Key points about Restless Legs Syndrome:
- children with restless legs have an uncomfortable feeling in their legs when trying to fall asleep
- the cause of restless legs is not known but it can run in families
- children with restless legs may describe the feeling as a 'creepy/crawly' or 'pulling' feeling
- there is no single test for Restless Legs Syndrome, but sometimes tests are needed to rule out other reasons for sleeping problems
- change your child's bedtime routine so that your child does not get into bed until they are ready to fall asleep
This page is about sleep in primary school children. It's part of a whole section on sleeping sound.
What is Restless Legs Syndrome?
Children with restless legs have an uncomfortable feeling in their legs when trying to fall asleep. These feelings usually happen at the start of the night, whereas 'growing pains' occur during the night. Children with restless legs may:
- describe the feeling as a 'creepy/crawly' or 'pulling' feeling
- move around a lot in bed to try to stop the uncomfortable feeling
- walk or pace around at bedtime
- be unable to sit for a long time and
- be tired or cranky the next day due to lack of sleep
There is not a single test for Restless Legs Syndrome but sometimes tests are needed to rule out other reasons for sleeping problems.
Causes of Restless Legs Syndrome
The cause of restless legs is not known but it can run in families. It can also occur in children who have low iron levels (anaemia), and is more common in children who have some illnesses like diabetes and kidney disease.
Managing Restless Legs Syndrome
Change the bedtime routine so that your child does not get into bed until they are ready to fall asleep. This means all bedtime routines (for example, stories) should happen with your child out of the bed.
- avoid caffeine - caffeine is in tea, coffee, cola, chocolate, and some medications
- reduce the discomfort with massage and cold and hot packs
- treat iron deficiency or low folic acid - your doctor can advise on how best to do this
- exercising several hours before bedtime can also be helpful - avoid exercise just before bed
Acknowledgements
Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand thank the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, for making this content available to parents and families.
© Copyright – Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2014. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this content may be reproduced by a process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.
