Being more sensitive and less immunity to diseases, children easily catch bacteria and germ and get affected by diseases, some of which like cold, fever and cough are easily noticeable. However, indigestion is a little hard to identify since children can barely express their problems like the way older people do. Some common symptoms that children can express include crying with legs straight, belly getting hardened, crying after meals, too much movement, etc.

Principal reasons for indigestion:

Flatulence is the main cause of indigestion. Like older people, children are also vulnerable to intestinal flatulence which many parents fail to understand. Primary reason for this is the improper food habit. It causes pain in the child’s stomach. A new born baby becomes affected by it during breastfeeding when children may not get the nipples entirely into their mouth causing a substantial gap through which air enters their belly and causes intestinal gas. The same thing happens to those that use feeders.

Since babies are given to eat other foods alongside breast milk, flatulence may happen due to this. One of the common foods given to a baby is hotchpotch prepared from meat, vegetables, egg, etc. If the quantity of greens is high in the mix, it may cause gas. Dahl is also responsible for intestinal gas.

What can mothers do if their new born babies suffer from indigestion?

Common steps that mothers tend to take in case of indigestion in babies include taking to the doctor or giving medicines. However, some household techniques can be adopted before going for any of these steps.

Causing the baby to belch out the gas:

Make sure the baby has the nipples inside its mouth in a way that no gap is available for the entry of air. After breastfeeding, take the baby to your left or right side and start stroking gently all the way from his/her back to the bottom. It will help release the gas from his/her belly.

Have your baby take exercise:

Do not worry wondering how so little a child can take exercise. Take the legs of your baby in hand and make it work like a cycle. It will greatly help release the gas. After that, give a gentle massage on your baby’s belly. Also, you can have your baby put down and gently massage on his/her back for helping him/her release the gas.

Mustard oil:

Put some garlic cloves and mustard oil in a fry pan and heat for some time. As the oil gets lukewarm, gently massage the oil on your child’s belly. It will improve blood circulation and abate gastric pain.

Compress with warm towel:

Soak a clean towel into lukewarm water and squeeze it tightly to dry it out. Keep that towel on your baby’s belly for some time. It will abate the pain caused by indigestion.

A few tips to help grownup children with their gastric issues.

Mix of ginger, lemon and honey:

Mix two spoonfuls of lemon juice and ginger paste and a cup of honey into hot water. Give the mixture to your child for drinking. Ginger removes indigestion issues.

Giving to drink a lot of water:

You should ask your child to drink water in plenty, especially after he/she eats solid foods since water improves your baby’s digestion capability.

Fennel water:

Take a handful of fennel and boil it in water. Give your child the water frequently. It is good for children with six months of age or older.

Ginger:

Instead of giving ginger directly, allow your child to eat ginger with other foods by the time he/she reaches eight months or older.

Cumin:

For children with six months of age or more, you can give a glass of water prepared from ginger heated with water. Ask the child to drink the water frequently after some time. Containing enzyme in plenty, cumin helps with indigestion.

Cardamom:

Containing potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium and Vitamin C, cardamom helps release the intestinal gas. Allow the child to eat it pulverized with other foods.

Hing or Asafoetida:

Mix a pinch of hing into lukewarm water and prepare paste which needs to be massaged well all around your baby’s belly. This will release the gas. For a child older than a year, use one pinch of hing.

Not eating much before sleep at night:

Doctors always advise that children do not eat much before going to sleep at night since this practice can lead to indigestion and stomach pain.

Contact our call center to consult doctors at SuperMom for any children and maternity affairs from 9am to 5pm from Sunday-Thursday (except Government holidays). Call at 08000-888-000.