RGKent Child HealthDr Rohit Gowda
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Reflux +

Reflux happens when the stomach contents come back up the food pipe. It's very common in babies, who often "posset" milk after feeds, and usually improves on its own as they grow and start solid food. In older children it can cause heartburn or discomfort.

Common signs

  • Bringing up milk or food, especially after feeds
  • Discomfort, arching or crying around feeds
  • Heartburn or a sour taste in older children

What can help

  • Smaller, more frequent feeds and keeping baby upright for a while afterwards
  • Reviewing feeding position and technique
Seek advice if: there is poor weight gain, forceful or projectile vomiting, blood or green/yellow vomit, difficulty feeding or breathing, or your child seems unwell. These need assessment.
Vomiting +

Occasional vomiting is common and most often due to a short-lived tummy bug. The main risk with vomiting is dehydration, so keeping fluids going is the priority.

What can help

  • Offer small, frequent sips of fluid rather than large drinks
  • Watch for signs of dehydration (dry mouth, fewer wet nappies, drowsiness)
Seek urgent advice if: vomiting is green/yellow or contains blood, is forceful and persistent, comes with a severe headache or stiff neck, follows a head injury, or your child has a swollen, painful tummy, signs of dehydration, or seems very unwell.
Constipation +

Constipation — infrequent, hard or painful poos — is one of the most common problems in childhood. A painful poo can lead a child to hold on, which makes things worse, so it's worth addressing early.

What can help

  • Plenty of water and fibre-containing foods
  • A relaxed, regular toilet routine, with feet supported on a step
  • Treatment is usually very effective, but often needs to continue for a while to break the cycle
Seek advice if: constipation starts in the first weeks of life, there is blood in the poo, weight loss or poor growth, a swollen tummy, or symptoms aren't settling with the usual measures.
Diarrhoea +

Diarrhoea is often caused by a viral infection and settles within a few days. As with vomiting, the main concern is keeping your child hydrated. "Toddler diarrhoea" — loose stools in an otherwise well, thriving young child — is also common and harmless.

What can help

  • Encourage regular fluids
  • Continue normal feeding once your child is able
  • Good hand hygiene to avoid spreading infection
Seek advice if: diarrhoea is persistent (more than about a week), contains blood, comes with signs of dehydration, poor growth, or significant tummy pain.
Abdominal pain +

Tummy pain is extremely common and most of the time has no serious cause. Recurrent tummy pain in school-age children is often "functional" — real and uncomfortable, but not due to underlying disease — and tends to improve with reassurance and support.

What can help

  • Keeping a simple diary of when pain happens and what helps
  • Maintaining normal routines, school and activities where possible
Seek advice if: pain is severe or persistent, wakes your child at night, is associated with weight loss, vomiting, blood in poo, fever, or pain that is always in one specific spot.
Food allergies & intolerances +

Food allergies involve the immune system and can cause symptoms such as rashes, swelling, tummy upset or, rarely, breathing problems. Intolerances (such as to lactose) are different and don't involve the immune system. Proper assessment helps avoid unnecessary food restriction, which can affect a child's nutrition and growth.

What can help

  • Note which foods seem to trigger symptoms, and how quickly
  • Avoid cutting out major food groups without advice, as this can affect growth
Call 999 immediately if there is difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips/tongue/throat, or your child becomes pale, floppy or unresponsive after a food — these are signs of a severe allergic reaction.
Faltering growth & weight loss +

Sometimes a child doesn't gain weight as expected, or loses weight. There are many possible reasons — from feeding difficulties to underlying medical conditions — and a careful assessment helps identify the cause and the right support.

What can help

  • Bring your child's growth (red book / centile) records to the appointment
  • Note appetite, eating patterns and any other symptoms
Seek advice if: your child is losing weight, not gaining as expected, or this comes with vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness or other symptoms.
Poor appetite +

Many healthy children are fussy or have a variable appetite, particularly toddlers, and continue to grow well. Appetite naturally slows after the rapid growth of infancy. It becomes more important to look into when it affects growth or comes with other symptoms.

What can help

  • Regular meal and snack times without pressure or force
  • Offering a variety of foods and eating together where possible
Seek advice if: poor appetite is associated with weight loss or poor growth, tummy pain, vomiting, or your child seems generally unwell or low in energy.
Indigestion (dyspepsia) +

Older children can experience indigestion — discomfort or burning in the upper tummy, sometimes with bloating, early fullness or nausea. It's often related to eating patterns and usually not serious, but persistent symptoms are worth assessing.

What can help

  • Regular meals rather than large or late ones
  • Noting any foods that consistently trigger symptoms
Seek advice if: there is difficulty or pain on swallowing, vomiting blood, black stools, weight loss, or symptoms that persist despite simple measures.
Blood in stools +

Seeing blood in a child's poo is understandably worrying. The most common cause is a small tear (fissure) from a hard, constipated stool, which is not serious. However, blood in stools should always be assessed to be sure of the cause.

What to note

  • Whether the blood is bright red on the surface or mixed in / darker
  • Whether there's associated constipation, diarrhoea, pain or change in weight
Seek prompt advice if: there is a large amount of blood, black or tarry stools, your child has tummy pain, is unwell, pale or lethargic, or the bleeding keeps happening.
This information is general and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Every child is different — if you're concerned about your child, please arrange a consultation or speak to your GP. In an emergency, call 999.

Still concerned?

A consultation gives time to assess your child properly and agree a clear plan together.

Book an appointment