Why do toddlers abdomen protrude

Protruding stomach is seen in children as well. Children are equally prone to gastrointestinal issues and abdominal bloating. It can cause great discomfort among infants, as they are unable to express their discomfort and may cause worry among the parents as the child may refuse to eat. In most of the cases, distension of stomach among children is nothing serious to worry about. It may be caused due to over eating, which improves after couple of hours. This can cause swallowing up of air through their mouth leading to bloating of the stomach.

However, if this issue appears repeatedly over a period of time, it may indicate presence of underlying medical conditions. Some of these possible conditions are discussed below:. Lactose Intolerance: It is a common belief among parents that dairy product such as milk cheese, yoghurt etc. However, if the child has lactose intolerance , these products can cause great discomfort to the child.

Lack of these enzymes causes fermentation of undigested lactose in the intestine, leading to production of large amount of gases causing bloating or protrusion of the stomach. Celiac Disease: This is another digestive issue where the child is unable to digest gluten products.

As seen with lactose intolerance, children who are known to have this condition suffer from bloating of abdomen due excessive gas accumulation, particularly after eating pasta, bread and other wheat containing food.

The abdominal bloating may be accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting , rash, diarrhea etc. Constipation as a Reason for Protruding Stomach in Children: Constipation is a condition where the affected individual experiences irregular bowel movements often accompanied by difficulty with defecation and passing of hard stools.

This is often associated with protrusion of the stomach among children along with abdominal discomfort, pain and tightness around the belly. This is often a temporary condition and resolves with improvement in bowel movement. Giardia: This is an intestinal condition characterised by growth of parasites in the intestines of young children. This leads to failure of absorption of fatty substance from the food. A toddler's potbelly is nothing to worry about unless the swollen belly is accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, or vomiting.

A potbelly should also be evaluated by a physician if the swollen belly appears suddenly, or the child exhibits a short stature. It is generally normal for toddlers to have potbellies. By the time children reach school age, the potbelly will most often disappear and their bodies seem more proportionate. The belly should feel soft and NOT tender. There is nothing to worry about unless the child also has other symptoms such as:. But what can they do to help their daughter feel good about her body?

And how can they make her realize that her intellect and her inner self are much more important than her body? It would be wiser, however, to see it as a red flag. Childhood obesity often begins at 8 or 9, and the praise your granddaughter gets for her intellect or her inner self will never overcome the embarrassment she feels when her friends tell her that she weighs more than she should. And you can be sure that they will tell her, baldly and honestly.

Children are seldom subtle at this age. Instead, they should only keep healthful foods in the house, which will encourage her to make the same healthful choices that they make, for children imitate the people they love best, especially in the first 12 years. If her parents snack a lot, however, they may not like to give up their chips and cookies, but they should.

And children need a lot more exercise than you might think.