How to Help Toddlers and Children with Growing Pains

As parents, we want to do everything we can to soothe our children’s discomfort and help them get the rest they need. While growing pains don’t cause any long-term harm, they can disrupt sleep and leave little ones feeling unsettled. The good news is there are simple, effective ways to ease the aches and make bedtime more comfortable. In this guide, we’ll explain what growing pains are, why they happen, and the best ways to help your child feel better so that everyone can get a good night’s sleep.

Growing pains are cramp-like pains that occur at night in toddlers and pre-teens. They usually start around age 3 or 4 and can continue until age 12. As a child grows up, their body undergoes many changes – bones harden, and muscles develop. While growing pains in kids are most common in the legs, they can also be experienced in the arms and other areas of the body.

The most important factor is that these pains only occur at nighttime when the body is recovering from the day – so if your child is complaining of leg pain in the day, it’s recommended that you take them to a GP as soon as possible. The NHS also recommends Seeing a GP if growing pains are recurring, even if they only present at night.

Surprisingly, no major evidence exists that growing pains are linked to growth. In fact, it’s still pretty much unknown what causes them exactly. Most science points towards the fact that they’re caused by intense muscle work throughout the day. For this reason, they’re more commonly experienced after your kids have had an active day. But even though the root cause is still unknown, there are ways to limit the pain, including massage, stretching, and fluid intake.

There’s no treatment for growing pains, as these can get better on their own within a year or two. Growing pains in toddlers and kids don’t cause other problems and don’t affect growth, so there’s no need to worry. If they don’t completely go away with time, growing pains do get less painful. But in the meantime, you can help ease your child’s growing pains with self-care measures.

Ways to help with growing pains include:

• Gently massage the area – helps them relax and provide soothing to their growing pains
• Use moisturiser – tell them it’s a ‘magic cream’ and rub it into the skin to stop their pain and help them grow
• Stretch before bed – light stretches will ease growing pains by loosening the muscles and releasing tension built up during the day
• Use a heating pad – these can help soothe sore muscles on a low setting before bedtime
• Take a warm bath – baths before bedtime can help ease any growing pains and also help naturally make your kid feel relaxed
• Try a pain reliever. If pain persists, you can give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen (such as Calpol). It is important to note that the preparations differ for each age range. Make sure you read the directions and check the ingredients beforehand.

Despite their unknown cause, growing pains in toddlers and kids do not need to cause worry. They’re extremely common, with up to 20% of all children experiencing growing pains between the ages of 3 and 5 and 8 and 12, too. The most important thing to know about growing pains in kids is that they do not cause any long-term health effects. The only impact is the pain they feel at the time in question.

Despite growing pains in children not being a cause for worry, there are certain cases where toddler leg pain is not related to growth but something more serious. If you have any concerns, see your GP.

The following list is taken from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) and identifies symptoms unrelated to growing pains in toddlers and pre-teens. You must pay attention to these, as they could be signs of a more serious illness. The list is produced by Dr. Harris, who specialises in sports medicine at PAMF and has expertise in the care of child and adolescent athletes.

Symptoms unrelated to growing pains:

• Pain specific to a single joint
• Pain worsens with time
• Pain interfering with usual daytime activities
• Limping
• Abnormal joint symptoms – such as restricted motion, redness, swelling, warmth, or tenderness in the related area
• Symptoms of general illness, such as fever or weight loss

If your child has any symptoms outside of this list, it’s still important to see a GP if you have cause for concern. Your doctor will diagnose whether leg pain in children is growth-related or a sign of something else.

Growing pains are a normal part of development for many children and adolescents. Most commonly affecting people from 3-5 years of age and those between 8-12 years of age. They occur at night and feel like cramps or muscular pain. A gentle massage should normally help alleviate the pain, but in more severe cases, stretching before bed and using child-friendly painkillers can help. Be sure to check any medicine with your GP before use.

For more information on sleep and children-related issues, visit the children and parents section of the Sleep Matters Club. And remember, if you have any cause for concern, even slight, book an appointment with a GP.