Your child says, "My head hurts."
You look at them.
They seem tired.
Maybe they skipped lunch.
Maybe they have a cold.
Maybe this headache keeps coming back.
Childhood headaches are common.
Most are not caused by a dangerous problem.
But some headache patterns need medical care.
This guide explains causes of headaches in children, tension headaches, migraine, illness-related headaches, safe home care, headache diaries, warning signs, and when to call a doctor.
For the full Parnthub health library, visit our Child Health and Safety Guide.
For a wider look at common child health problems, read Childhood Illnesses 101.
Quick Answer
Most headaches in children come from common causes such as viral illness, migraine, tension, hunger, dehydration, poor sleep, stress, or a head injury. Mild headaches may improve with water, food if the child has missed a meal, rest, a quiet room, and a cool cloth. Repeated headaches should be discussed with a pediatrician. Get urgent help for a sudden very severe headache, a headache with confusion, weakness, trouble walking, a seizure, stiff neck with fever, repeated vomiting, a child who is hard to wake, or a worsening headache after a head injury.
Important Medical Note
I am not a dermatologist or a doctor, and this content does not replace professional medical advice. What I share comes from real-life experience, extensive research, and consultation with healthcare providers. Always consult qualified medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.
What is a childhood headache?
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head.
It may be in the forehead.
It may be on one side.
It may be on both sides.
It may feel tight.
It may feel like pressure.
It may throb.
Young children may not be able to explain the pain well.
They may become quiet, cranky, pale, tired, or less interested in play.
Are headaches normal in children?
Occasional headaches can happen in healthy children.
A headache during a cold or flu is common.
A headache after missing a meal can happen.
Migraine can also begin during childhood.
Repeated, severe, or changing headaches deserve medical review.
What are the main types of headaches in children?
Doctors often divide headaches into two large groups.
Primary headaches
These are headache disorders themselves.
Common examples are:
- Migraine in children
- Tension type headache
- Cluster headache, which is rare in children
Secondary headaches
These happen because of another problem.
Examples include:
- Viral illness
- Fever
- Head injury
- Some sinus infections
- Dental problems
- Medication overuse
- Rare neurologic or other medical conditions
What are the common causes of childhood headaches?
1. Viral illness and fever
Colds, flu, and other viral illnesses can cause headache.
The headache often improves as the illness gets better.
A child with fever and a stiff neck, severe sleepiness, confusion, or a severe headache needs urgent medical assessment.
For fever guidance, read our Childhood Fever Guide.
2. Migraine
Pediatric migraine can be strong enough to stop normal play, school, or activity.
It may cause:
- Throbbing or pounding pain
- Pain on one or both sides of the head
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Light sensitivity
- Sound sensitivity
- Wanting to sleep
Some children have an aura.
This can cause flashing lights, spots, zigzag lines, tingling, or other temporary changes before or during a migraine.
3. Tension type headache
A tension headache in children often feels like pressure or tightness.
It may feel like a band around the head.
The pain is usually mild or moderate.
Stress, tiredness, neck tension, and long periods in one position can play a role.
4. Not eating enough
Skipping meals can trigger headache in some children.
If your child has not eaten for several hours, a normal snack or meal may help.
There is no need to give extra sugar as a headache treatment unless a healthcare professional has told you to do so for a medical reason.
5. Not drinking enough
Dehydration headache can happen when a child does not drink enough.
Heat, sports, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea can increase fluid loss.
There is no single glass count that fits every child.
Fluid needs change with age, body size, weather, food, activity, and illness.
Offer water regularly and watch thirst and urine.
6. Poor or irregular sleep
Too little sleep can trigger headaches.
Large changes in sleep time can also trigger migraine in some children.
A regular sleep routine can help.
If a child snores loudly, stops breathing during sleep, or has major daytime sleepiness, tell the pediatrician.
7. Stress and worry
Stress can trigger or worsen headaches.
This does not mean the pain is imaginary.
School pressure, friendship problems, family stress, and busy schedules can all affect the body.
Listen to your child.
Look for patterns.
8. Screens and eye strain
Long screen sessions can cause eye discomfort, dry eyes, neck strain, and headache in some children.
The problem is not simply "blue light."
Long periods of close focus, poor posture, glare, and few breaks can all matter.
Encourage regular breaks.
Keep the screen at a comfortable distance.
Use normal room lighting.
9. Vision problems
Some children with uncorrected vision problems get eye strain or headache.
But glasses do not fix every headache.
If your child squints, has eye pain, sits very close to screens, or has trouble seeing the board, arrange an eye exam.
10. Caffeine
Caffeine can affect headache in more than one way.
Too much caffeine can trigger headache.
Stopping regular caffeine suddenly can also cause headache.
Energy drinks are not a good hydration choice for children.
11. Head injury and concussion
A headache can happen after a bump or fall.
It can also be a symptom of concussion.
Other concussion symptoms may include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Balance trouble
- Mental fog
- Blurred vision
- Unusual tiredness
- Mood changes
A child with a possible concussion should not return to sport on the same day.
They need assessment and a safe return plan.
For injury first aid, read our Common Childhood Injuries Guide.
12. Medication overuse
Using headache medicine too often can sometimes create medication overuse headache.
The headache may become more frequent even though medicine is being used to help.
If your child needs pain medicine often, speak with the pediatrician.
Do not keep increasing the amount or frequency on your own.
Are sinus headaches common in children?
True sinus pain can happen with sinus infection.
It often comes with other symptoms such as nasal congestion, face pain, or fever.
But migraine can also cause face pressure, stuffy nose, or watery eyes.
Do not assume every forehead headache with congestion is a sinus headache.
If pain is strong or keeps coming back, ask the doctor to identify the cause.
Can allergies cause headaches?
Allergies can cause congestion, poor sleep, eye symptoms, and discomfort.
These may occur with headache.
But a child with repeated headaches may have migraine or another headache disorder instead.
For allergy symptoms, see our Common Childhood Allergies Guide.
Do vitamin deficiencies cause most childhood headaches?
No.
Do not assume a child needs magnesium, vitamin D, iron, or B vitamins because of a headache.
A deficiency can cause health problems, but recurrent headache needs a proper history and exam.
Blood tests may be used when the doctor has a reason to suspect anemia, deficiency, or another condition.
Do not start high dose supplements for headache without medical advice.
Do certain foods cause migraines in children?
Food triggers are personal.
One child may notice a pattern.
Another may not.
Do not remove long lists of foods just because they appear on an online migraine list.
A headache diary is a better first step.
Skipping meals is a more common and practical trigger to watch.
What does migraine look like in a young child?
Young children may not say, "I have a migraine."
They may:
- Stop playing
- Ask to lie down
- Become pale
- Cover their eyes
- Want a quiet room
- Vomiting or feel sick
- Become irritable
- Complain of belly pain
Sleep may help the attack end.
Can children have migraine with aura?
Yes.
An aura can happen before or during migraine.
A child may see flashes, spots, lines, or other visual changes.
Some children have tingling or difficulty finding words.
A first episode of weakness, trouble speaking, or unusual neurologic symptoms should be assessed urgently because other conditions can look similar.
What are tension headache symptoms?
Common signs include:
- Dull or pressing pain
- Pain on both sides of the head
- Tight neck or shoulder muscles
- Mild or moderate pain
- Pain that does not usually get much worse with normal activity
Nausea and vomiting are less typical than with migraine.
What can I do at home for a mild headache?
For a mild headache in a child who is otherwise well:
Offer water
Give your child a drink.
This is especially useful after sports, heat, or a long school day.
Offer food if a meal was missed
A normal meal or snack may help if your child is hungry.
Let the child rest
A quiet room can help.
For migraine, lower light and noise may feel better.
Use a cool cloth
A cool wet cloth or wrapped cold pack on the forehead can feel soothing.
Do not put ice directly on skin.
Relax tight muscles
Gentle stretching may help if the neck and shoulders feel tight.
Do not force the neck if the child has severe pain, a recent injury, or a stiff neck with fever.
Can I give acetaminophen or ibuprofen?
Some children can use an age appropriate pain medicine.
Talk with your child's healthcare professional about which medicine and dose are right for your child.
Use the correct measuring tool.
Follow the label.
Do not give adult doses.
Do not give aspirin to a child or teenager unless a qualified clinician specifically prescribed it.
If headaches need medicine often, call the pediatrician because frequent medicine use can make some headache patterns worse.
When should migraine medicine be given?
If your child has a diagnosed migraine and a treatment plan, migraine medicine often works best when used early in the attack.
Follow the plan from your child's doctor.
Doctors may use child appropriate pain medicine, prescription migraine medicine, or other treatment based on age and migraine pattern.
What migraine treatments can doctors use?
Treatment depends on the child.
It may include:
- Healthy daily routines
- Medicine used at the start of an attack
- Prescription migraine medicine
- Preventive medicine for selected children
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Relaxation training
- Some approved neuromodulation devices
A pediatrician or pediatric neurologist can choose the safest plan.
Should my child take magnesium or migraine supplements?
Do not start supplements just because they are called natural.
Some migraine specialists use supplements such as magnesium or riboflavin for selected children.
Evidence and doses differ.
Supplements can also cause side effects or interact with medicines.
Ask your child's doctor first.
What is a headache diary?
A headache diary for children is a simple record.
Write down:
- Date and time
- How long the headache lasted
- Where it hurt
- What the pain felt like
- How strong it was
- Nausea or vomiting
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Sleep the night before
- Meals
- Drinks
- School or stress events
- Medicine used
- What helped
This can help a doctor see patterns.
How can I ask a young child about headache pain?
Use simple questions.
Ask:
- Where does it hurt?
- Can you point to it?
- Does it squeeze or beat?
- Does light hurt your eyes?
- Does noise bother you?
- Does your tummy hurt too?
A young child can also draw where the pain is and what it feels like.
When should I call the pediatrician?
Call your child's healthcare professional if:
- Headaches keep coming back
- Headaches happen daily
- The pattern is getting worse
- A headache keeps waking your child
- A headache happens with vomiting
- There is blurred or double vision
- Headache happens with eye or ear pain
- A new migraine is suspected
- A headache lasts longer than expected
- Headaches are affecting school, sleep, sport, or family life
Also call if you are worried even if the symptom does not fit a list.
When is a childhood headache an emergency?
Get urgent or emergency help for:
- A sudden, extremely severe headache
- Confusion
- A child who is very hard to wake
- Weakness or numbness on one side
- Trouble speaking
- Trouble walking or balancing
- A seizure
- Repeated vomiting with a severe headache
- Stiff neck with fever
- Loss of vision, blurred vision, or double vision with severe symptoms
- A worsening headache after a head injury
Do not wait for an online article if your child looks very sick.
What are the danger signs after a head injury?
CDC concussion guidance says emergency warning signs include:
- One pupil larger than the other
- A child who becomes very drowsy or cannot be awakened
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Weakness, numbness, or poor coordination
- Repeated vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Seizures
- Increasing confusion or agitation
- Loss of consciousness
A suspected concussion means no same day return to sport.
Can a brain tumor cause a headache?
Yes, but brain tumors are a rare cause of childhood headache.
Most children with headaches do not have a brain tumor.
Doctors look for the whole pattern, including neurologic signs, vomiting, changes in walking, vision, behaviour, sleep, and whether the headache is getting worse.
Do not assume a recurring headache means a tumour.
Do get recurring or changing headaches evaluated.
Does my child need an MRI or CT scan?
Usually not.
Most childhood headaches can be assessed with a careful history and physical exam.
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that brain imaging, blood tests, and invasive tests are not routinely needed to diagnose common headaches.
A doctor may order imaging when the history or exam suggests a more serious cause.
When should a child see a pediatric neurologist?
A pediatrician may refer a child when:
- Migraines are frequent or severe
- The diagnosis is unclear
- Headaches are getting worse
- Treatment is not working
- There are unusual neurologic symptoms
- Headaches are causing major school or activity problems
How can we reduce recurrent headaches?
No routine prevents every headache.
But regular habits can help many children.
Keep sleep regular
Use a steady bedtime and wake time.
Avoid large sleep changes when possible.
Do not skip meals
Offer regular meals.
Pack a snack when the school day is long.
Drink regularly
Make water easy to reach.
Encourage drinking around sports and hot weather.
Move every day
Regular physical activity can support sleep, mood, and general health.
For a child with exercise-triggered headaches, talk with the doctor before assuming the cause is harmless.
Use screen breaks
Long screen sessions can strain eyes and neck muscles.
Break up close work.
Change position.
Look across the room or outside for a short time.
Reduce caffeine
Watch soda, tea, coffee drinks, chocolate drinks, and energy drinks.
A child who uses caffeine every day may also get withdrawal headaches if they stop suddenly.
Support stress management
Talk about school.
Make space for quiet time.
Teach slow breathing.
Keep expectations realistic.
If anxiety, low mood, or stress is strong, ask for professional support.
Can headaches affect school?
Yes.
Frequent migraine can cause missed school and trouble concentrating.
A school plan may help.
Useful supports can include:
- Easy access to water
- Regular meals or snacks
- A quiet place during a migraine
- Permission to use prescribed medicine according to school rules
- Reasonable make-up time for missed work
Ask your child's doctor for a school note when needed.
Should a child stay home from school for every headache?
No.
A mild headache that improves and does not stop normal activity may not require a full day at home.
A migraine can make school impossible during the attack.
A child with fever, vomiting, a contagious illness, concussion, or serious warning signs needs a different plan.
Common childhood headache myths
Myth: Every headache comes from dehydration
False.
Dehydration is one possible trigger.
Migraine, tension, illness, head injury, hunger, sleep problems, and other causes are also common.
Myth: Every headache with a stuffy nose is a sinus headache
False.
Migraine can also cause nasal and eye symptoms.
Myth: Blue light is the only screen problem
False.
Close focus, eye dryness, glare, posture, and long periods without breaks may all contribute.
Myth: Children do not get migraines
False.
Migraine can begin very early in life.
Myth: A brain scan is needed for every recurring headache
False.
Most children do not need imaging when the history and exam fit a common headache disorder.
Myth: More pain medicine is always better
False.
Overusing pain medicine can contribute to more headaches.
Myth: A vitamin supplement will cure headaches
False.
Some supplements are studied for migraine, but there is no universal vitamin cure for childhood headaches.
My parenting perspective
After more than 33 years of parenting and grandparenting, I have learned that the first question is not only, "Where does it hurt?"
I also ask what happened before the pain.
Did the child eat?
Did they drink?
Did they sleep?
Are they sick?
Did they hit their head?
Is this the same headache as before?
I learned not to promise a quick cure.
Water and rest may help one headache.
A migraine may need a clear treatment plan.
A headache after a head injury needs a different level of attention.
And a child with confusion, weakness, stiff neck, or a severe sudden headache needs urgent care.
My family experience shapes the practical side of this guide.
The medical guidance comes from current pediatric and neurologic sources.
Conclusion
Childhood headaches are usually not dangerous, but the pattern matters.
Start with simple care for a mild headache.
Offer water.
Offer food if a meal was missed.
Let your child rest.
Keep a headache diary when pain comes back.
Talk with the pediatrician about repeated or changing headaches.
And get urgent help for a sudden severe headache, confusion, weakness, seizures, stiff neck with fever, repeated vomiting, or a worsening headache after a head injury.
Bookmark this guide now so you have a clear plan the next time your child says their head hurts.
Keep Reading on Parnthub
- Child Health and Safety Guide
- Childhood Illnesses 101
- Childhood Fever
- Childhood Flu
- Childhood Cold
- Common Childhood Allergies
- Common Childhood Injuries
- Complete Big Kids Guide
- Tweens and Teens Guide
References and Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren: Headaches, When to Call the Pediatrician
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren: Migraine Headaches in Children and Teens
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Headache Booklet
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HEADS UP Concussion Signs and Symptoms
- NHS: Headaches and When to Get Medical Help
About the Author
Adel Galal is the founder and primary author of Parnthub. He is a father of four and a grandfather of four, with more than 33 years of hands on parenting and grandparenting experience.
His child health articles combine real family experience with careful research from pediatric, neurologic, government, and public health sources. He focuses on the questions parents face in real life: what can be managed at home, what patterns should be tracked, what common advice can mislead families, and when a child needs professional medical care.
I am not a dermatologist or a doctor, and this content does not replace professional medical advice. What I share comes from real life experience, extensive research, and consultation with healthcare providers. Always consult qualified medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Childhood Headaches
What are the most common causes of headaches in children?
Common causes include viral illness, migraine, tension headaches, missed meals, dehydration, poor sleep, stress, caffeine, eye strain, and head injury. A recurring headache may have more than one trigger.
What can I give my child for a mild headache?
Start with water, food if a meal was missed, rest, a quiet room, and a cool cloth. Ask your child's healthcare professional which pain medicine and dose are safe for your child's age and health.
How do I know if my child has a migraine?
Migraine can cause throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, and a strong need to rest or sleep. Pain can be on one or both sides in children.
When should I worry about a child's headache?
Get urgent help for a sudden extremely severe headache, confusion, weakness, trouble walking or talking, seizures, stiff neck with fever, repeated vomiting, severe vision changes, or a worsening headache after a head injury.
Does my child need a brain scan for recurring headaches?
Usually not. Most common childhood headaches are diagnosed from the history and physical exam. A doctor may order imaging when symptoms or exam findings suggest another cause.
Can too much screen time cause headaches?
Long screen sessions can contribute to eye discomfort, neck strain, poor posture, and headaches. Regular breaks, comfortable screen distance, normal lighting, and position changes can help.
Should I keep a headache diary?
Yes when headaches repeat. Record when pain starts, how long it lasts, symptoms, sleep, meals, fluids, stress, medicine, and what helped. The pattern can help your child's doctor.
Can children get medication overuse headaches?
Yes. Frequent use of headache pain medicines can contribute to more frequent headaches in some children. If your child needs medicine often, ask the pediatrician for a treatment plan.
