This is a summary of the peer-reviewed article: Abdominal X-rays in children: indications, procedure and interpretation by Siba Prosad Paul, Florence Holbrook, Lisa Plowman et al. 

Abdominal X-rays are a frequent diagnostic procedure in children presenting with abdominal pain due to a suspected serious underlying pathology, or with abdominal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and constipation that have not responded to treatment