Headaches aren’t just for grown-ups. Discovering what triggers your child’s headaches can help you help them.
Different things can cause headaches.
- Genetics: headaches tend to run in families. If you suffer from bad headaches or migraines, chances are your child might, too.
- Head injury: accidental bumps and bruises can leave your child with a headache. Call your doctor if your child falls hard on her head, or complains of a worsening headache after a head injury.
- Illness: a headache is often a symptom of sickness. Ear or sinus infections, colds and flu, and fevers can come with a headache.
- Environment: just like a bright light can trigger your headache, your child may experience problems caused by bright light, loud noises, and overwhelming odors.
- Emotions: children can have high levels of stress and anxiety caused by parents, school, and friends.
- Foods and beverages: your child probably isn’t drinking red wine, one of the three most popular triggers for headaches. They may be eating MSG (monosodium glutamate) or overdoing the caffeine. Lack of fluids can also cause headaches, so make sure your child gets enough caffeine-free beverages!
- Sleep: if your child isn’t getting enough sleep, they may experience headaches.
If your child frequently complains of headache, you should think about starting a headache diary. Take note of when the headache starts, how long it lasts, and how intense the pain is. Learning their triggers can help lessen the frequency or avoid headaches entirely!
What else can you do to help your child’s headaches?
- Insist that they get enough sleep – eight to ten hours should be plenty.
- Provide a healthy diet – and don’t let them skip meals!
- Try to lessen or avoid stress – it’s not always easy, but small changes may make a big difference. Too many extra-curricular activities can be very stressful for a child!
- Take action at the first sign of a headache – encourage your child to have some quiet time in a dark room. A quick nap may help chase the headache away.
If you choose to give your child an over-the-counter pain medication, stick to something like acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil). Children under the age of sixteen should not take aspirin unless prescribed by a doctor — aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition in children. Read medicine labels carefully and do not exceed the recommended dose for children.