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Expert Q&A
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| By Paul Coleman Psychologist Family Therapist | ||
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My 4-year-old complains of stomach aches throughout the day. I am expecting a baby soon. Is this a normal reaction?
A stomach ache is a very common complaint among children and could be due to a host of factors, not necessarily emotional. You want to rule out medical reasons such as allergies or food sensitivities. The most common ones are sensitivities to milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat. Also, if your daughter has been on antibiotics for a total of more than 20 days in her lifetime (chronic ear infections are a common culprit) then a possibility exists that she has a yeast overgrowth which can create a range of symptoms from stomach aches to skin rashes and hives. I suggest you read the book Feed Your Kids Well by Dr. Fred Pescatore. You may wish to stop giving your daughter certain foods and see if her stomach aches go away.
Your concern that something may be stressful for her at daycare is worth looking into. Ask the daycare providers to pay closer attention to your daughter's behavior and moods. Ask your daughter, as well. If she is somewhat closemouthed, have her draw pictures of her time at daycare. They might be revealing. You didn't speak about the possibility of sexual abuse but it is a worry that many parents have these days. It is OK to have a calm, frank talk with your daughter about "nice and not nice touching." Distinguish between hugs, normal frolicking, and touching by a physician and touching that makes your child uncomfortable or that is inappropriate. The book How to Say It to Your Kids by Dr. Paul Coleman offers a wide range of tips and guidelines in this matter and in dozens of other situations parents face.
Your child might be excited or anxious about the upcoming birth. That could cause stomach aches but you will also likely see other signs, too, such as any regressive behavior -- more whining, more helplessness, a stronger desire to be babied, and so on.
Check for food sensitivities first, then look into her day care experiences."
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