Does your little one complain of pain in the legs? Perhaps it is the growing pains that, although not severe, are very uncomfortable. We tell you why they arise and how they can be alleviated.
Starting at age three, many children experience “growing pains.” These are because as the bones grow, the muscles stretch and with them the blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, the little one has discomfort in different parts of the legs and, sometimes, in the arms. They are located in the extremities because it is in them where the longest bones are found, which are the ones with the greatest growth.
How to identify them?
These pains are not rheumatic or articular, that is, they are never located in the knees or ankles and they do not present any external injury. And if there is a lump or bruise in the painful area or the little one complains when you pass your hand, the discomfort is the consequence of a blow that you may not have felt until the muscle cools down.
The pain due to growth is persistent, deep and can have different degrees of intensity, but in no case is it so strong as to stop the daily activities of your treasure. The duration of these discomforts is usually from a few minutes to several hours, and they can be repeated sporadically several times a week or a month, for two or three months. If the pain is continuous and very intense, and if it persists after the night rest, the cause is not growth; it will be necessary to go to the pediatrician to investigate other possible reasons for his illness.
According to recent research, growth pains are more frequent when the little ones exercise a lot throughout the day. It has also been observed that they usually manifest at night, when the baby is at rest and the muscles cool down.
Quick and effective solutions
The quickest way to calm these discomforts is to give your child a mild pain reliever, such as paracetamol. But if you don’t want to turn to medicines, there are other ways to ease it:
– Bathe it with hot or warm water.
– Give it a gentle massage on the arms and legs.
– Apply hot water sprays to the areas where the pain exists.
With these measures it is certain that your treasure will stop feeling pain in a few minutes. And although the next day the episode will repeat itself, you must be patient, considering that these discomforts are normal and temporary.