Pre-schooler with leg cramps?

Question

My son is 4, and has frequent reocurring leg cramps. They always happen at night, usually waking him and he is in tears. We give him Motrin, and It takes us 45 minutes of rubbing his legs before we can get him to calm down and go back to sleep. This happens maybe 3 out of 5 nights. Some nights when we know he has had a busy day with lots of physical activity, we give him Motrin even before he goes to bed.

Do any of you experience the same thing with your kids? Is this just growing pains? This has been happening for 7 months now. I think that having to give a kid warm baths and Motrin so often isn't normal.

Any help?

BTW, he eats a banana EVERY DAY, and drinks plenty of water. So it's not potassium deficiency or dehydration.

Answer 1

My 5 brothers and I HAD the exact same problem.

We all used to get bad leg cramps or "charlie horses"....sometimes in both legs at the same time. And it always occured late at night.

What I am about to share with you is what has helped us sleep comfortably at night. These cures are the results of my parents' loving research and their many hours of asking questions from experts around the country.

#1 Top Cure

--- Place a bar of soap under his fitted sheet close to his legs. It works best if one of his legs rest on it as he sleeps. You may be laughing right now but it WORKS. This came from an elderly doctor in Florida and we owe her our lives. I'm not sure how it works but the bar of soap is a miracle!

#2 Cure for leg cramps

----Coral Calcium : I know your son is 4 years old so PLEASE ask your doctor concerning this product. My siblings and I are older than your son and therefore we take one tablet a day as instructed on the label.. You can find coral calcium at any GNC store or Walgreens. The coral calcium improves the blood flow through your veins which, in turn, helps eliminate the cramping.

#3 Cure for leg cramps

Try to reduce physical activity 3 -4 hours before bedtime. As stated, I know that your son is 4 years old but if you could somehow reduce his play activity such as running and jumping several hours before bedtime, this will significantly reduce leg cramps at night. If this is not possible, make absolutely sure he drinks orange juice an hour before bedtime. This helps us tremendously!

#4 Orange Juice, Water and Bananas

You probably already been told that water and potassium from bananas is good for leg cramps. This is true ,however, the liquid that always stays in our refrigerator is orange juice. This is also what we drink DURING our leg cramps attacks. When your son has a leg cramp, get him on his feet and start walking as you push the cramp downward. Always work with gravity...not against it. As you are rubbing his leg and he is walking, make sure he is drinking orange juice during this process. The cramp will dissippate in approximately 10 minutes compared to the 45 minutes you are spending currently.

Very Important: After his cramp is gone, make sure he walks an additional 5 - 7 minutes inside. This will ensure better blood flow in his legs for a very comfortable and restful sleep for you and him!

In conclusion, I certainly hope that this information will be beneficial to your son and anyone else with leg cramps. I have not had a leg cramp in approximately 1 year due to the above steps. You will definitely be amaze with the power of the bar of soap.

Answer 2

Toddler Leg Cramps

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Pre-schooler with leg cramps?
My son is 4, and has frequent reocurring leg cramps. They always happen at night, usually waking him and he is in tears. We give him Motrin, and It takes us 45 minutes of rubbing his legs before we can get him to calm down and go back to sleep. This happens maybe 3 out of 5 nights. Some nights...

Answer 4

A calcium deficiency can cause muscle spasms.

This is really something you should talk to the pediatrician about, though.

I had growing pains as a child, but I wouldn't describe them as "cramps". Of course, with a four-year-old maybe he's not describing them correctly either. Growing pains are are "straight pains" that are felt in the chins and lower leg. They run up the length of the lower leg. (At least that's how I had them.)

You're right - giving him Motrin too much could cause serious side effects. You need to talk to a doctor about whether you should be giving him that at all. Ask, too, whether the fact that it is a blood-thinner could affect any calcium he takes in.

Aside from strongly recommending you talk to the doctor about this, I can tell you that I don't take in much calcium; and after a while I start noticing fierce leg cramping that makes it seem almost impossible to get them "unknotted". When I notice this starting to happen I make it a point to get more calcium, and it disappears for quite a while until I start to forget to make sure I get enough calcium again.

Answer 5

It takes eight bananas to consume the amount of potassium that we require each day. Canned peaches right before bedtime would help with that. "Growing pains" are common, though they aren't usually as frequent and painful as your little guy is experiencing them. Don't laugh, but what I found did the trick for my son when he was having such pain was put his feet in socks and open-toed sandals. Something about not that the shoes were too small but something about the exercise that open-toes afforded his feet and lower extremities did the trick. Also, elderly people get cramps at night just from the blankets being too heavy on their feet and forcing their feet to bend downward a bit. I get those kind of cramps from blankets. Look in the telephone book under home medical oxygen and/or medical equipment suppliers and ask them if they or who else sells the little "tent" kit that goes on the end of a bed to keep blankets off the feet.

Answer 6

I got HORRIBLE leg cramps every night at age 6.

He has a calcium deficiency! It took my pediatrician MONTHS to figure it out!

He really needs a multivitamin. But if the deficiency is serious, he'll need more than just that. So if the vitamin alone doesn't help (or he's already taking one), give him an additional calcium supplement, like a chewable Tums or something every day. After taking the multivitamin and Tums every day for two weeks, I finally had some relief and slept through the night.

It's not just growing pains, trust me! I went through awful pain with everyone telling my parents it was "growing pains".

Answer 7

Okay, I am a massage therapist. What your son is having is growing pains. My three-year-old son had them too. When he gets these cramps, rub the backs of his calfs in an upward motion. Do this five times using a gentle but firm pressure. Then hold his foot in one hand and his calf in the other. Stretch his calf muscle by flexing his foot toward his body and hold for 15 seconds, then flex away for the same amont of time. This should help. Massage his legs before he goes to bed everynight, or when you get a chance.

Answer 8

As painful as it is, getting out of bed immediately & standing gets rid of cramps ....because the leg muscles are being stretched. I would have him work up to 5 min of leg stretches (ask your dr which exercises to do & how long). It can't hurt for him to do them. It's especially important if he is an active 5 yr old. Exercise can cause cramping.

Answer 9

I have had cramps in my legs since I was a toddler. I am now 20 years old and still get them. When I was little the only thing that worked was having my parents rub them and as I got older and still do rub them against my bed while I am trying to fall asleep. Good luck!

My mother always told me they were growing pains but like I said before I still get them and I give her crap all the time for her telling me that!

Answer 10

Best cure for leg cramps I've used or years is dill pickle juice. A good gulp and instantly it gone. It's an old miners trick. Try it, you'll see.