My healthy 6 year old girl has been complaining of back pain for awhile particularly in the morning. I suspect its her twin mattress. We got the mattress from my husband's sister. It was a few years old but completely unused. She had it in a spare room but no one ever slept on it. I slept on it once and found it very uncomfortable...very hard. My husband isn't convinced its the mattress but rather a 6 year old laying/sitting around in twisted positions or plain old growing pains. I thought growing pains were primarly in the legs. Anyway, I want to go out and buy another mattress set. He thinks I am crazy and fears it could be a waste of money if that isn't the cause of her back ache. I'm pretty confident I am right (as most mother's always are!). Anyone have any thoughts/advise for me?
Soon after posting this question, we found ourselves at the peds office for an unrelated issue. The doc checked her urine looking for signs of a kidney infection and did a back/range of motion exam. Nothing turned up as I suspected since she is an active running, playing, jumping normal 6 year old. We did decide to purchase a good, quality memory foam topper for her mattress (thanks for the suggestion Christine!). It seems to help as her complaints of back pain have diminished. She does voice occasion leg pain but I think these are more typical of growing pains. Secretly I still want to purchase a new mattress set for her but everyone seems happy for now!
Thank you again for your insight and suggestions.
Could you add a memory foam topper? I know they sell them at walmart or other stores like that. I could add a lot of soft to that mattress..I would cover it with a waterproof cover, too. Foam is terrible if someone has an accident or vomits! Gross, but things we moms must think about..
C
Before running out and spending a ton of money on a new bed, I would ensure that there is no other cause for her symptoms and if need be, have a Doctor look at her first. I would try to figure out exactly where her back is hurting and see if it is swollen, tender to the touch or warm. These symptoms could be an indication of swelling and/or an actual problem. I would also check for bruising and depending on the area, make sure that she is not peeing blood. Sometimes these kids, can get hurt and we aren't around when it happens and so we have no idea.
While Mommies intuition is almost always right, I would definitely ensure that there is no other cause before spending money.
Hope this helps.
N.
I agree it could be these other medical issues and should be checked out by a doctor before thinking it's the mattress (though I agree with the idea of a foam topper to soften it regardless). If all checks out okay by a pediatrician, check with a chiropractor. It doesn't take much to knock something out of alignment when kids are playing and falling all the time. Typically, spinal pain is worse in the morning until movement works it out. It's the opposite with muscle pain, where it feels best in the morning after a night of rest, and feels the worst later in the day after hours of movement and use.
There's a great child chiropractor in Oak Park, Dr. Sean Manning. www.welladjustedworld.com
Hope you find the culprit soon!
could it be growing pains
is there another mattress in the house to try
even a blow up mattress just to see if it stops?
I agree about a doctor's visit before spending the extra money - just to be safe - though a mom's instinct can't be underestimated! A urinary tract infection can sometimes cause lower back pain, and so can bladder infections. The morning emptying of your bladder after a long rested can have an almost contraction-like pain in either your lower abdomen or back. Also, constipation can cause back pain. What about the height of her pillow? Firm mattresses are typically great for adult back pain sufferers, especially if you're a side sleeper. If this new mattress is firm, but her pillow is not, her body is adjusting to a new position. She may be distorting the position of her neck resulting in lower back pain. There are several things that can be ruled in or out, but a doctor's appointment is probably worth the time.
I agree that you need to get her back pain checked out. It is mostly likely growing pains but as you said they are primarily in the legs and sometimes chest. I've not heard it in the back. Kids do not get back pain from matresses because their bodies just are more able to withstand these types of things.
Ella
A too-firm mattress seems really unlikely to me. Don't you remember being a kid and all the sleepovers and camping trips with nothing but a sleeping bag between you and the floor at night? For 9 years we have had an annual girl scout sleepover in our school gym, and the 50+ girls all wake up happy and chipper in the morning while we moms are sore and anxious to get home to bed. Obviously your little girl is not feeling well though, so perhaps a visit to the doctor is a good idea.
