Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Definitely check the shoes, but it also seems to me that he's probably
    seen Dad or Mom do the foot-rubbing cramp routine.  (I know Alex goes
    through a malaise-du-jour routine once in a while; it's almost always
    immediately after seeing the same malady in a friend or on TV.)
    
    Leslie

    
    
    I also have a son that has in the past complained of the bottom of his
    feet hurting (cramping).  It happened the most when he was 31/2 to 4
    years old. He is now 5 and it rarely occurs now.
    I know his shoes were ok. It usually happened at night. He sometimes
    would cry and cry.  I always thought it was growing pains.
    
    FWIW,I would messege the bottoms of his feet, give him lots of TLC and a
    dose of tylenol it always did the trick. 
    
    Kathy

	"Malaise du jour"... I love it!

	We knew that someone at daycare must have had a bloody nose the other 
day cause on the way to town in the evening, Katie (2 1/2) informed us that her 
nose was bleeding.  (It wasn't.)  We just gave her kleenex and told her to hold 
it against her nose until it stopped... 

	Guess whoever had the nosebleed gots lots of attention and she thought
she'd see if she could recreate the effect... :-)

Tracey

    
    
      Matthew is almost 3.  He doesn't complain about foot cramps, but he
      is always telling me his feet hurt, especially after I put his shoes
      on.  I know his shoes are plenty big for him and I think it's all
      an act to either get attention or just complain because I want his
      shoes on.  He's only happy when he's barefoot....
    

    Can you feel the muscle cramp?  If it's a good enough cramp, you should
    be able to feel the muscle tense in his foot.  If I recall correctly,
    leg/foot cramps can be caused by a lack of calcium - does he drink milk
    or otherwise get enough calcium?
    
    Maybe his feet are just sore and he's heard the term 'foot cramp'
    before and thinks that's what it means??  Can he explain exactly what
    it feels like?  If it's both feet, I'd tend to believe his feet are
    just sore.  Are his shoes well-padded inside?  Some kids shoes are also
    TERRIBLY heavy, and INCREDIBLY hard inside - you'd be surprised!
    
    If he never complains when barefoot, I'd tend to suspect his shoes....
    
    Good Luck!
    

    Yes, he's drinking milk -- never had a problem with that -- plus
    he's getting a multivitamin every day.  He'll eat cheese whenever
    I put it in front of him, so I think his diet is OK.  And he
    never complains about his legs, only his feet.  I'll check the
    shoes over the weekend. 
    
    If it _is_ only a bid for attention, any tips on how to handle it?

    Leg and foot cramps are soooooo painful.  Don't dismiss as his shoes
    are ok.  Are they new shoes?  Did you fit him or did you have him fit
    at your regular children's shoe store?  Is it basically the same shoe
    he's always worn?
    
    I bought some new walking shoes last spring and I was fit at this
    nice shoe store.  After a month of leg and foot cramps in one or BOTH
    legs every night I decided it had to be the shoes.  I loved them, they
    were as comfortable as slippers BUT the heal on the bottom of the shoe
    was too narrow for my foot and it was causing me to slip and turn my
    ankle sometimes as I walked.  I brought the shoes back, got a different
    shoe and haven't had problems since.
    
    My son was 2 and was fit by a person at the shoe store I have always
    used.  Came the day of my sister's wedding and he ended up wearing his
    sneakers as his left shoe kept falling off!  Brought him back only to
    find out the woman had fit him wrong - shoe was too small!
    
    So with these two experiences, I would suggest you go to the shoe store
    and have them check this out.
    
    Good luck.
    
    P. S. I immediately get in the tub and let very warm water run on the cramp
    for a couple of minutes.  It's instant relief.  
    

    I went through the same thing with my son when he was that age.
    He not only got foot cramps, but he also got leg cramps.  In fact
    he often got leg cramps after riding on his father's shoulders.
    My husband would put him down, and he couldn't even stand up.  We
    brought him to the doctor after the incident and the doctor claimed
    that it was muscle spasm and they were quite common in young children.
    
    My son is now 7 yrs old and occassionally after a tough day of playing,
    (soccer, etc.,) he'll still get leg and foot cramps.  He's been
    checked my specialist and they claim he's fine.

    This may sound basicly ignorant, but since is there a rule for how
    often I should be having his shoe size checked.
    
    Luckily, lately, usually about the time his sneaks start showing
    serious signs of wear he's usually ready for a new size anyway, but is
    there a rule of thumb to follow.  He's already in his third pair of
    sneaks since Easter, yet his Stride Rites from Easter still fit him,
    but were bought two sizes ago.  
    
    All I can say is thank goodness that TJ Maxx gets new shipments of
    brand name sneakers just about the time the old ones wear out!
    
    Lyn
    

    I have read that cramping can be due to a nutritient shortage.  Can't
    remember if its magnesium or maybe zinc.  If your interested I can look
    it up.  Obviously if the cramping is due to restricted blood supply
    (as in keeping ones leg bent at the knee for an extended period) or due
    to a blow to the muscle the nutrient shortage doesn't apply.
    
    Jeff