Computer games, white bread may cause stomach pain in kids

■ The average child suffers four bouts of stomach ache a year

Stomach aches are common among children, but it can be difficult to work out what is causing them.

Some 95 per cent of parents say their child has suffered stomach ache at some point, and a quarter of them visit the GP three or more times per year for help.

However, if a stomach ache is not accompanied by other, more serious symptoms, there may be things parents can do at home to help soothe their child.

Things like eating and drinking too much sugar, white bread, sitting down for too long, especially in front of computer, and constipation can all be behind the frustrating condition.

Research shows only one in ten parents know the reasons behind their child's stomach pain, despite children suffering an average of four bouts a year.

Below, Anna Magee talks to the experts for Healthista to find out what parents can do to help distressed children.

Children's stomach aches are a common cause

of visits to the GP but some simple changes at home could help to tackle the cause

There are few things more frustrating than hearing the tears and embattled screams of a hurting child.

Feeling powerless to figure out what is causing their pain, let alone how to fix it, is definitely one of them.

But according to new research, only a staggering one in ten parents know the reasons behind their children's stomach aches and pains, and a

quarter are forced to visit their GPs three or more times a year to try to track down the causes.

The research also revealed that the average child will suffer four bouts of stomach pain a year.

Leading nutritional therapist Eve Kalinik and specialist paediatric dietitian Chloe Elliott suggest some food and lifestyle swaps that could help your child's tummy pain.

“Some sweeteners are known to disrupt the gut microbiota and this disruption may lead to worse tummy troubles over

Eating too much sugar, sitting down for too long, constipation, the real culprits

Children suffer an average of four bouts of stomach ache a year

If a child's stomach is distended, they should see a doctor

Only one in ten parents know the reasons behind their child’s stomach pain

time,” says Elliott.

“Sitting down for long period of time can affect the time it takes for food to move through the gut causing constipation and pain,” says Kalinik.

Swap for: Getting active outside. This will encourage peristalsis, which refers to breakdown of food in the gut. The more you move, the more food moves!

' Under 5s who are not yet walking should have plenty of ‘ tummy time’ or do other forms of activity such as swimming, says Kalinik.