# Growing pains > Growing pains are a common, harmless ache in both legs in children, usually in the evening or at night and gone by morning. You can try a warm bath and gentle massage to help ease the discomfort, though it isn't clear how well they work. Guide in [Children's feet](https://footanklelowerlimb.com.au/learn/topics/childrens-feet), from Foot Ankle Lower Limb: https://footanklelowerlimb.com.au/learn/growing-pains Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod (Podiatrist) on 1 November 2026. Next review by 1 November 2027. - **The usual pattern:** both legs ache after dark, and the pain has settled by the next morning. - **Harmless and common:** growing pains don't cause long-term harm. - **Comfort comes first:** you can try a warm bath, gentle massage or gentle stretching to ease the ache, though it isn't clear yet how well they work. - **The cause isn't known,** and the pain isn't thought to come from bones growing. ## What are growing pains, and how common are they? Growing pains are a common, harmless aching in the legs that affects children in early childhood [1][2][3]. They don't cause any long-term harm [1]. The typical ache is felt in both legs, often in the muscles rather than the joints, comes on in the evening or at night, and is gone by morning [2]. It most often affects children aged about 3 to 12, or sometimes up to 14 [1][4]. Boys and girls are affected equally, with no difference found between them [5]. The name is considered a misnomer, because the pain isn't clearly linked to growing [1][3]. Growing pains are common, but estimates of how many children have them vary a lot [5]. ## What causes growing pains, and who gets them? No one knows what causes growing pains, and no cause has been proven [6][7]. Despite the name, bones growing is not thought to be the reason [1][7]. Even during growth spurts, bones add length gradually, and this gradual process is not thought to cause pain [7]. Growing pains are said to be more common in active children, including after lots of sport [2]. That doesn't mean activity is the cause, and no single factor has been shown to explain them [5][3]. ## What do growing pains feel like, and how are they diagnosed? Growing pains usually feel like an aching or cramp-like pain in both legs, most often in the calves, shins, fronts of the thighs or behind the knees [2][5][8]. It tends to start in the late afternoon, evening or night, and it can wake your child from sleep [5][9]. By morning it has gone [8]. Between bad spells, your child is otherwise well, walks normally with no limp, and has no pain when active [9][8]. Many children have pain-free days, and some only get it now and then [5]. Growing pains can be diagnosed from a thorough history and physical examination [3]. When the pattern is typical and the examination is normal, blood tests and X-rays aren't needed [5][3]. ## What helps growing pains? Typical growing pains with no warning signs can usually be managed at home with reassurance and simple comfort measures [8][9]. Your child can try a warm bath, a heat pack, gentle massage or gentle stretching before bed [4]. These are simple, commonsense steps, and how well each one works isn't clear yet. Pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be given for the ache [8]. Follow the dosing instructions on paracetamol or ibuprofen [8]. Children under 16 shouldn't be given aspirin [8]. > [!tip] Try this > Give your child a warm bath or help them with gentle stretching before bed [4]. Home care is only for a typical pattern with no warning signs [9][10]. ## How long do growing pains last, and can they be prevented? Growing pains are harmless and usually get better on their own [11]. They can come and go over months, even years, and they can run in families [2]. No proven way to stop them coming back is known. Comfort measures at bedtime can still make the aches easier to settle. It helps to keep an eye out for anything new over time. ## What can make it serious? - Your pain is getting worse, or doesn't settle with rest, less activity or pain relief. - You have lost weight without trying. - You have pain at night or at rest that doesn't settle. - Your child has a limp that hasn't improved after a week, limps without pain, or doesn't want to put weight on their foot. - Your child has heel or ankle pain together with hip or knee pain, morning stiffness that lasts more than 20 minutes, or a foot that has started to turn outwards. - Your child has a fever with a limp or a painful, red, hot or swollen joint, or seems very unwell with foot or leg pain. - Your foot, or a patch of skin on your foot or leg, becomes red, hot, swollen and painful. - You suddenly can't put any weight on your leg or foot, or have sudden severe hip pain or a change in the length of your leg. ## Common questions ### Do growing pains run in families? They can. Growing pains sometimes run in families, so you may find a parent, brother or sister had similar aches as a child. A family history can be a useful clue to mention to your child's podiatrist or GP, but it isn't a diagnosis on its own. Your child still needs the pain to fit the usual pattern. ### Do flat feet or hypermobility cause growing pains? Flat feet and very flexible (double-jointed) joints have been suggested as possible contributors, alone or together with other factors. None has been proven to be the cause. It isn't clear whether flexible joints play a part, so it's best not to assume one of these explains your child's aches. ### Does vitamin D help growing pains? Low vitamin D has been linked with growing pains in some children, but the cause of growing pains is still unknown and no firm conclusions can be drawn. It isn't clear that a supplement eases the aches. If you're wondering about giving one, ask your GP or a pharmacist first. ## Further reading - [Growing pains on Clindice](https://clindice.com/growing-pains) - [What Are Growing Pains?](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13019-growing-pains), Cleveland Clinic - [Growing pains - Resource Library - Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust](https://library.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/growing-pains/), NHS - [Paediatric Orthopaedic Problems Age 0 – ≤15 years – GP Gateway](https://www.coventryrugbygpgateway.nhs.uk/pages/paediatric-orthopaedics/), NHS - [Leg and foot problems in children](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/leg-and-foot-problems-in-children/), NHS ## Sources 1. Growing pains · Tameside Children and Young People. https://tamesidechildrenandyoungpeople.nhs.uk/what-typical-development/secondary-school/growing-pains 2. Growing pains · York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/childrens-centre/your-childs-hospital-journey/therapy-services/physiotherapy/growing-pains/ 3. Growing pains: a noninflammatory pain syndrome of early childhood · Lowe RM, Hashkes PJ · Nature Clinical Practice · 2008. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncprheum0903 4. Babies and children's feet · Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust · 2024. https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/babies-and-childrens-feet/ 5. Growing Pains · Lehman PJ, Carl RL · Sports Health · 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738117692533 6. Growing pains in children: epidemiological analysis in a Mediterranean population · Kaspiris A, Zafiropoulou C · Joint Bone Spine · 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2009.09.001 7. Growing pains · Better Health Channel · 2001. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthy-living/growing-pains 8. Growing pains (recurrent limb pain in children) · nidirect · 2018. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/growing-pains-recurrent-limb-pain-children 9. Nocturnal Leg Pain: Advice for Referrers · clinicalguidelines.scot.nhs.uk · 2024. https://www.clinicalguidelines.scot.nhs.uk/rhc-for-health-professionals/guidelines/primary-care-referral-guidelines/medical-paediatric-pre-referral-guidance/nocturnal-leg-pain-advice-for-referrers/ 10. Growing pains · uhd.nhs.uk. https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/about/docs/our_publications/patient_information_leaflets/Childrens_therapy/Childrens_physiotherapy/Growing-pains.pdf 11. Growing pains · NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/growing-pains/ --- This is general information, not advice about your own situation. To discuss your issues, book with one of our podiatrists. In an emergency, call 000.