Mommy Will Kiss It Better

It must be every mother's worst nightmare... Your baby is complaining that it hurts and you can't do anything about it. Tummy aches are but one of many examples of such occurrences. It starts, out of the blue, and you can never really be certain of where it will go. When do you take your child seriously and when do you dismiss it as whininess or tiredness? Although children can sometimes be manipulative in their claims it is important to always take what they say seriously. Do your best to keep your child comfortable and reassure them that everything will be alright. If you feel your child is playing you, so to speak, you must put an end to it as soon as possible.

Once your child complains of pain be it a headache, a stomach ache or any other type of pain they may be feeling, you should always start off by taking them seriously and asking questions. Questions that require the child to explain what they are feeling are best. Never use suggestive statements or questions that can be answered with a yes or a no, as these do not give you much information and younger children tend to randomly answer one way or another. The more information you have on what your child is feeling, the better equipped you will be to help your little one. If the situation warrants it, check your child's temperature and medicate accordingly if they have a fever (38 degrees Celsius or above).

Once you know that something is legitimately bothering your child, and most importantly, you have a fairly good idea of what it might be, you need to show your child that you understand and care about how they feel. It is also very important that you comfort your child and reassure him or her that everything is going to be just fine. A simple way to do this is to explain to them what is happening. Remember, they are young and sometimes cannot quite realize what is actually happening in their bodies and don't quite know what to expect or how to handle it. It will be very comforting for them to get this information in a language that they understand. You can try telling them a short story about what is bothering them and include what they should expect and what will happen next.

Finally, if your child is complaining but there doesn't seem to be any legitimate reason for it, he or she may simply be leading you on. Children are naturally manipulative and will do what they can to get the attention they want. It may very well be that your little one's whining and whimpering is simply for your attention and that the pain is just a way for them to get that attention. If you feel this may be the case, you may go along with your child's game until you are able to confirm that your child is in fact leading you on. Once you are certain, it will be very important to put an end to this behavior as it can escalate into a habit that will have your child whining for your attention on a regular basis.

When children get sick, it isn't fun for anyone. It may seem like the whole family gets sick along with them. It's important to find out what is the true source of your child's complaint. Once you know what is going on, make your little one feel comfortable and show them that you care about what their concern is. Telling them what to expect will help them assimilate what is going on with their bodies. If you realise that your child is leading you on, you should call their bluff and do what you can to avoid them repeating this behavior. Children get sick and it's a part of life and growing up. There's nothing quite like a mother's touch to make it all better. They will be back to their normal self sooner than you think.

As a mother, I believe in sharing my knowledge and experiences so that I might make another mother's life a little easier. I share my thoughts and opinions about caring for children, devoting to a spouse and raising a family. Visit my blog at http://www.bebesweetz.com/

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