Growing Pains: What Is Normal and What Is Not
Growing pains are aching or throbbing leg pains that come and go in otherwise healthy, active children, usually in the late afternoon or at night. They typically affect both legs, often the muscles of the calves, thighs or behind the knees, and are gone by morning. They are common and harmless.
They tend to appear between the ages of three and twelve, and often turn up on days a child has been especially busy running and playing. Despite the name, they are not actually caused by bones growing, and they do not damage growth or cause any lasting problem.
Because the pain can be genuinely upsetting at the time, it is easy to fear something is wrong. In most cases, though, growing pains are simply part of childhood, and knowing the usual pattern makes them far less worrying to manage at home.
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Growing pains follow a fairly recognisable rhythm. The pain usually comes on in the evening or wakes a child from sleep, settles by morning, and leaves them running around normally the next day with no limp and no lasting soreness. It may skip several days or weeks, then return.
The ache is felt in the muscles rather than the joints, and it affects both legs rather than one particular spot. Gentle rubbing, a cuddle and a warm pack often ease it within a short time, which is very typical of harmless growing pains.
Some children also have tummy aches or headaches around the same age, and there can be a family history of the same thing. None of this is cause for alarm on its own. It is the overall picture, day pain versus night pain, one leg versus two, that helps tell the ordinary from the concerning.
Growing pains are a diagnosis of reassurance, which means it is important to rule out other causes when the pattern does not fit. Please book a GP review if you notice any of the following, as they are not typical of growing pains and deserve a proper look.
Red flags include: pain in one leg or one specific spot rather than both; pain, stiffness or swelling in a joint; a limp or a child refusing to walk or bear weight; pain that is present in the morning or lasts through the day; pain linked to an injury; or pain with fever, rash, tiredness, weight loss, or a child who seems generally unwell.
If pain comes with a fever, our guide on when a child's fever needs attention is a useful companion. When in doubt, a review is always reasonable.
When the pattern is clearly that of growing pains, simple comfort measures work well. Gently massaging the sore muscles, a warm pack or a warm bath before bed, and plenty of reassurance are usually enough to settle an episode. Many children just want the closeness of a parent while it passes.
Keeping active is fine and even helpful; there is no need to stop sport or play. Making sure your child is well hydrated and getting enough rest can reduce how often episodes turn up, especially after very active days.
If pain is frequent or clearly distressing, a doctor can advise whether occasional simple pain relief is appropriate for your child and how to use it safely. It is best to check first rather than reach for medicines routinely, and to focus on comfort and reassurance as the mainstay.
Several ordinary things can be mistaken for growing pains, which is why the pattern matters so much. Minor sprains and overuse from sport tend to affect one area and often follow a clear activity. Poorly fitting shoes or flat, tired feet can cause aching legs too, and are easy for a GP to check.
Low iron can leave children tired, achy and off their food, so ongoing tiredness alongside leg pain is worth mentioning; you can read more in our guide to iron deficiency in children. Restless legs and disrupted sleep sometimes overlap with the evening pattern as well.
Less commonly, joint problems, infections or other conditions need to be excluded, which is exactly why the red flags above matter. A child who is otherwise thriving, like one managing childhood asthma well, and who fits the classic pattern is very reassuring.
Care that remembers your child
One of the most valuable things a GP does with growing pains is confirm that the pattern is truly benign, so you can respond calmly next time rather than worrying each episode is something serious. That confidence changes how the whole family copes with the night time aches.
A review is also a good chance to check growth, activity and sleep, and to talk through anything else on your mind, whether that is bedwetting, a recent run of ear infections, or another everyday worry. Bringing a rough note of when the pain happens and which leg helps the doctor a great deal.
Growing pains do not need investigations in most children. A careful history and examination are usually enough, and tests are only arranged if something in the story or examination does not fit. If your child is ever in severe pain, cannot move a limb, or seems very unwell, call 000.
Abby Health is an online-first clinic, so you can talk to an Australian doctor about your child's leg pain from home, seven days a week, without sitting in a waiting room while your child is tired and sore. Often that means reassurance and a clear plan, and sometimes it means arranging a closer look.
You can choose to see the same doctor each time, so they get to know your child, follow how they grow, and pick up on anything that changes. To see how consults work for children, visit Abby for families and kids. You can schedule an appointment or book through our family energy clinic whenever suits you. Bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict eligibility criteria apply. This is general information only and not a substitute for personal medical advice; if your child is seriously unwell, call 000.
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