my 2.5 year old is complaining that her head hurts,

Karen - posted on 01/19/2013

She could just need glasses. Or it could be childhood migraines. See a Doctor.

Katreena - posted on 01/19/2013

My son told me his head hurt a few times when he was around 2. I took him into his pediatrician, because normally kids that age don't get headaches. He also hadn't hit his head. She asked me if she'd been watching a lot of TV, which he hadn't, and a couple other questions which I don't remember right now. She was about to leave it that if his head was still hurting in a couple days, we'd have to get a CT scan when she realized that she'd been getting sinus headaches from allergies, and maybe that was his problem. A couple days of Zyrtec later and his headaches were gone. They came back the next year, and again antihistamines fixed them again. Not saying that's what it is, and I would DEFINITELY have your pediatrician check her out, but it's a possibility.

Tracy - posted on 01/19/2013

I agree...we got referred to a pediatric neurologist and had MRI, CT, and EEG to rule out tumors, etc.

Tracy - posted on 01/19/2013

My son, now 23, had terrible migraines at the age of 2 and 1/2. They ran tests on him and yes, I was told 2 year olds can get migraines. He has had them all of his life. They subsided somewhat afte puberty. We could never find a trigger for his, although we tried. I hope she feels better.

Diane - posted on 01/19/2013

Don't ask other people for their opinion on this one. Call the doctor. Get it on record so he/she will know what's happening. If it never happens again, wonderful! And if it does, the doctor will know who to refer you to.

Jo - posted on 01/18/2013

chart what she eats and see when the headaches occur you may be able to find a food sensativity. Removing these food may remove the headache without having to medicate

Aurora - posted on 01/18/2013

My daughter was getting headaches too at age 4 1/2. We had ruled out all the above. We went to kids chiropractor and she adjusted her. Headaches are gone after 2-3 visits. She had been in gymnastics for a 1 1/2 yrs and headaches started. Hang in there it can be a long process ruling out so many factors.

Amanda - posted on 01/18/2013

Hi I'm now 30 yrs old but when I was 22 I found out I had something called hydrocephlaus and numerous brain tumors. I got told that if it had not been found when it had I would have died within 6 months. I'm not trying to scare u but things like this are found more frequently in children. And that's y I was at such a high risk. If it would have been found when I was a child numerous things could have been done to make my life not be in danger. Now the tumors are NOT what i'm talking about but the hydrocephlaus that's very easy to treat & causes minimal problems. And she can still have a normal life. The brain surgery yeah that's scary because its brain surgery. But just check the drs and make sure u shave the best ones 4 the job. I would take her to the dr DEMAND a MRI be done. DON'T let them get by with just a CT. My problem almost killed me because the problem was over looked 4 yrs with just cts. If her dr refuses take her 2 a different dr. GET THE MRI DONE. If that comes back fine then & ONLY then would I let the drs get by with telling me its just headaches/migraines. I OWN my life 2 one ER Dr who said u have a lot of headaches let me run some test. Because my family dr over looked it 4 yrs & if it WASN'T found WHEN IT WAS I WOULDN'T BE HERE NOW. So I own that man my life. Everything could be ok but it ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THEN IT IS 2 BE SORRY. I'll be praying 4 u & ur daughter. I hope everything turns out ok. Sorry if I sacred u I just wanted 2 make u aware of something that most people never think of but I lived though it & I ONLY lived through it because God felt my purpose wasn't complete yet. And because my condition was caught SO LATE I do suffer obstacles now that I would NEVER HAVE HAD 2 suffer IF IT WAS CAUGHT WHEN I WAS A CHILD. I just hope I helped u by giving u this very personal info that I usually don't talk about because its hard talking about it. Knowing if it wasn't for that 1 dr I wouldn't have lived 2 see my youngest turn 1 or my oldest turn 3 so do what ever u have to do but make sure she gets a MRI ASAP.

Jeanie - posted on 01/18/2013

This is a very old question, but thought I'd respond. Sometimes the headache is from an earache. Often it is due to allergies, and the biggest culprit tends to be dairy products, although many other things can exacerbate it. One of my kids as a young toddler started dropping to the ground in such head pain and it was MIGRAINES! We found for some reason many pediatric migraineurs need more CoQ10. She also had food allergies. One more thing we learned the hard way, is often the gut health is connected with many other ailments. You may be interested in this interview: http://www.foodsensitivityjournal.com/20...

Barb - posted on 01/18/2013

Call the doctor for a consult

Sarap - posted on 01/17/2013

My 2 year old is being complaining of headaches for over a week now, it always happen after a bathed him, he would hold his head in his hands and ask me to hold his head. I don't know what to do but I'm getting very concerned about it.

LaCristifa - posted on 06/15/2010

It is probably a sinus infection or just a sinus headache. Make a note of where her head is hurting at when she says she has a head ache so that you can tell the doctor when she goes. She could also need glasses.

Kindra - posted on 05/13/2010

I have a niece who has had migraines from the time she was 3 years old. It's sounds crazy, but it happens. You might take her to the dr's office and see if they can help. (Just a thought.) Not to scare you, but my daughter had problems and it turned out to be a brain tumor! (There were other signs though other than headaches. Her right eye pitched inward and her face started drooping so we got her an MRI and that's what they found. Don't panic because of headaches!) It very well is nothing super serious to worry about. My niece is now 14 and still deals with migraines but it's managed.

Danielle - posted on 05/13/2010

She could have a sinus infection. I had one when I was a kid and my head really hurt. Take her to the doc just in case.

Kathryn - posted on 05/13/2010

I would talk to your pediatrician.

Kathy - posted on 05/12/2010

Sure have. Do you migraine-sufferers in the family? She very well could be getting head-aches. Give her some motrin or tylenol for the pain. Keep an eye on them. If she keeps complaining, make a doctor appointment. Always good to rule out the possibility of a tumor-which is routine with anyone who suffers from headaches. My neice started having migraines at the same age as your daughter. She is 20 now and with medication only has a one every couple of months. I developed migraines after the borth of my daughter. With medication, I generally only have one every couple of months also. My daughter suffers from severe headaches once in awile but she hasn't had a migrain yet. My son also gets headaches. We close eyes on them since migraines run in both sides of the family.

Mina - posted on 05/12/2010

I am sure it will be nothign serious but going to doc is a good idea so make an appt ASAP



all the best

Ashley=) - posted on 05/12/2010

Children can get headaches for no reason and the go and the will be fine.Headaches and sensitivity to light is the main signs of something very common and feared among children which is meningitis.So always be aware and if the persist straight to the doctor but seems to me its just a headache and also children can experience them coming up to a bug like the vomiting bug which my oldest five got and she had headaches days before she got the bug.

Ashley - posted on 05/12/2010

it does make me worry lol...she does have a tooth coming in, but i am keeping track of everything as of now, she eats healthy and doesnt have a lot of sugar and all that...but if she does come and tell me it hurts again, i'll just take her to her dr. easier just to get it checked out than to keep worrying...thank you all :)

Mina - posted on 05/12/2010

My 5 yrs old get it sometimes and her homoeopathy doc told me that it can be because of her upset stomach as there were other symptoms leading to that conclusion best would be to show to the doc. good luck I know how it feels and make us worry when it comes to lil kids

Ashley - posted on 05/12/2010

thank you for all the advice...she has only said this twice and i thought maybe she had heard me say it before. but i am going to pay more attention, i really hadn't thought that children so young could get headaches...she is my one and only so i am still learning lol....thank you mommies :)

Abbie - posted on 05/12/2010

My neice did this for about a year and half, til one day she woke up. It was like she was drunk. Falling over no balance. Well with her she had a golf ball sized brain tumor next to her brain stem. Doctors believed it had been growing there since birth. Surgery was done and now she is a Great 13 year old full of spit and vinegar.

But it could be her eyes, and needing glasses. Could be migraines, maybe take her to a chiropractor and get her spine checked. Could be teeth working on coming down? don't panic not all headaches mean a brain tumor.

Alyson - posted on 05/11/2010

i used to get migraines and found out it was vitamin b deficiency. i took a b complex vitamin for a while and they went away. try getting her to eat more "red" meats like steaks and burgers and if she still has headaches in a week take her to the doc! hope that helps gl

Lauren - posted on 05/11/2010

my family has a history of migranes.. pretty bad ones, but my nephew definitly got it the worst. He started getting them about the age of two and veryyyy strong. My sister noted how often, strength and length of them and finally went to a dr. He has to be careful what he eats (little salt.. etc) and is fine.

Firebird - posted on 05/11/2010

My friend used to get headaches from her hair being tied back too tightly. But you should probably get her checked out to make sure there isn't an underlying problem.

Kristin - posted on 05/11/2010

Could be hair length, allergies/sinuses, vision problems, teeth, hunger, dehydration, tired, a whole variety of things. So, I agree with documenting them. If she can point to where it hurts, log it in addition to how often, and when. Definitely talk to her doctor. good luck.

Diane - posted on 05/11/2010

I don't think that your daughter is confused about what really hurts. If she's holding her head, saying that it hurts, and wants to lie down she's most likely suffering from headaches. A multitude of things can cause headaches but it is very important to get her checked out. Not to be scary, but it could be anything from her vision, diet, fluid in her ears, hormones, or even a tumor in the brain, ear or eye. I have had chronic migraines since the age of 4 myself and have gone through quite a bit because of it - including not being able to attend my senior year of high school. An MRI and bloodwork to check her levels of everything possible are the most important tests. An absolute must is keeping a record of when she gets them, her reaction, how long, what she ate, etc. Honestly, you should be keeping a record of everything she eats and drinks (including brand names because ingredients differ between brands) whether she has one of these spells or not so you or the dr's can see any patterns. If it is her vision then it needs to be corrected immediately or her brain will not develop properly and she will never be able to have 20/20 vision, even with glases when she is older. Many times with young ones they have headache spells, get glasses and before they 10 do not need them anymore because the brain develops accordingly (not in all cases but in many, this happened with my husband when he was very young). Also, when she is having one of these spells, ask her if light, sound, or the smell of food affect her at all. These are the key signs of a migraine rather than a normal headache - and the difference pain wise is excrutiating. I would rather push out another 8 pound baby then have one of my migraines - they can be that bad. Give her tylenol if she needs it but the best thing is sleep. Too much meds at an early age causes massive stomach problems and intolerances to things like tylenol and advil/motrin as she grows older. For example, when I was young they didn't know what else to do other than give me tylenol and motrin: ever since my teen years more than 1 regular strength tylenol or ANY amount of motrin will make me vomit blood - very very uncool and very avoidable, if my parents and the dr's had been more aware of the long term side effects of the amounts of meds they were giving me when all I needed was some sleep. One of the best meds, as strange as it sounds, is benadryl. Benadryl will knock her out cold and cause her to have the deepest sleep she can possibly have, completely erradicating the headache/migraine. Also, if it is a problem associated with allergies or sinus pressure it will relieve that pain/pressure as well.

I hope all goes well and I suggest taking her to a dr that specializes in pediatric headaches/migraines because they will not only know what is best, but have a better grasp on what is actually going on and needs to be done/changed. They will run the right tests and pick up on the issue 10x faster than the pediatrician will.

If you have any other questions or need to talk at all you can contact me on facebook. FYI - headaches and migraines that are generally hereditary so ask around your family and her fathers family to see if anyone else has any similar problems. They might be the key to finding an answer to her problem much faster. Goodluck

-Diane

Michelle - posted on 05/11/2010

Is her hair to long or in her eyes, My daughter gets a headache if her hair is in her eyes or gets to long. (she has thick heavy hair). Like someone else said keep track of them, when and how long they come and last. try giving her something to eat as well to see if that helps.

Ashley=) - posted on 05/11/2010

Doctor visit, Ashley is my only advice for a child this young.

Karen - posted on 05/11/2010

i agree with jennifer about documenting them - i suffered horrible headaches as a very young child...also keep note of what she ate. when i was little i was sent to a specialist about it and they ended up giving me a list of foods/drinks to limit because they contributed to headaches. i would definately take her to the dr to get it checked out though if it continues to happen

Jennifer - posted on 05/11/2010

I would document the length and frequency of her headaches and take her to see a doctor. My friend's daughter suffers from migraines and had her first one when she was 2 or 3. Children can also get headaches from sinus (if they have allergies). Try giving her children's motrin or advil to relieve the pain next time it happens. Hope she feels better.

Krista - posted on 05/11/2010

Kids get headaches too, ya know.

Lisbeth - posted on 05/11/2010

Yeah kids get headaches too, but sometimes they get confused and it might actually be her stomach bothering her if it persist take her to the doctor or give her a bit of Tylenol