Causes of Indigestion in Children
Find out ways to block indigestion

Indigestion is commonly defined as a general state of illness in the digestive system characterized by vomiting and diarrhea. Indigestion can be dangerous for children, depending on the severity of the case. Vomiting and diarrhea both cause dehydration and can be harmful to children. When too much fluid is lost from the body, dehydration occurs. Remember: infants can become dehydrated quickly, although dehydration can occur in children of all ages.
Minimizing dehydration due to indigestion
Your child will need to drink plenty of fluids to replace those lost with vomiting and diarrhea. In cases of dehydrated infants, you can ask your doctor about giving your baby or toddler an oral rehydration solution, which contains the right mix of salts and sugars to help replace body fluids.
Good drinks to help avoid dehydration
Most children can have drinks such as chicken broth, apple juice, sports drinks or tea. Avoid caffeinated drinks, since caffeine dehydrates the body and makes the body lose more water and salt.
Feeding your child during indigestion
If your child is vomiting, avoid feeding your child. However, if your child is suffering from diarrhea, try encouraging them to eat anyway. Although eating may cause the amount of diarrhea to increase, your child will be able to get some nutrients from the food. Eating ultimately allows your child to absorb more nutrients, which in turn will help your child heal quicker. Keep in mind that if your child has had diarrhea, it's best to avoid dairy products for a week to be on the safe side.
The first 24 hours after a bout of indigestion, experts suggest feeding your child bland foods include bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and unsweetened cereals. Add other foods gradually over the next couple of days if your child responds well to bland foods. Three days after your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhea, he or she should be able to eat most foods.
Medications to help stop diarrhea
As diarrhea doesn't usually last long, medication is generally not needed. However, if the diarrhea is caused by an infection, diarrhea is a way for the body to get rid of the infection. In this case, medication might not be a good idea, since medicines that stop diarrhea may interfere with the body's efforts to heal. Antibiotics may not be necessary either, and in some cases may hinder the body’s efforts to heal as well. Consult your doctor before taking any steps.
Hospitalization
In most cases, hospitalization is not necessary unless the dehydration is at a severe point. Severe dehydration might warrant a visit to the hospital, where your child may need to be given fluids intravenously (through an IV).