My eldest used to wake overnight SCREAMING that his legs were hurting. It was so so worrying but after visiting doctors and ruling out anything more serious, he was diagnosed with growing pains ❤️
Growing pains are very real, and they often show up at night when children’s bodies finally slow down and muscles relax.
Growing pains most commonly affect the legs and can feel sharper or more noticeable once your child is lying still. While they’re harmless, they can absolutely disrupt sleep and leave everyone feeling exhausted.
A few gentle things we did to to help was:
✨ A warm bath before bed to relax tight muscles
✨ Light stretching, cuddles and a calming leg massage
✨ Comfort and reassurance — we acknowledged the pain which helped him feel safe
✨ A consistent bedtime routine so the body and nervous system can fully unwind
✨ Extra connection before sleep, especially on more active days
When children feel calm, soothed and supported, their bodies can relax enough to drift back into sleep even on uncomfortable nights 💛
If growing pains (or any nighttime discomfort) are impacting your child’s sleep, you don’t have to push through it alone. Gentle, responsive sleep support can make a world of difference for both your child and your own rest.
#childsleep #toddlerlife #preschoolsleep #bedtimeroutine #parentingtips #sleepconsultant #gentleparenting #nightwakings #sleepstruggles #growingpains #NightswithNat
