6 year old trapped wind advice

[Egregiousabsolute]

Hello, wonder if anyone can make a recommendation for me! I have a nearly 6 year old who is complaining of tummy ache - trapped wind, nearly every morning! I have tried peppermint tea but she doesn't like the taste. Any other ideas or medication you can recommend? Thank you!

I'd want to investigate the cause. Does she have a food intolerance, is she eating something late at night, etc?

In the meantime consider introducing a good probiotic, increase prebiotic foods, and check with a pharmacy if there are any medications they can recommend.

She usually has a snack before bed. She doesn't open her bowels daily which I don't think helps. I will get a probiotic drink thank you!

I would strongly suspect the late snack and look to change that. If she's eating then quite soon lying down and sleeping, that will slow and affect the digestive processes.

She goes to bed between 730 and 8pm. Will have a snack shortly beforehand. What time do you think she should stop eating please? Thank you.

NHS leaflet

I found this online, which might have some useful tips. It's from Cambridge University Hospital.

I would recommend not eating in the hour before bed, but, I'm not a medic, it's just common advice. She should stay upright for an hour after eating, to aid digestion. Also, ideally dinner should be at least 2-3 hours before bed.

I have just been to asda to buy probiotic drinks and I have said no food past 6pm going forwards. Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it 🙏

Does your daughter get enough exercise and drink enough water? They can both help.

Bending down to touch your toes can help. Obviously, don't do it straight after eating!😁

Yes she's very active and she drinks lots of water. Thank you though!

Fennel tea mixed with honey will cure her

Ohhh I'll give that a go too!

I'd recommend not making too many changes at once. That way you'll have a better idea of what has made a difference. I suggest you try your best guess for a week or two first, to see if there is improvement.

Good luck, hopefully your DD feels better soon.

That's my plan thank you! Probiotic drink and no more food after 6pm. I'll give it up to a month I think. Hopefully that's the cure if not ill be trying the fennel tea!

I swear by Gripe water. Yes it’s for babies but it works on everyone else in the family and I take it whenever I have trapped wind

sounds like coeliac disease. awful tummy cramps, bloated, tight pressure. Wind. Sore abdomen

Sounds like me as a child. GP can do a blood test and result come back quite swiftly

You mentioned she doesn't open her bowels daily, could she be constipated? It's very common in children and often not picked up in this age as they're going to the toilet by themselves etc. Have a look at the Eric website and the Bristol stool chart and make sure her poos are nice and soft (type 3 or 4 on the chart) and that she doesn't have to strain to get it out etc. Hope you find a solution soon whatever is causing it!

She's used to take movicol. We give it when she hasn't been for a while still. It's always soft though!