Children's health
Medicines for Growing pains
A common, harmless cause of leg aches in children, typically in the evening or night, which settle on their own and need only reassurance and simple comfort measures.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Growing pains?
Growing pains are a common and harmless cause of aching leg pains in children, typically affecting children between about three and twelve years of age. Despite the name, they are not actually caused by growing, and the exact cause is not known, but they are a well-recognised, benign pattern.
- How it is treated: Because growing pains are harmless and self-limiting, management centres on reassurance and simple comfort measures, once the typical pattern confirms the diagnosis and other causes have been considered.
- Self-care: Reassurance that growing pains are harmless and will pass, and simple comfort measures during an episode — gently massaging the legs, applying warmth (a warm bath or compress), and simple pain relief if needed — are the mainstays.
- When to seek help: Growing pains usually need no medical attention.
What it is
Growing pains are a common and harmless cause of aching leg pains in children, typically affecting children between about three and twelve years of age. Despite the name, they are not actually caused by growing, and the exact cause is not known, but they are a well-recognised, benign pattern. The typical features are helpful in recognising them: the pains are felt in both legs (not just one), usually in the muscles of the calves, thighs, or behind the knees (rather than in the joints), and they characteristically occur in the late afternoon, evening or night — sometimes waking the child from sleep — but the child is completely well and pain-free by the morning and able to run and play normally during the day. The pains come and go (not every day), and there is no limp, swelling, redness, or difficulty using the legs, and the child is otherwise healthy and growing well. These features are important because they distinguish harmless growing pains from other causes of leg pain that would need assessment. Growing pains, while they can be distressing for the child (and worrying for parents) at the time, are not a sign of any serious problem, do not cause any harm, and the child grows out of them.
How it is treated
Because growing pains are harmless and self-limiting, management centres on reassurance and simple comfort measures, once the typical pattern confirms the diagnosis and other causes have been considered. Reassurance is key — understanding that growing pains are common, harmless, and that the child will grow out of them helps both child and parents. During an episode, simple measures usually help soothe the pain: gently massaging or rubbing the legs, applying warmth (such as a warm bath or a warm compress), and, if needed, simple pain relief (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen at an appropriate dose for the child) for more troublesome episodes. Comfort and reassurance from a parent help the child settle. No specific treatment or investigation is usually needed for typical growing pains. Importantly, a doctor should assess leg pain that does not fit the typical pattern — for example pain in only one leg, pain in a joint, pain with a limp, swelling, redness or warmth, pain that is present during the day or getting worse, pain with fever, tiredness, weight loss, or feeling unwell, or if the child seems generally unwell — as these features point away from growing pains towards other causes needing assessment. The reassuring message is that growing pains are a common, harmless cause of evening or night-time leg aches in children who are well and active by day, needing only reassurance and simple comfort measures, while leg pain that does not fit the typical pattern should be checked.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Growing pains
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Reassurance that growing pains are harmless and will pass, and simple comfort measures during an episode — gently massaging the legs, applying warmth (a warm bath or compress), and simple pain relief if needed — are the mainstays. No specific treatment is usually needed for typical growing pains.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
Growing pains usually need no medical attention. See a GP if leg pain does not fit the typical pattern — pain in one leg only, joint pain, a limp, swelling, redness or warmth, pain during the day or getting worse, or pain with fever, tiredness, weight loss, or the child seeming unwell — as these need assessment.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Growing pains: frequently asked questions
What are growing pains?
They are a common, harmless cause of aching leg pains in children (in both legs, usually the muscles, in the evening or night), with the child completely well and active by day. Despite the name, they are not caused by growing, and they are not a sign of anything serious — children grow out of them.
How do you treat growing pains?
With reassurance and simple comfort measures — gently massaging the legs, applying warmth (a warm bath or compress), and simple pain relief if needed. No specific treatment is usually required. Leg pain that does not fit the typical pattern (such as one-sided or joint pain, a limp, or swelling) should be checked.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Growing pains
- NICE CKS — Growing pains
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