Not to believe DS has a tummy ache?

[coffeeforone]

He is 3.5. For the past few days he keeps saying his tummy is hurting. He is absolutely fine in himself, eating and drinking normally, sleeping fine, pooping regularly as he normally does without straining. Was jumping on and off the bed this morning in fits of giggles.

But then he does tell me unprompted once or twice a day for the past couple of days that his tummy is sore. If he is telling the truth then what could it be?

Are you asking for medical advice here for your son? Don't you think asking a Dr might be more useful?

Yes, the nhs advice comes up green, I.e. self care. Not sure if I would be wasting an urgent same day GP appointment which is the only one I can get at my practice (non-urgent appointment can take over a month to wait)

what0-18.nhs.uk/parentscarers/worried-your-child-unwell/tummy-ache

Has it been at any particular time, like getting towards a mealtime when he could be over hungry, or could he be worried about anything? I know at his age things are fairly carefree but is he in nursery or preschool and could there be anything bothering him in relation to that? My DD used to get a sore tummy when she was worried about things at school, and if she was over hungry. We had to make sure she ate regularly and didn't get to that point. She was 5 or 6 at the time though. Hope he's OK

Tummy ache can come and go, as I'm sure you've experienced yourself. It might be a bit of trapped wind or a mild upset caused by a bug.

Why wouldn't you believe something that so believable?

My almost 4 year old does the same and I'm not sure whether to believe him or not either because he seems totally fine in himself.
I think sometimes he says it when he actually means he's hungry, I ask him if he's really got tummy ache or is he just pretending and he'll usually say he's just pretending, but then I don't know if he's just saying he's just pretending and actually does have tummy ache 🤦‍♀️
Sorry I don't have any advice, it's difficult isn't it because I'd feel so bad if he actually did have tummy ache

My 4 year old gets "tummy ache" when she's worried about something or working through lots of changes. When she started school in September she had lots of tummy aches. Its settled down now.

My child had this and it turned out to be swollen glands

Dd had this and it was reflux - she described the feeling ss ' i feel sick but i know i won't be sick'

Why wouldn't you believe him?

It could be stress and anxiety or it could be a physical reason. My DD complained about constant tummy aches at that age. Her doctor took her seriously and referred her for an ultrasound. Turned out to be her lymphatic nodes which were swollen and remained painful for a few months. It was good to know it was nothing dangerous.

Take him to the Drs, something is obviously not right.
I always had a tummy ache on and off when I was little, turned out to be migraines 🤷‍♀️

I agree re hunger; is it near mealtimes?

I think it's disturbing you don't believe a 3.5 year old. He's your kid. He said he's in pain and you think he's lying. That's a really strange stance for a parent to take.

I don’t understand why you don’t believe him. When I read your thread title I assumed he was school age and trying for a sickie. Not a 3 year old.

My 4 year old will say he's got a headache or tummy ache if he's heard someone else say they have (even if you think he hasn't been listening or couldn't have overheard!), he'll randomly come out with it. In and otherwise fit and well child I'd just ignore it for a few days and see if it disappears of its own accord. Personally I wouldn't take mine to an urgent GP appointment at this stage.

Many children use the term tummy ache for any pain or anything in their life they are unhappy about. Explore anything, dont take it always literally. If he says it hurts, ask him to touch tha part that hurts, it may turn out to be ear ache or whatever, not unusual

Ask him to point where it hurts. If he points directly in the middle I’d take it with a pinch of salt (but keep an eye on him) , stomach pains are 95% at the side or lower areas.

But as someone else pointed out he could be saying he has a tummy ache because there’s something else wrong.