My child is complaining of aching bones. How can I help, and what could it be?

Children will often complain of aching bones for no apparent reason. Here’s what lies behind their complaints.

Is your child complaining of ‘aching bones’. This is often their way of expressing a pain in the limbs, usually in their legs. This can often be down to wear and tear from physical exercise and running around, but they often complain of pain for no apparent reason. Sometimes they may even wake up from sleep because of the pain.

This is normally down to nothing more than ‘growing pains’. It’s harmless, doesn’t impact their daily lives and will usually settle in time. Even so, you may want to know what’s behind it.

Where the ache comes from

There are several medical causes of aching bones. One of the most common is a lack of vitamin D. This is partly because vitamin D deficiencies have reached epidemic proportions, but also because it is not easy to prevent or treat.

Rarer causes include hormonal, nutritional and multisystem disorders. They’re normally not serious, but if your child’s aching bones are having a significant impact on their daily routine, it’s always best to have them checked by a doctor.