If you’re reading this, you might have watched your child come home from school with a pounding headache. Maybe they curl up in a dark room, cover their eyes, or feel sick to their stomach.
Many parents don’t realise that migraines can affect children too, and they’re more common than most people think.
There are simple steps you can take at home to help ease your child’s pain, reduce attacks, and know when it’s time to get extra help.
How Do I Know If It’s a Migraine?
Not every headache is a migraine, but certain signs can help you tell the difference.
Children don’t always have the words to describe their pain, so here’s what you might notice:
- Throbbing or pounding pain, often on one side of the head
- Sensitivity to light or sound – they may want to lie in a dark, quiet room
- Nausea or vomiting
- Tiredness or dizziness
- Headaches that last a few hours to a day
- Worse with physical activity, better with rest
If these sound familiar, it’s possible your child is experiencing migraines and not just an everyday headache.
What Triggers Migraines in Children?
Every child is unique, but certain things are known to trigger migraines:
- Dehydration – not drinking enough water during the day
- Irregular sleep – too little or too much sleep can bring on headaches
- Stress – school pressure, exams, or big life changes
- Skipping meals
- Certain foods – chocolate, processed meats, strong cheeses (triggers vary by child)
- Too much screen time – long hours on devices can strain young eyes and minds
What Can I Do at Home to Help?
The good news is, small daily habits can make a big difference.
Here are simple steps I often share with parents:
Keep a Headache Diary
Write down when headaches happen, what your child ate, how they slept, or what they were doing before the pain started. This can help spot patterns and triggers.
Encourage Regular Meals & Hydration
Make sure your child drinks enough water and doesn’t skip meals — an empty stomach is a common migraine trigger.
Protect Their Sleep
Set a calm bedtime routine and keep sleep times regular, even on weekends. Rested brains cope better!
Limit Screen Time
Encourage breaks from screens every 20–30 minutes. Remind them to rest their eyes and stretch.
Create a Quiet Rest Space
When a headache strikes, a cool, dark room and a comfy blanket can help.
When Should I See a Pediatric Neurologist?
While home care can help, please do get professional advice if:
- Headaches are frequent and affect school or daily life
- The pain is severe or sudden, different from any headache before
- Your child has changes in vision, speech, balance, or behaviour
- Headaches wake them from sleep regularly
Getting the right diagnosis and treatment plan can make all the difference. Sometimes simple lifestyle changes are enough, but sometimes medication or further tests are needed.
One Step at a Time
Seeing your child in pain is one of the hardest things as a parent, but you don’t have to face it alone.
With small, steady changes at home and timely medical care, children’s migraines can be managed well.
Many families I see in my clinic are amazed at how a few simple tweaks like more water, good sleep, screen breaks, can make such a big difference.
If headaches are disrupting your child’s daily life, don’t wait. Ask questions, reach out for help, and let’s find a way forward together.
Book a consultation with Dr. Aman PS Sohal, Pediatric Neurologist in Dubai, for expert care for migraines, headaches, epilepsy, and other childhood neurological concerns.
