Growing pains in children

If your child wakes up in the night complaining that their legs hurt, growing pains could be the cause. These common aches don’t damage the bones or muscles or interfere with your child’s growth.

Despite the name, growing pains aren’t actually caused by growing.

“Growing pains do not occur during the time of most rapid growth, such as the adolescent growth spurt, or at specific sites of growth,” says Sally S. Harris, M.D., a pediatric sports medicine specialist with Sutter.

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes growing pains. But the discomfort is usually temporary, and there are simple ways to help your child feel better. 

What do growing pains feel like?

Growing pains usually feel like an ache or throb in the legs. Your child may feel them in the calves, shins, thighs or behind the knees.

A typical pattern includes pain that: 

• Affects both legs
• Comes and goes
• Happens in the late afternoon, evening or at night
• Is gone by morning
• May wake your child from sleep

“Growing pains don’t typically cause swelling, redness or limping, and they usually aren’t focused in a joint,” says Daniel Brennan, M.D., a pediatrician with Sutter.

Some children with growing pains also experience recurring headaches or stomachaches. 

What causes growing pains?

Doctors don’t know for sure. Despite the name, growing pains aren’t caused by bones growing.

Physical activity may play a role. Brennan says that some children notice more discomfort after a busy day of running, climbing, jumping or playing sports. Researchers have also explored other possible factors, but there isn’t one proven cause.

Your child generally doesn’t need to stop being active because of growing pains. If a particular activity consistently seems to make the pain worse, though, talk with your pediatrician about whether any changes might help.

How to relieve growing pains

There isn’t a specific treatment for growing pains, but you can usually help ease the discomfort at home.

You can:

• Encourage gentle leg stretches
• Gently massage the sore muscles
• Try an age-appropriate dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if needed
• Use a warm bath or heating pad to soothe sore muscles

A calm, reassuring response can also help, especially when the pain wakes your child during the night.

Harris advises parents to avoid focusing too much attention on the discomfort. Reassure your child that the pain should pass, help them get comfortable and let them return to their normal activities when they feel better.

How long do growing pains last?

Growing pains can come and go. Your child might have several episodes close together and then go weeks or months without any pain.

An individual episode often lasts a relatively short time and typically disappears by morning. The pattern itself may continue on and off for months or longer before eventually resolving.

The important thing is the pattern. Brennan points out that pain that persists into the morning, becomes progressively worse or starts interfering with your child’s usual activities deserves a closer look.

When to call your pediatrician

Growing pains usually don’t require testing. Your pediatrician can often identify them based on your child’s symptoms and physical exam. Sometimes blood tests or X-rays are needed to rule out another cause of leg pain.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you notice:

• Fever or other signs of illness
• Limping or difficulty walking
• Pain in only one leg
• Pain in a joint
• Pain that interferes with normal activities
• Pain that persists during the day or gets worse over time
• Redness, swelling or warmth

These symptoms don’t necessarily mean something serious is wrong, but they’re worth having your pediatrician evaluate.