Baby growth spurts. At certain times your baby may seem to be growing faster – and you may notice changes in her eating, sleep, and mood. Baby growth spurts happen regularly during your baby’s first year and can last from a few days to a week. During a growth spurt, be prepared to feed and comfort your baby more than usual.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What happens during a growth spurt?
- When do growth spurts happen, and how long do they last?
- Are growth spurts the same as feeding spurts?
- What are other signs of a growth spurt?
- What should I do during a growth spurt?
- Is it a growth spurt or is something wrong?
What happens during a growth spurt?
During a growth spurt, your baby will add weight, length, and head circumference more quickly than usual. She may also hit a developmental milestone or master a skill she’s been working on for a while.
Many parents find that the most noticeable sign of a growth spurt is their baby feeding more, so look out for times when your little one seems particularly hungry.
If your baby is breastfed, she may nurse for longer than usual or want to nurse more often. If she’s formula-fed, she may seem as if she’s still hungry after finishing a bottle.
Some babies sail through growth spurts without showing any obvious signs. You may take your baby to be weighed and see that her weight has jumped to a higher percentile, or notice that her new sleeper is suddenly tight at the toes.
When your baby is having a growth spurt, she may need more or less sleep than usual. There’s some research showing that babies going through growth spurts become clingy, fussy, and unsettled. This can disrupt nap times and nighttime sleep.
When do baby growth spurts happen, and how long do they last?
Growth spurts can happen at any time. In young babies, they usually last for one or two days. In older babies, they can last up to a week.
Some experts believe that growth spurts are more likely at certain points in your baby’s first year.
These are:
Between 2 and 3 weeks
Between 4 and 6 weeks
Between 6 and 8 weeks
At 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months
Each baby’s growth pattern is different, so try not to worry if your baby doesn’t seem to be having growth spurts at these times. He may have more spurts than this or fewer, and you might not even notice any particular spurts at all. It’s all normal.
Are growth spurts the same as feeding spurts?
No, but they are related. Feeding spurts are times when your baby seems hungrier than usual. They may or may not be linked to a growth spurt.
During a feeding spurt, your formula-fed baby may want a bottle more frequently. Your breastfed baby may spend more time nursing and be fussy at the breast. He may go from nursing eight times a day to nursing between 12 and 14 times a day.
You may also hear or read about “frequency days,” which are days when breastfed babies nurse more often, up to 18 times in 24 hours.
Surprisingly, there isn’t a lot of research linking feeding spurts to increased growth, but it makes sense that when your baby’s taking in more calories, he’ll grow more quickly. Because of this, some people use the terms “growth spurt” and “feeding spurt” to mean the same thing.
What are other signs of a growth spurt?
Sleep changes
Just before and during a growth spurt, your baby may sleep more than usual. Waking up less at night or taking longer naps may be signs that she’s channeling her energy into growing. One small study suggested that during a growth spurt, babies may sleep up to four and half hours more than usual over one or two days.
It’s not clear exactly why this happens, but a protein called human growth hormone (HGH) is produced in the brain during sleep. HGH is crucial for growth, so sleep may provide the fuel that your baby needs to grow.
Some parents report that their babies seem to need less sleep during growth spurts – that they wake up more frequently at night, wake up earlier, or take shorter naps. This may happen because these babies are hungrier and are waking up more frequently to eat.
You may find these changes in your baby’s sleep exhausting. It can be hard – especially if your baby is sleeping less – but take comfort in the fact that a growth spurt usually only lasts for a few days. Before too long, your baby’s routine should be back to normal.
Behavior changes
During a growth spurt, your baby may be more restless and clingy than usual.
You may find that she wants to be held all the time and cries when you try to put her down. Or you may notice that she’s unsettled and weepy at times when she’s usually laid-back and calm.
We don’t know exactly what causes these changes in behavior. They may be due to your baby feeling tired or overwhelmed as she devotes her energy to eating and growing.
There’s also a theory that behavioral changes may be a sign that a developmental leap is coming. This may happen alongside a growth spurt or at a different time. So if your baby seems fussy or cranky, she may be getting ready to unveil a new skill, such as rolling over or crawling.
What should I do during a growth spurt?
Respond to your baby’s cues and try to give him what he needs, whether it’s extra feedings, a morning nap, or quiet time and cuddles. Wearing your baby in a carrier may help him feel secure while giving your arms a break.
You may worry that your breastfed baby isn’t getting enough milk during a growth spurt. But your baby’s frequent nursing will increase your milk supply, and you’ll most likely have more than enough for your baby’s needs.
However, it may take a day or two for your body to catch up to your baby’s hunger. If you breastfeed and you’re worried that your baby isn’t getting enough milk, check in with your baby’s doctor, or a nurse or lactation consultant, for advice and extra support.
Help boost your milk production by letting your baby nurse as often as he wants, and take care of yourself by eating good meals, drinking lots of fluids, and letting family and friends help out with chores.
If your baby is formula-fed, it’s fine to give him an extra bottle if he wants one. Or try adding an extra ounce or two of formula to his bottles. After the growth spurt, your baby may go back to wanting less formula at each feeding. Or, he may stick with the new amount. As your baby gets older – and his tummy gets bigger – he’ll drink fewer bottles a day with more formula in each.
Is it a growth spurt or is something wrong?
Growth spurts can make babies sleepy and out of sorts, but they don’t cause fevers, extreme irritability, or listlessness. These can be signs that your baby is unwell. Contact your baby’s doctor if your little one shows any of these symptoms.
Likewise, if your baby’s behavior, feeding, or sleeping habits change suddenly and you’re concerned, ask the doctor for advice.
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