3 Yo with Headaches?

Make sure he is getting enough water. That will cause headaches.

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Could he be imitating anyone? Does he wear sunglasses in the sun? Sometimes I get a headache when I've been in the sun all day. Or dehydration would cause one as well. Poor little guy...good luck!

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Hi B., our 3 1/2 yr complained the same way so after a week I took her in and her doctor checked her and it turned out to be she was getting a bad sinus infection.so I would take him in and be checked. you do not want a sinus infection to be untreated. they put her on an antibiotic then she started taking zyrtec and she is a happy girl once again and has not complained about a headache again. good luck but don't wait to long to have him checked.~L. ~

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Hi B.:
I have a 3 year old who has never complained of a headache. It is probably nothiing but I would call your sons doctor and let them know and take it from there.
Good luck.
A.

Does he drink plenty of water? Some headaches can stem from dehydration. Just a thought. I know that if I don't drink enough water in a day I will get headaches.

My son was getting headaches when he was using his eyes too much... he needed glasses. Doesn't hurt to give the doctor a call and maybe see an eye doctor!

Growing... heat/dehydration... poor eye sight/straining to see... allergies. My best bet would be allergies... try giving him a little allergy medicine and see if that helps. You might think about having his eyes tested also. And remember that their bodies are just like ours... sometimes we get headaches without knowing why. A little tylenol here or there isn't going to hurt him any more than it hurts us when we have a pain.

Likely nothing, but would definitely run that by his doctor.

It could be sinus allergies, but I would take him to a doctor if it doesn't go away.

B.,

Try a pediatric chiropractor so they can assess his spine. You can do a google search for the "pediatric chiropractor association" to find one in your area. we took our son at 7 weeks as he had some reflux problems and would not sleep on his back... his low back and upper neck were tight and "stuck"... our pediatric chiropractor uses an activator to loosen the muscles... my son (now 8 months old), loves it and thinks he is getting a massage.

It is recommended to have your children assessed by a chiropractor at each developmental stage - sitting, crawling, walking, height change, to make sure they are developing structually correct. As well there are a lot of internal problems, constipation, colic, that can be resolved with chiropractic.

Other areas to consider ( I remember getting migraines as a 5 year old... possibly younger) could be food allergies or sensitivies... (allergy is a histamine reaction, sensitivity is an inflammatory response). You could have him tested for allergies AND sensitivities.

Try to keep a log, time, day, activity before a headache, food journal, water intake to see if there are any consistencies...

BUT... my strongest recommendation from personal expereince... have him assessed by a chiropractor... they do not need to do x-rays.

This is probably an overly worriesome response, but when my cousin was about 4 or 5 he complained for a few weeks of non-stop headaches. My aunt took him to the doctor and they couldn't pin point the reason. One night he had to be rushed to hospital because of all things it was a pendicitis (sp!). Have you taken him in?

Again, this response was not to worry you...but I know my Aunt would have like to have had a heads up knowing about this!

Best of luck

A. & Emily Grace (5 months)

My granddaughter has complained every once in awhile of having a headache from the time she could talk. She is allegic to pollen and animal dander. We give her Children's Tylenol or Motrin and that seems to take care of it.

Because she also has asthma the doctor prescribed Zyrtec for her in an effort to control her asthma.
Both her pediatrician and allergist said that it is alright to give her a children's antihistamine or decongestant.

Sometimes when she says she has a headache she's more tired than usual. A Motrin, warm bath, and off to bed takes care of it.

As Erica says, dehydration, even when it's not evident with symptoms, causes headaches.
Many times I can get rid of a headache in a short time after I drink a couple of large glasses of water. Giving him more fluids would be an easy way to check it out.

When my daughter was in grade school her headaches seemed to be caused by dehydration.

Kids can have stress headaches too.

If he's having headaches that are not incapacitating I wouldn't worry or go to the doctor at this point but if they're frequent or severe I would call the doctor.

It could be any number of things. Headaches are the most complained about ailment in the doctors office. I would try increasing his fluid intake to see if that helps because dehydration does cause headaches, but I would also have him seen by a doctor. It could be just the dehydration, he could have vision problems causing them, he could have allergies, they could be caused by stress, it could be any number of a hundred things, or it could be nothing at all. You just never know for certain until you talk to a doctor. If it has only happened 2 times in the last 2 weeks, I would say that's a good sign (that he doesn't have them every day). It's likely something as simple as he needs more water. Goodluck!

Could be Allergies/need glasses/thirsty/hungry

em

I don't know, but I'd definitely take him to the doctor. I started getting migraine headaches when I was that age & it affected my vision and everything. I'd get them when I'd eat processed foods-processed cheese, hotdogs, lunch meat, that sort of thing. You definitely want to have it checked out.

My son used to get headaches around that age....his were actually migraines and he would throw up if he moved around....but little guys can get headaches just like you and me, could be allergies and a sinus problem, he could be hungry, or he could be straining his eyes. My pediatrician had me start keeping a log of activities/food prior to the headache to find a pattern (if one exists).

I agree with all the other suggestions re: thrist, vision etc, but I also know children are wonderful "mimicikers". I never complain to my children when I have a headache because shortly thereafter they have headache as well. The power of suggestion with children is huge.

B.,
Headaches are a common ailment, even in children. Before rushing to the doctor, here are some considerations:
1. Frequency - How often is he having the headaches? 3 or more times per week might be too many. Keep a diary to track the possible causes
2. Duration - A headache that lasts for several days would be cause for concern, whereas one that lasts for several hours would be less worrisome.
3. Severity - If the headaches are preventing him from playing, moving, or performing other activities, let your provider know.
4. Other symptoms - Look at his eyes when he complains of a headache. Are both pupils the same size (They should be)? If you shine a flashlight in his eyes, do both pupils shrink, then return to normal (when the flashlight is turned off)? They should. >>Does he ever get nosebleeds with the headaches? Vomitting or nausea? Sensitivity to light or sound? Complain that he sees things 'funny'? Does his behavior change during the headaches? These might indicate that you should take him in to your healthcare provider.

Otherwise, watchful waiting is a good approach, and definitely mention it at his next appointment.