Why does my child’s abdomen bloat and what can I do about it?

Bloating usually means the gut is moving too slowly, often from constipation, intestinal dysmotility, or recent gut inflammation. It can also happen with bacterial overgrowth or after a recent illness.

What this means

• The intestine may be dilated with gas and fluid.
• In children, bloating often shows up with irritability, pain, reduced appetite, or behavior change.

What to do

• Check stooling against baseline first.
• Confirm the inulin, fish oil, and olive oil doses and products are correct.
• Look for other events that can cause worsening behavior: constipation, recent illness, fever, dental pain, stress, sleep disruption, or dosing/product changes.
• If constipation is present, do not increase inulin.
• If there is vomiting, severe pain, fever, blood in stool, marked belly swelling, dehydration, or lethargy, get prompt medical evaluation.