Monday, May 28, 2012
Friday, September 26, 2008 Bettina asks

Q: How do I comfort a 3 year old with a migraine?

How do I comfort a 3 year old with a migraine?

 

I feel so awful about this because I passed my migraines on to my baby. She's only 3, but her pediatrician says she's having migraines. The first time, I found her hiding in a corner behind a chair, holding her head and crying. Thank goodness our pediatrician was in!

 

He told me to give her children's Advil and make her room dark and quiet. I'm also to give her children's Benadryl if the migraine is very bad or she's very restless or upset. I understand all of that, but thought maybe someone would have suggestions for comforting her while I pray that she goes to sleep until it's over. This would be hard no matter how old she was, but with her so very young, it's even harder.

 

Please help!

Bettina

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Answers (5)
Teri Robert, Health Guide
9/27/08 3:05pm

Oh, Bettina!

 

I can imagine how you feel. We have three grandchildren with Migraines. Alexandra was only 2-1/2 when she had her first one. It makes you feel so helpless! Try not to feel awful about passing Migraines on to your little one. She will have an easier time of it than you have, as will each generation to come.

 

There are definitely things you can do to comfort her and help her get to sleep:

   • Keep some little gel packs in your freezer - the pretty little ones shaped like animals and the like.

   • If you haven't already, install darkening blinds on the windows in her room.

 

When she gets a Migraine, get a couple of gel packs and take her to her room. If her bed is big enough, lie down beside her. If not, keep a chair beside it. Close the blinds and put her to bed. Put the gel packs on her head or neck -- wherever they feel good to her. Stay in physical contact with her. Gently rub her back or her leg. Just let her know you're there, and she'll feel better when she wakes up.

 

If she gets nauseous, some ginger ale (with real ginger, not just flavoring) or some peppermint tea may help.

 

If she has a favorite doll or stuffed animal, make sure she has it.

 

Essentially, anything that comfots her will help during a Migraine. Add dark and quiet to those things.

 

Hope this helps,

Teri

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10/ 2/08 4:06am

have her drink lot of water then give her a small cup of pop and then put a cold washrag over her eyes and lots of kisses it will make her feel better I know what your going through I too had passed this bad thing to my son he's now 13 and still have these migraine he still drinks cold water,has a pop and now non asprin and a Ice cold wahrag over his eyes the water helps the body to recover,the pop give caffeine to her system and the cold washrag helps the blood vessels  to relax

she may than have to go potty alot thats ok it's cleaning out her system she will be ok.

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10/ 5/08 11:05pm

I have had migraines since I was a small child myself, and I will never forget the hours laying by myself in my darkened bedroom.  I don't think my parents understood what was going on or how to help me and were too overwhelmed with my mom's cancer (she eventually died from it when I was 7) and then my father's having to raise 7 children on his own.  Please, please never neglect to spend time with your little girl when she has a migraine.  Cuddling, I have read, actually releases seritonin that can help lessen the pain.  Perhaps you can both be helped by some snuggling.  If she is too young to take medications like imitrex, I have had some success with Flexall (a muscle rub containing menthol)  I like this better than Head On because I can rub it where it hurts-often in my hair, without leaving my hair needing immediate washing.  I carefully rub it on my temples and eyebrows also.

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10/10/08 11:25am

My Mom used to hold my head in her lap and rub it - it helped me sooo much.  I would relax and drift off to sleep (not quickly, I'm sure.  Her hands must have gotten pretty tired.)   I'm now 60 and still have them, but think of them just as a painful nuisance -- could be worse, couldn't it?  I have my sight, hearing, and general health.

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1/29/09 12:02pm

Only a pediatrican could tell you what medicines to give her. I'm 63 now and have had migsaines for over 30 years. They are now controlled with imitrex. In my early years with them I rejected all meds because nothing worked. Although I sometimes used tylenol which didn't take it away but sometimes made me sleep a little and made the pain more bearable. I used icepacks too  and their are children's icepacks which she could hold on the spot which might make her feel like she has some control. Maybe an accupressure technique that she could learn or lying in a dark room with you listening to some soothing lullabies. I pray you find her some help, I hate to think of her suffering like that at her age.

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By Bettina— Last Modified: 04/01/11, First Published: 09/26/08