[ChrissyB]

At least when I was younger I can remember every ache and pain that I had my mom would call a growing pain. My MIL said that what my two youngest boys experience are growing pains.

What are growing pains. I have noticed that they usually complain about their legs hurting in the shin area and if I rub it that seems to help for the moment. I usually have to give them tylenol or some other pain relief meds. I dont like giving them too much of that but it really seems like that's the only thing that helps them and let's them rest for the night. Funny thing is they only complain about it at night.

My boys are big. The youngest wears a boys sz.8 pants without hemming them and he just turned 5 in Sept. I wonder if they are related to how quickly he's been growing but it seems that he and his other brother only get these when they have been playing hard or doing alot of walking.

Come on experienced moms give me a clue..... Thanks

[goodforme]

Not an experienced mom yet, still learning! I remember having those same pains when I was a child. Mom would rub my shins too, and sometimes my thigh bones would hurt also. I read somewhere that when you're sleeping is the only time your body has to heal from illness or injury, and it's the only time you grow. Maybe it could be attributed to too much exertion, but I like the idea of growing pains, so they don't think they are suffering needlessly, but will wake in the morning a couple centimeters taller!

[Jennifer 3FC]

Chrissy, my son has complained about his legs off and on for years. I talked to the doctor about it and he said his legs were fine. My Mom says what yours says. They are energetic little boys running around and their legs get tired and maybe sore from all that big boy activity!

[LindaBC]

My nephew grew something like 8 inches in one year at about age 13. He was always active in sports but the doctor insisted my sis and her hubby restrict him from all sports for at least 18 months. The bones were growing faster than the ligaments and muscles could keep up (at least that's my understanding of the problem) so there were a lot of aches and pains. He was miserable the whole time he couldn't play sports but he caught up and turned out fine and strong.

[nasus40]

there is a section in the kids legs that are their growth plates just above and below the joint if i remember correctly (too many years from school) and it is possible that they can have pains in the area if you think about it their bones have to grow and then stretch the muscles and cartilage and connecting tissure so it would make a lot of sence to have "growing" pains.

[ChrissyB]

Thank you all for the responces. It's just odd how some of the boys get these pains and the others never had them.

[mthrgoos68]

My 5 year old son also suffers from these pains at night, oddly enough my 3 older daughters never suffered from them at all. It seems to affect boys more than girls. I also hated giving my son Tylenol every night, so I told him that a spoonful of peanut butter helps more than Tylenol. Now when he gets the pains at night, he gets up to have a spoonful of peanut butter and then goes right back to sleep. It usually works and I only need to give him the Tylenol when the pains are really really bad.

[emmy]

Just lurking by...as the MOM of 3 boys ( who have all had the same pains too) but I have to say your spoonful of peanut butter idea is special...I bet you are one GREAT MOM!

Just lurking as I read tonight that Atkins has shown to have some more positve results than originally thought...Is Low carb the same thing?? I will keep on reading and see what I learn...THANKS!

emmy