Little babies are adorable in every way, except maybe when they scream. It’s not always easy to understand what those screams mean, but in some cases it may be down to a stomach ache. But how do you know that your baby has a stomach ache and what do you do then?

Often when babies are sad and crying, it can be due to a stomach ache. It is not at all unusual and not really that surprising when you think about the big adjustments for the baby’s stomach, which is constantly growing and being introduced to new things: both breastfeeding after birth, potentially formula and eventually food.

Why are stomach aches common in young children?
When your baby is in your belly, it receives its nutrition through the umbilical cord and the placenta. When your baby is then born, it’s time for them to start handling food with their stomach and intestinal system instead! The stomach grows rapidly during the baby’s first month, going from the size of a grape to a large tomato in just four weeks.

What can I do if my baby has a stomach ache?
By giving your baby a stomach massage, you can get out any gas or poo, and many babies find the massage relaxing if they are in a lot of pain. Some babies enjoy lying on their stomachs if they are in pain and baths can also be relieve pain.

At the pharmacy, good gut flora are available in the form of stomach drops and gas and colic relievers that can help your little one’s stomach. Consult staff if you feel unsure about what is appropriate for you.

Colic – what is it?
Colic usually begins in the first few weeks after birth and usually disappears from the age of three months, but can for some persist up to five or six months. Common signs of colic are your baby being inconsolable for several hours and often for the same period of time every day. Why some children get colic is not yet fully understood, but if you look at current research, there are links to an immature intestinal system, genes, gases in the stomach and stress as a contributing factor.

What can be done about this?
There are a couple of tricks you can use if you suspect your baby has colic. If you are unsure, you can always contact a children’s health centre.

• Take a look at your feeding: does your child swallow a lot of air?
• Give them space to burp properly after meals
• Make sure that you are using the right technique for both breastfeeding and bottle feeding
• Give your baby a massage
• Use a gas and colic reliever if your baby has difficulty getting poo and gases out
• Be close to your baby using a baby wrap and/or baby carrier

Taking care of a child who has colic is very stressful as a parent, so don’t be afraid to ask for help and relief to help you cope. You are not alone, even if it feels that way right now. Seeing your child scream intensely takes a toll on everyone’s energy, so if there are two of you at home, it’s good to give each other space and time to recover. It’s okay to feel like you can’t take it, and it’s more than okay to take a break and recharge your batteries.

If your child becomes very upset, stops pooing/has watery stools, vomits abnormally or feels very unwell, you should always seek medical attention.

Stomach problems in slightly older babies
When your baby gets a little bigger and their stomach gets used to breastfeeding and/or formula, it may be time to take the next step on your child’s food journey, that is the journey towards eating “real” food! Again, this is something that can upset their stomach, so don’t rush it. Start small with taster portions and then increase slowly so that their stomach has the opportunity to adjust to this change.

If you find that your baby gets a bad stomach ache when introducing food, you can take a step back and try again after a few days. If you experience major problems with your child’s stomach, you should always consult a nurse at a children’s health centre or other healthcare staff for help and guidance.

If you have a baby who is upset because of a stomach ache, regardless of your age, you can feel like the loneliest person in the world. Try to keep in mind that you are rarely alone in your experience – it is so incredibly common for little babies’ tummies to struggle and it will take time to pass.