Growing pains in toddlers

Toddlers often start complaining about pains in their legs and
knees. Their calf muscles often feel knotted up. This kind of leg pain in children is part of what
is called, ‘Growing Pains’. These pains are part of growing up and occur mostly due to the strenuous
activity during daytime.

Other than the above, here are a few more indicators to help you
identify growing pains:

• Pain in muscles not joints
• Pain in both legs, in
  front of the thigh, calf muscles, back of knee
• Possible spasm in muscles
• Pains wake the child up from sleep
• Pains appear at the end of the day
• Lack of fever and other symptoms of sickness

In all other cases, as in
the following, it is advisable to call in your doctor:

• Swollen joints; inability to
  swiftly move limbs
• Warmth and redness in joints
• Pains persisting for more
  than 24 hours
• Limb pain is growing very severe and causing the child to
  limp

Here are some suggestions to ease your toddlers’ pains:

• Stretch their
  feet following any complaint of pain
• Gently massage their calf muscles
• If
  possible, apply heat to affected area
• Give them Acetaminophen and/or
  Tylenol

Disclaimer: The above
information is commonsense reflection drawn from general experience. If you are looking for expert
medical advice, please consult your doctor.