What Could It Be? Growth Pains, Something Else?

It could be growing pains, but is she constipated? I guess that seems more likely to me. Maybe she's ready for potty training and resisting the idea of putting on a new diaper? Hmmm.... It's a puzzle!

Yes I agree with the other Mom that responded because my daughter did the same thing and it was just because her ankles had grown and she had gotten heavier and it was hurting her ankles when I used one hand. So I just went to lifting only one leg, or standing up diapering. No worries.

Hi K.,

I never lifted my kids up with their legs. I always lifted from their bum and still do with my grandkids. I just slide my hand under their bum and lift up to get the diaper under there.

Also, my daughter was tall for her age and had leg pains too. Her doctor said it was her ligaments which were hurting her while they caught up with her bone growth. She also had night time pains which woke her up. Thankfully she grew out of this when her growth slowed down.

A call to the doctor is always a good caution though as each kid is different. Good luck and I hope you wee one feels better!

Give a quick call to your doc to ease your mind. In the meantime I would see if moving one leg at a time is painful.

My guess would be growing pains. My now 5 year old has complained over the last few years of his feet hurting him. His doc told us it was growing pains. I rub his feet when this happens and it seems to help him. I would try to raise her for diaper changes differently with less pressure on the legs and maybe give her legs a little massage. See if that helps.
T. G

K. myself I would call her doctor & let them know what is going on some times kids can hurt them selfs without us knowing it but to be on the safe side I would just ask her doctor may want to see her early to find out why she is doing this. careing Mother & Granmother J..

Oh I had a time where my daughter (first born) did this. What I had to realize was her ankles had grown and the way I was holding them together was squeezing the bones against each other and it hurt! Try just lifting one leg and see how she responds.

Best of wishes,

K.

Since her legs are already apart for the change just ask her to lift her bottom. You should be able to slip the diaper right under. If she had a BM and you are trying to wipe then you might need to have her stand up for that. Good luck.

I agree with the other ladies on this. Also, my daughter got to the point where she wanted to do some part of diaper changing on her own and the part she could do was spread her legs and put her weight on her feet and lift her bum for me to put the diaper under. One other way to make it easier was just to have her lift her bum up while her legs were in the air. She loved doing this and she could see how tight she could curl herself up. It is amazing how much they can curl.

It's highly unlikely, but I know that if I lift both of my legs at the same time my back hurts. ---just another thought--
S.

My first guess? Is that you've just had a warning shot off the bow that "independence seeking times" are coming up.

Her body is just changing. If it doesn't hurt or bother her any other time, it may be that she doesn't like her ankles pushing together now that they are bonier and not little round chubby fleshy parts. It could also be that because she is longer, her body feels like it is contorting in a weird way. Try lifting one leg at a time. She will most like lift her bottom in the air for you and when it's poopy, I taught my daughter to hold her own legs and lifted her bottom up pretty high and I only had to shift her up a little bit by grabbing one leg instead.

You'll figure out a new routine. If you get any complaints at other times, it would be good to watch for signs of a problem, but if this resolves it, you should be good to go!