can toddlers pinpoint their pain?

[7up]

my ds 2years has always suffered belly cramps etc with food intolerances. since a few months ago hes been tapping his chest and saying "ooo hurt",i put this down to him having belly ache.

but today he is definitely teething, loadsa dribble,grumpy etc etc and tapping his chest and saying hurt.just interested really that he could possibly mean his mouth hurts but getting the wrong body part!hope this makes sort of sense.cheers

My first thought is that he's learnt to tap his chest as a sign for 'pain', rather then actually saying that's where it hurts. What does he say when you ask him if his mouth hurts?

I found that you need to ask using the right wrds, eg "Rub the pain with your hand" or "Why don't you help Teddy to kiss it better?". Then they're more likely to pipoint the pain itself , rather than signal the fact that they have a pain.