I'm trying to avoid loading up G with Tylenol and/or Motrin 24/7. I've been doing Epsom salt baths, pushing bananas for snacks, etc, and making sure he stays really hydrated.
We were up Saturday night from 1:00am-4:30am with him whimpering and crying and telling me he had "a really, really bad owie on his leg". I tried icing it and a heating pad but nothing was helping. He is sleeping like crap and I am exhausted. Please tell me you have some magical fix for this other than wait until he is done growing.
I give KHC Motrin at night sometimes when it acts up for him. Sometimes a hot bath works. Mostly though, I find calming him down and distracting him works the best. I don't think growing pains are particularly worse at night; I just think with the quiet and the dark, they're more focused on it than they are during the day.
That's a really good point. He is easily distracted during the day for the most part. Does this ever end? You get comfortable and think you are totally owning parenting and then all of a sudden, something new.
I give KHC Motrin at night sometimes when it acts up for him. Sometimes a hot bath works. Mostly though, I find calming him down and distracting him works the best. I don't think growing pains are particularly worse at night; I just think with the quiet and the dark, they're more focused on it than they are during the day.
That's a really good point. He is easily distracted during the day for the most part. Does this ever end? You get comfortable and think you are totally owning parenting and then all of a sudden, something new.
The bolded never ends. That's parenting in a nutshell!
Post by lostlenore on Nov 24, 2014 12:32:55 GMT -5
I usually just lay in bed with him and massage his leg(s) until he falls back asleep. If he wakes up again I give Motrin & massage again. It doesn't happen too often though.
Post by oregonpachey on Nov 24, 2014 12:34:52 GMT -5
My son has had them nightly for two years. Mostly in his knees and feet. I give Advil, but trying to get out of that pattern since he can't have a dose every night, it's just not good for him. Rubbing them and a rice sock seem to help but he sobs in pain at night. It's awful.
I have heard arnica oil works but I haven't tried it.
I have noticed that when he stands barefoot, his feet turn inward. I have no arch and I'm going to bring it up to his pedi at his 3 year appointment. I had inserts in my shoes my entire life so I'm concerned he will need them as well.
I have noticed that when he stands barefoot, his feet turn inward. I have no arch and I'm going to bring it up to his pedi at his 3 year appointment. I had inserts in my shoes my entire life so I'm concerned he will need them as well.
Like rolling over the ankle? My son has the same thing and started to get bad growing pains about that age. It could be that it makes them worse. I always hold my son and rub his leg until he's ready to go back to sleep. When he has woken up screaming in the night I give him Motrin.
We saw an ortho at 3 years old and he is wearing an insert that will hopefully straighten it out. We go back next month and if this one doesn't work we'll have to try a custom fit one. I think I see improvement.
Massage helps my girls; it reminds me of when my mom would do it for me. They're usually back to sleep within 15 minutes. If they were up for hours, I would definitely give them Tylenol.
Motrin and a hot compress. I take a washcloth and run it under hot water, wrap the area that hurts and then wrap a hand towel around it to hold it in place and hold the heat in. He is typically back to sleep within minutes.
jesus christ luvvy. you are trying to avoid motrin/tylenol? give your kid some medication FFS. i agree that other things can help - we massage, hot baths, etc. but growing pains are real and for some, very painful. i'm fucking side-eyeing you like nothing else right now.
Geez, calm yourself. I didn't say I'm not giving him any tylenol/motrin I said I wanted other options so I don't have to give it to him 24/7. Of course I'm going to give him medications when he needs it. I'm not a freaking monster.
I gave him Motrin shortly after he woke up and it didn't help him.
Geez, calm yourself. I didn't say I'm not giving him any tylenol/motrin I said I wanted other options so I don't have to give it to him 24/7. Of course I'm going to give him medications when he needs it. I'm not a freaking monster.
you may have to give it to him every night, sometimes all night for days at a time. i don't think that out of the norm. none of the other options are going to help you when your kid is whimpering for hours at a time. THAT is when you use the meds.
And I did give it to him. I'm not going to let my kid suffer if I can give him meds that might make him feel better. I just don't want that to be the only tool in my arsenal to help him.
Non parent here, but I used Ben gay at night when I had growing pains really bad for a few years when I was 14ish. Not sure how old your kid is so this might not be a good solution.