Headache in Children: Care Instructions

Overview

Headaches have many possible causes. Most headaches are not a sign of a more serious problem, and they will get better on their own. Home treatment may help your child feel better soon.

If your child's headaches continue, get worse, or occur along with new symptoms, your child may need more testing and treatment. Watch for changes in your child's pain and other symptoms. These may be signs of a more serious problem.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Have your child rest in a quiet, dark room until the headache is gone. It's best for your child to close their eyes and try to relax or go to sleep. Tell your child not to watch TV or read.
• Put a cold, moist cloth or cold pack on the painful area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the cold pack and your child's skin.
• Heat can help relax your child's muscles. Try a warm bath or shower. Or use a warm, moist towel or heating pad set on low to relax tight muscles in your child's shoulders and neck.
• Gently massage your child's neck and shoulders.
• Be safe with medicines. Give pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Be careful not to give your child pain medicine more often than the instructions allow, because this can cause worse or more frequent headaches when the medicine wears off.
• Do not ignore new symptoms that occur with a headache, such as a fever, weakness or numbness, vision changes, vomiting (especially if it happens in the morning), or confusion. These may be signs of a more serious problem.

How can you help prevent headaches?

To prevent migraines and tension headaches in your child, try these tips.

• Keep a headache diary.

  This diary can help you find a link between your child's headaches and the things that trigger them. Help your child write down when each headache starts, how long it lasts, where it hurts, and what the pain is like. (Is it throbbing, aching, stabbing, or dull?)

• Help your child avoid their headache triggers.

  Triggers are things that can cause your child to have headaches. Your child may be able to prevent headaches by avoiding the triggers.

• Find healthy ways to help your child manage stress.

  Don't let your child's schedule get too busy or filled with stressful events.

• Make sure that your child drinks plenty of fluids.

  Avoid drinks that have caffeine. Many popular soda drinks contain caffeine.

• Make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep.

  Help your child keep a regular sleep schedule. Most children need to sleep about 9 to 14 hours each night, depending on their age.

• Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise.

  But your child should exercise without overdoing it.

• Limit TV, computer, and phone screen time.
• Make sure that your child doesn't skip meals.

  Try to provide regular, healthy meals.

• Keep your child away from smoke.

  Do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your child or in your home.

• If your child is having problems with schoolwork, talk to your child's teachers.

  Make sure that the level and amount of schoolwork is appropriate for your child.

• If your doctor has prescribed a medicine to prevent headaches, have your child take it as prescribed.

  Your child may need to take it even when they don't have a headache.