Growing Pains: A Magnesium-Supported Ritual for Parents and Children

Soothing bodies, calming hearts, and building resilience—together.

If your child wakes crying in the night with aching legs, you’re not alone.
Growing pains are incredibly common—especially in children aged 3 to 12—and while they’re not harmful, they can be distressing for both child and parent.

What we often overlook is that this is not just a physical experience—it’s a relational one too.

How we show up in these moments can shape a child’s ability to understand their body, regulate discomfort, and feel safe inside sensation.

What’s Really Happening in Growing Pains?

Growing pains usually show up in the legs—calves, thighs, or behind the knees. They often surface at night, sometimes linked to bursts of physical activity during the day or periods of rapid growth.

From a biological perspective, the cause isn’t fully understood—but what we do know is that mineral depletion (especially magnesium) can make muscle fibers more reactive, tight, and prone to discomfort.

Why Magnesium Helps

Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant. It supports the softening of tense tissue and helps regulate the child’s nervous system—easing not only the pain itself but the distress that can come with it.

When applied topically, magnesium is absorbed directly into the tissues where it's needed—no swallowing, no digestion. Just gentle, effective nourishment.

It also plays a role in:

• Calming the nervous system for sleep

• Regulating muscle contractions

• Easing spasms and twitches

• Supporting emotional balance through the brain-body loop

Talking to Your Child About What’s Happening

Children process pain through story, presence, and felt safety.
You don’t need to give a scientific explanation—you just need to meet them in their experience.

Try something like:

“Your body’s growing, and sometimes it gets a little sore as it stretches.
We’re going to help your legs feel soft and strong again.
This balm has magnesium—it’s a kind of mineral magic that helps your muscles rest.”

If they feel the tingle, say:

“That tingle means it’s working. It’s waking up the tired parts and helping them let go.”

 

Regulation Starts With You

Children learn how to respond to pain by watching us.
If we feel panicked, frustrated, or disconnected—they feel it in their bodies.
But when we are calm, grounded, and loving, their nervous systems mirror ours.
This is co-regulation. This is attunement.

That’s why a magnesium ritual is not just for the child—it’s for you too.

You can’t pour from an empty cup.
If you’re chronically underslept, overwhelmed, or overstimulated, your nervous system is running on fumes.

A simple magnesium routine for yourself—before bed, after they fall asleep, or even with them—can help you show up with presence when it matters most.

Bedtime Ritual: A Magnesium Moment of Bonding

Try this simple 5-minute ritual at night, or whenever growing pains arise:

1. Grounding Touch
Apply Mullum Minerals MgC12 Kids Roll-on to your hands and roll directly onto the child's legs. Gently rub it into your child’s calves, feet, or thighs with slow, soothing strokes.

2. Words of Safety
Speak Gently:

“You are safe. Your legs are growing strong. This will help your body feel better.”

3. Shared Stillness
Place your hand over their heart or back and invite them to breathe with you. Long exhales. No fixing. Just presence.

4. Self-Soothing (for You)
Afterward, take a moment to apply magnesium to your own neck, shoulders, or feet. (we love using the Kids Roll-on too sometimes but the MgC12 Spray is also epic) Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself of what a beautiful job you are doing, nurturing this young childs health, happiness and growth. 

Shop the MgC12 Kids Roll-On here! You honestly wont regret it!