DD (4yrs) has been complaining of a "sore tummy" off and on for the last couple of months. She has no other symptoms - we have even had her tested for a urine infection twice and it was clear both times. She'll be acting totally fine then suddenly stop and tell me her tummy hurts. Of course I ask if she needs the toilet and the answer is usually no. She doesn't seem to be constipated - probably poos about once a day or every other day at the most (sorry but figured it was relevant!).
I don't tend to make a big deal of it when it happens - just tell her to sit and rest for a minute. Two minutes later she'll be back doing whatever she was in the middle of before acting like nothing happened.
Her GP doesn't seem too concerned but is willing to refer us to a specialist if I want. I suspect it's probably nothing but would hate to keep ignoring her complaints if there is anything wrong and now I don't know what to do.
I did wonder at first if it was just a ploy. She does it most often when she's eating and if her tummy hurts of course she won't feel bad about leaving a half full plate on the table. There are two reasons why I doubt this is the case though - first of all I never make my kids finish a meal if they tell me they're not hungry. The thought of being forced to eat something you don't like or aren't hungry for makes me feel sick so I would never impose that on my kids. The only time I give her a hard time is if she asks me for something and then changes her mind the second it's on the table without even touching it. The second thing is, she's started complaining to her nursery teachers now too so it's clearly not just for my benefit.
So maybe there is something is genuinely making her tummy hurt, especially when she eats. I don't want to overreact and take her to see a specialist for nothing - it coudl very well all be in her head! But I don't see how I can ignore repeated complaints after so many months.
Has anyone had any similar experiences?