1. Top Triggers
Your child's headache can be brought on the same way that yours are. Some of the more common triggers for headaches in children are changes in sleep patterns, hormone shifts, stress and dehydration. Certain smells, like car exhaust, smoke and perfume can create headaches in little ones, too. Avoid known triggers as much as possible.
2. Health and Wellness Beat Out Headaches
Overall health and wellness reduce the frequency and intensity of most types of headaches. Get your child involved in anything active that will give him some daily exercise. Pay close attention to nutrition, eating well-balanced meals several times a day to avoid blood sugar crashes that can trigger headaches. Stay away from foods that contain MSG and aspartame. Dark chocolate, cheese, hot dogs and fried foods should be kept to a minimum to avoid triggering migraines in children.
3. Different Types of Head Pain
Three of the more common types of headaches that your child might get are sinus headaches, migraines and tension headaches. Sinus headaches usually accompany a head cold, and are often described as pressure behind the eyes and in the face. Migraine headaches often come with other unpleasant side effects like dizziness, sensitivity to light and nausea. Stress and sleep deprivation are major causes for migraines in young children. Tension headaches can be brought on in the same way, and are generally similar to migraine headaches except they are free of other symptoms that typically accompany a migraine.
4. Relief from the Pain
The best way to get rid of a headache is to rest. Have your child lay in a dark, cool room that is quiet. Often, a child wakes up feeling better without having had any other intervention. A cool, wet washcloth across the forehead or on the back of the neck can be comforting. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can generally be used to help to deal with pain relief. Check with your child's doctor to get an exact dosage on the medication.
5. It's Okay to Ask for Help
Most headaches that your child gets aren't anything to be alarmed about. Call for help if your child has a sore throat, begins vomiting and is complaining of a headache and a stiff neck. Also, if there has been any injury or trauma to the head or neck area, you should seek medical attention immediately. As always, with your children, it's better safe than sorry. Call your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's headaches.
