Gas is normal in children. In fact, everyone passes gas at least 12 or more times every day, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, sometimes gas that can't be expelled can cause intense abdominal pain. Fortunately, if you address a few lifestyle factors and know about some treatment options, you can help alleviate your child's pain and ultimately reduce the amount of gas your child produces.
Common Causes
Although intestinal gas is normal, some habits and foods can create excess gas in children. Allowing children to roam during meals, for example, can cause them to eat quickly and gulp in such a way that they consume more air, according to BabyCenter.com. Other common culprits of abdominal gas include high-fiber foods like cereal, fatty foods such as french fries, vegetables such as broccoli and beans, and fruit juice and soda.
Dietary Modifications
You can reduce children's gas pain by eliminating or reducing the frequency of the offending habit or dietary choice. Children don't need to eat fatty foods like french fries, and although gas-causing vegetables and high-fiber foods are important parts of a healthy diet, they should be eaten in moderation. BabyCenter.com says that children under age 3 shouldn't consume more than a single 4-oz. glass of juice each day, and soda should not be part of a child's diet.
Lifestyle Modifications
Some habits that may cause gas, such as chewing gum, eating hard candies and drinking from a straw, can be eliminated entirely. Also try not to allow children to wander during meals, and encourage them to focus on chewing food thoroughly---setting down their forks between bites, if possible---to reduce the amount of air they swallow. Moreover, since stress and anxiety tend to aggravate gas, try to keep the home environment as relaxed as possible during meals, taking care not to rush children through meals so they can digest properly, says the Mayo Clinic.
Treatments
To ease the effects of gas, older children may benefit from drinking peppermint tea, as it contains an oil that helps reduce stomach upsets, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, abstain from giving peppermint tea to younger children, as the menthol within the tea can cause them to choke. You may also offer children small doses of antacids and over-the-counter medicines that contain simethicone, an anti-gas agent, but read labels to determine doses and to ensure they are safe for young children.
When to Call a Doctor
Call a doctor if your child's gas is so severe that you treat it multiple times each day for at least three days in a row, says BabyCenter.com. Also consult a doctor if your child's gas coincides with symptoms such as diarrhea, fever and vomiting.
