Growing Pains in Children – Grand Rapids, MI Guide for Parents

Growing pains are a common, usually harmless type of muscular pain that can affect children in Grand Rapids between about 3–5 years old and again around 8–11 years old. Although they can be very uncomfortable, they do not damage your child’s bones, muscles, or joints.

Families in the Grand Rapids area often notice these pains more during active seasons (summer sports, winter sledding and skating) when kids are running, jumping, and playing more.

Who Gets Growing Pains?

Boys and girls are equally affected

Growing pains can affect:

  • Boys and girls at similar rates
  • Children ages 3–5 and 8–11
  • Some young people into early adolescence or the teenage years

Pain is usually felt in the legs, especially:

  • Calves
  • Front of the thighs
  • Behind the knees

The pain:

  • Often starts in the late afternoon or evening
  • Can be worse at night, especially at bedtime
  • May be strong enough to wake a child from sleep

In Grand Rapids, parents may notice more complaints after:

  • Long days at local playgrounds or parks (e.g., Millennium Park, Riverside Park)
  • Sports practices or games (soccer, hockey, basketball, dance)
  • Active snow days (sledding, skating, snow play)

Symptoms of Growing Pains

Common signs of growing pains include:

  • Muscular aches rather than joint pain
  • Pain in both legs (not usually just one)
  • Pain in:
    • Calves
    • Behind the knees
    • Front of the thighs
  • Pain that comes and goes:
    • May happen every night for a week
    • A few times a week
    • Or only once in a while
  • Pain that is worse in the evening or night
  • Pain that may wake your child from sleep
  • Pain that is gone by morning

Important features:

  • Your child can usually run, walk, and play normally during the day
  • The pain does not cause a limp
  • Moving the legs does not make the pain better or worse (suggesting the joints are not affected)
  • Occasionally, the arms can ache as well
  • Some children may also complain of headaches

Are Growing Pains Really About “Growing”?

The cause of growing pains is unclear

Despite the name, growing pains are not caused by bones growing.

  • Bones grow slowly, even during growth spurts
  • This slow growth does not cause pain

Many children in Grand Rapids have growing pains on and off for years, but the pains usually:

  • Decrease over time
  • Are gone by mid-adolescence

Possible Triggers and Contributing Factors

While the exact cause is unknown, several things may contribute:

1. Muscular tiredness

  • More physical activity than usual (sports, playground time, running around outside) can be linked to aching muscles in some children.
  • In West Michigan, kids may be more active:
    • In the summer (swimming in local lakes, biking, outdoor sports)
    • In the winter (sledding, skating, skiing, snow play)

Not all active children get growing pains, and many children with growing pains have not been more active than usual.

2. Poor posture

  • Standing, sitting, or walking awkwardly can put extra strain on muscles.
  • Long periods of sitting in class, using devices, or gaming can affect posture.

3. Foot and leg alignment

Children with:

  • Very flat feet
  • Feet that roll inward when walking

may be more likely to have leg pains. In these cases, a podiatrist in Grand Rapids may be helpful.

4. Emotional stress

Stress or emotional upset can sometimes increase the way children feel pain, although this is not the main cause for most kids.

Growing pains:

  • Do not make a child generally unwell
  • Do not change the way a child walks or runs
  • Do not cause long-term damage

When It’s Probably Just Growing Pains

Growing pains are more likely if:

  • Pain is in both legs
  • Pain happens mostly in the late afternoon, evening, or at night
  • Pain goes away by morning
  • Your child walks and runs normally
  • There is no swelling, redness, or warmth in the legs
  • Your child is otherwise healthy (no fever, no major change in appetite or energy)

Even though the pain can be strong, growing pains are benign and usually respond to simple home treatments.

When to Call a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Growing pains are a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other causes need to be ruled out.

Contact your child’s doctor, or seek care at a local Grand Rapids provider such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, or Mercy Health if:

  • Pain is severe
  • Pain affects only one leg or one arm
  • Your child is limping
  • Pain is present during the day, not just at night
  • The leg or arm is sore to touch
  • There is swelling, redness, or warmth in the limb
  • Your child is unwell, has:
    • Fever
    • Loss of appetite
    • Unusual tiredness
    • Rash

These symptoms could suggest other conditions, such as:

  • Joint problems (e.g., arthritis)
  • Bone or joint infections (e.g., osteomyelitis)
  • Muscle or bone injuries
  • Other infections or inflammatory conditions

For urgent concerns, Grand Rapids families can:

  • Call their pediatrician or family doctor
  • Visit a local urgent care
  • Use children’s services at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (part of Corewell Health)

The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can also help connect families with local pediatric and primary care resources.

How Growing Pains Are Diagnosed

Your child’s healthcare provider will:

  • Ask about:
    • When the pain happens (time of day)
    • Where it hurts
    • How long it lasts
    • Activity level and recent injuries
  • Examine:
    • Legs, joints, and muscles
    • Walking and running pattern
    • Posture and feet (for flat feet or feet rolling in)

Tests (like blood work or X-rays) are usually not needed if the story and exam fit typical growing pains and there are no red flags.

Helping Your Child Manage Growing Pains at Home

Many children in Grand Rapids can be kept comfortable with simple measures. Helpful options include:

Comfort and reassurance

  • Offer plenty of cuddles and physical comfort
  • Reassure your child that:
    • The pain is not dangerous
    • It will go away
    • Their legs will feel normal by morning

Gentle massage

  • Massage the painful areas (calves, thighs, behind knees)
  • You may use a plain lotion or gentle massage oil if you like
  • The massage itself, and the one-on-one attention, can be very soothing

Warmth and heat

  • Warm baths before bed can relax muscles (especially helpful during cold Grand Rapids winters)
  • Warm packs or heating pads (on low, with a cloth between the pack and skin) can be applied briefly to sore areas
  • Always supervise and check the temperature to avoid burns

Pain-relief medicine

  • Over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can be used
  • Always:
    • Check the bottle for the correct dose by age and weight
    • Follow your doctor’s instructions
    • Avoid giving aspirin to children unless specifically directed by a doctor

Foot and posture support

If your child:

  • Has very flat feet
  • Trips often
  • Seems to walk with feet rolling inward

consider:

  • Asking your child’s doctor for a referral to a podiatrist in Grand Rapids
  • Having their posture and gait checked
  • Using supportive shoes or orthotics if recommended

What not to say

Try not to tell your child that the pain is:

  • “Because you were playing too much”
  • “Because you are growing”

This may make them:

  • Afraid to play or be active
  • Worried that growing is painful or harmful

Instead, emphasize that:

  • Their body is healthy
  • These pains are common in kids
  • They will outgrow them

Local Grand Rapids Context: Seasonal Considerations

Living in West Michigan and the Grand Rapids area means:

  • Cold, snowy winters – kids may have:

    • Less outdoor activity for stretches, then sudden bursts of intense play in the snow
    • Stiff or tight muscles from being less active or from cold exposure

  • Active springs and summers – with:

    • Soccer, baseball, biking, swimming in nearby lakes
    • Long days at parks and on trails

Sudden changes in activity level can make muscular aches more noticeable. Encouraging regular stretching, gradual increases in activity, and good hydration can help support muscle health.

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you’re concerned about your child’s leg pain or are unsure whether it’s growing pains, you can contact:

  • Your pediatrician or family doctor
  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) pediatric clinics
  • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids or Metro Health – University of Michigan Health pediatric services
  • Urgent care centers in the Grand Rapids area for after-hours concerns
  • Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health for help finding a primary care provider or pediatrician if you don’t have one

Key Points About Growing Pains

  • The exact cause is not known
  • Growing pains do not damage bones, muscles, or joints
  • Pain usually:
    • Affects both legs
    • Is worse in the evening or at night
    • Goes away by morning
  • Growing pains do not cause a limp or stop a child from running and playing normally during the day
  • They are often mistakenly blamed on bone growth, but:
    • Bones grow slowly, even in growth spurts
    • This slow growth does not cause pain
  • Always see a doctor if:
    • Pain is severe, one-sided, present during the day, or
    • Your child is unwell, has fever, swelling, redness, or limps

With reassurance, simple home care, and guidance from your Grand Rapids healthcare provider, most children outgrow growing pains without any long-term problems.