Toddler Tummy Ache: Common Causes & Red Flags | Parenting Hub
Most toddler tummy aches are constipation, gas or anxiety. Here's how to tell — and the red flags that need urgent review.
Most toddler tummy aches are constipation, gas, viral or anxiety. A few are urgent — here's how to tell the difference.
Most common (and usually fine)
- Constipation — irregular, hard or painful poos (most common cause of recurrent tummy pain)
- Gastro — fever, vomiting, diarrhoea
- Trapped wind
- Anxiety — pain around drop-off, before bed, around stressful events
- Hunger, mild reflux
Red-flag causes (less common, urgent)
- Appendicitis: pain starts around the belly button, moves to the lower right, worse with movement, fever, vomiting
- Intussusception: episodes of severe screaming and drawing knees up, pale between episodes, jelly-like (red-currant) poo
- Bowel obstruction: vomiting (especially green/bile), swollen tummy, no poo or wind
- Hernia: tender lump in the groin or near the belly button
Home care for the everyday tummy ache
- Encourage water, warm bath, gentle clockwise belly rub
- Toilet sit after meals for constipation
- Bland food, smaller meals
- Validate anxiety; talk through what's worrying them
When to seek help
- Severe pain that doesn't ease, child won't move
- Green/bile vomit, blood in vomit or poo
- Hard, swollen tummy
- Pain + fever + lower right tummy tenderness
- Tender lump in groin or belly button
- Pale, floppy, drowsy — 000
Common questions
Could it be lactose intolerance?
Possible in older toddlers after gastro. Talk to GP/dietitian before cutting major food groups.