easy to throw into a lunchbox, and they are likely to have your child’s favorite characters on them. But they are also probably high in sugar and low in nutrition.

This is the latest news out of a study published last Wednesday in PLOS One Journal.

The Study

The study looked at 6000 packaged foods and analyzed their marketing strategies and their nutritional content. Lead study author. Dr. Christine Mulligan, post-doctoral researcher and research consultant in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto weighed in on the results.

“There are many products in our grocery stores that are powerfully marketed and heavily targeted to children. Unfortunately, we also found that these products are, more often than not, very unhealthy and of worse nutritional quality than products that aren’t being promoted to children.”

Dr. Maya Adam, director of health media innovation and clinical associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Stanford School of Medicine was not involved in the study. She brought up the fact that companies like to appeal to children who often grow up to be “brand-loyal” adults.

“As adults, around the world, we take extra precautions when it comes to our children. We buckle them into car seats and make sure they wear helmets. When it comes to packaged foods, the food industry is doing the opposite; promoting less healthy foods to the most vulnerable members of society.”

She also pointed out that the study only looked at how products appealed to children in terms of their packaging. She noted that children are being exposed to these products in multiple ways. Through social, media, sports practice, community centers, and even at schools.

“This is important for readers to understand, because seeing all of this marketing is impacting how children eat, and the poor dietary habits that kids are developing will carry forward throughout their lives and impact their health in the long term,” she said.

How to Overcome the Branding and Increase the Nutrition

Mulligan suggests that governments take steps to regulate branding so people are more aware of how children’s products can negatively affect health. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is calling for the inclusion of all types of marketing to raise awareness on various levels.

In the meantime, people can do their part by cooking more at home to control the amount of fat, sugar, and salt in their children’s food. Adam also recommends that adults discuss branding and nutrition with their children so they can see how companies use marketing to influence their choices. Get your children involved in grocery shopping so they can make their own healthy choices.

How will you be protecting your child from marketing that may cause them to make the wrong nutritional choices?  

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