Can a 5 year old have growing pains?

[InARut]

I am clueless, honestly. DD has always complained a bit about various parts of her body aching and if she gets the slightest, tiniest mark on her skin (no blood) she has to show it to me and her voice changes into this really whiny, weak noise (Can you tell it irritates me a bit?) Over the last few weeks she has been using that voice a lot and pointing out every tiny spot etc on her skin and constantly complaining about aches in literally every part of her body - In between the complaining she looks and acts fine, if a bit whiny. Her teacher says there are no problems at school and it may be 'growing pains'. She has now started doing this at night - she is fine all evening, fine when getting ready for bed (well the usual stalling anyway), fine once in bed but then a few minutes later she starts crying and when we go back she says x(insert any part of the body)is hurting. Dh responds with sympathy but last night I suggested to him to leave her and after about 5 minutes sobbing she went to sleep. She has always been difficult to get to bed btw.

Is this attention seeking or could it be growing pains. She is eating and sleeping well otherwise.

5 year old can get growing pains, my dd got them in her legs every so often (still does actually). The only thing that helped was a massage.

But there may be more to it in your dd's case. Have you talked to her about it?

Have definitely mentioned to her that she seems to have a lot of pains and aches but haven't has much of a response from her. I am wary of giving her a lot of attention for it tbh- she can get a bit too anxious over things. Also I have been unwell lately which includes me having aches and pains, it has ocurred to me that she is copying/feeling anxious about me too.

yes my dd gets them a lot, and she is getting v tall!

yes!!!

all mine started with growing pains from 3 upwards!

I give mine calpol/nurofen, put huge ski-socks on them (up to their knee's ones), and a hotwater bottle, and that is often enough to help.

rubbing her legs will help too.

if you liken it to cramp that you may get, it will give you an idea of how much it can hurt them at times......I had awful growing pains as a child and used to tie ribbons around my legs and thump them to distract myself from the pain.....growing pains are horrible.

good luck with her........she may well continue with this, on and off (mine only get bounts several months apart) up until her teens. My 14yo DD1 still suffers, as do all down to DS2, who is 5!