Growing Pains: what it usually means
Also searched as: leg pains in children, nighttime limb pain, benign limb pain of childhood · Updated 19 Aug 2026 · Educational — not medical advice
The short answer: Growing pains are a common, harmless condition in children, usually causing aching in both legs in the late afternoon or at night, and they are not actually caused by bones growing but are thought to relate to active play during the day. They typically affect children between three and twelve years old and resolve by morning. Pain that is one-sided, occurs during the day, or comes with a limp, swelling, or fever is not typical of growing pains and needs evaluation.
See a doctor promptly if…
Pain that occurs only on one side of the body is not typical of growing pains and should be evaluated.
Pain that happens during the day, not just evenings or at night, needs medical assessment.
Growing pain-like symptoms with a limp, joint swelling, redness, or warmth are not consistent with growing pains and need prompt evaluation.
Limb pain accompanied by fever, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss should be checked promptly.
Pain severe enough to wake a child crying and that does not respond to comfort measures deserves medical attention.
Common causes
- Daytime physical activity — Active play, running, and climbing during the day can leave developing muscles achy by evening, a pattern commonly called growing pains.
- Normal variation in limb development — Some children experience more noticeable muscle fatigue as their bodies grow and change, without any underlying joint or bone problem.
- Lower pain threshold at night — Discomfort that is easy to ignore during the day can feel more noticeable when a child is resting and has fewer distractions at bedtime.
- Family history — Growing pains tend to run in families, suggesting some children may simply be more prone to this pattern of limb discomfort.
- Flexible joints — Children with more flexible joints and ligaments may be somewhat more prone to end-of-day limb aches.
What helps
- Gently massage your child's legs and offer a warm compress before bed on nights with discomfort.
- Offer reassurance, since growing pains are not harmful and typically resolve by the following morning.
- Encourage regular stretching, especially after very active days.
- Use a pediatrician-approved dose of pain reliever occasionally if discomfort is significant, following your pediatrician's guidance.
Which doctor to consult
Your pediatrician can confirm that limb pain fits the typical pattern of growing pains and rule out joint, bone, or other causes if the pain is one-sided, daytime, or accompanied by swelling, a limp, or fever.
Lab tests doctors often check
If this symptom persists, these are the values a doctor commonly looks at — and if you already have a report, the analyzer explains where you stand.
Questions people ask
Are growing pains actually caused by growing?
Despite the name, there is no evidence that growing pains are caused by bones actually lengthening. They are more likely related to muscle fatigue from active daytime play, and the discomfort typically appears in the evening or at night in both legs.
How can I tell the difference between growing pains and something more serious?
Growing pains are usually felt in both legs, occur in the evening or at night, and are gone by morning without swelling or a limp. Pain that is one-sided, present during the day, or accompanied by swelling, redness, a limp, or fever is not typical and should be evaluated by a pediatrician.
How long do growing pains typically last?
Growing pains often come and go over months or even a couple of years, typically affecting children between three and twelve years old, and they usually resolve completely as children get older. Individual episodes are brief and respond well to comfort measures like massage or warmth.
Related symptoms
This guide is educational and doesn't replace a clinical assessment. If a symptom is severe, rapidly worsening, or worrying you, see a doctor — being checked and reassured is never a wasted visit.