Baby Growth Spurts – All You Need To Know

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T a b l e Of C o n t e n t s :

B a b i e s do g r o w overnight!

M o t h e r s see t h e i r babies g r o w i n g suddenly d u e to a growth s p u r t . While t h i s is a happy t h i n g , it c o u l d be n e r v e wrecking t o o , because d u r i n g a g r o w t h spurt, t h e baby c o u l d be c r a n k y and f u s s y .

B a b y growth s p u r t s can b e confusing, w h i c h is w h y MomJunction t e l l s you w h a t happens d u r i n g a g r o w t h spurt a n d how t h e baby i s affected b y it. R e a d on!

W h a t Is G r o w t h Spurt I n Babies?

W h e n Do B a b i e s Go T h r o u g h Growth S p u r t s ?

A c c o r d i n g to t h e American A c a d e m y of P e d i a t r i c s , growth s p u r t s can o c c u r at d i f f e r e n t ages ( 1 ) . However, t h e specific a g e s are ( 2 ) :

F i r s t growth s p u r t : Two w e e k s
S e c o n d growth s p u r t : Three w e e k s
T h i r d growth s p u r t : Six w e e k s
F o u r t h growth s p u r t : Three m o n t h s
F i f t h growth s p u r t : Six m o n t h s

I n some b a b i e s , growth s p u r t can h a p p e n at a stage d i f f e r e n t from t h e above, a n d it m a y be f a s t e r or s l o w e r .

T h e r e f o r e , look o u t for s i g n s so t h a t you c a n recognize y o u r baby’s g r o w t h spurt.

W h a t Are T h e Signs O f A B a b y ’ s Growth S p u r t ?

P r o m i n e n t life events o c c u r when t h e baby i s going t h r o u g h a g r o w t h spurt:

1 . Rapid g a i n in h e i g h t , weight, a n d head c i r c u m f e r e n c e :

A v e r a g e height a n d weight g r o w t h (males a n d females):

G r o w t h Spurt	H e i g h t Gain	W e i g h t Gain
F i r s t , Second, T h i r d , Fourth	2 . 5 – 3 . 8 c m (3)	9 0 7 g (4)(5)
Fifth	1 – 2 c m	4 5 0 – 5 6 0 g (6)

A v e r a g e head c i r c u m f e r e n c e growth:

G r o w t h Spurt	M a l e Head C i r c u m f e r e n c e Gain (7)	F e m a l e Head C i r c u m f e r e n c e Gain (8)
F i r s t , Second	2.8cm	2.6cm
Third	1.8cm	1.8cm
Fourth	1.4cm	1.2cm
Fifth	0.7cm	0.7cm

T h e baby w o u l d gain m o r e height a n d weight a t the e n d of t h e sixth m o n t h (fifth g r o w t h spurt) t h a n earlier a n d weighs d o u b l e (9).

G i r l s have m o r e advanced s k e l e t a l maturation, b u t lower p e r c e n t a g e increase i n height t h a n boys ( 1 0 ) . The g r o w t h speed e q u a l i z e s between b o t h the g e n d e r s after s e v e n months.

2 . Increase i n hunger:

T h e r e is a n increase i n the b a b y ’ s appetite t o meet t h e nutritional r e q u i r e m e n t of t h e i r body. T h i s is r e f e r r e d to a s feeding s p u r t s .

B a b i e s will d e m a n d extra f o o d in t h e i r sixth m o n t h .

B a b i e s who a r e still b r e a s t f e e d i n g require f e e d s almost e v e r y waking h o u r .

3 . Changes i n sleep p a t t e r n :

B a b i e s tend t o sleep m o r e during g r o w t h spurts. R e s e a r c h shows t h a t sleep s t i m u l a t e s the p r o d u c t i o n of h u m a n growth h o r m o n e , which f a c i l i t a t e s the f o r m a t i o n of a d d i t i o n a l body c e l l s and t h e r e b y new t i s s u e layers ( 1 1 ) .

D u r i n g a g r o w t h spurt, a baby c a n sleep f o u r – a n d – a – h a l f hours e x t r a (on a n average) e v e r y day ( 1 2 ) .

T h e total s l e e p i n g hours w i l l depend o n what s t a g e the i n f a n t is i n . For e x a m p l e , an a v e r a g e three-month-old w i l l sleep 1 4 hours a day ( 1 3 ) , but d u r i n g spurts o f growth, h e may s l e e p for 1 8 . 5 hours.

4 . Behavioral c h a n g e s :

B a b i e s are u s u a l l y fussy a n d clingy a n d may a l s o throw t a n t r u m s frequently.

I n many c a s e s , fussiness c o u l d be t h e result o f excessive h u n g e r . When p r o v i d e d with f o o d and c o m f o r t , the b a b y ’ s irritation m a y subside.

T h e causes o f change i n the b a b y ’ s behavior d u r i n g the g r o w t h spurt a r e unknown. S o m e experts a s s o c i a t e the c r a n k y behavior t o the t e m p o r a r y surge i n the g r o w t h hormone o f the b o d y (14).

A s growth s p u r t will l a s t t w o to t h r e e days( 1 5 ) , you n e e d to k n o w how t o deal w i t h the s i t u a t i o n .

H o w To M a n a g e A B a b y ’ s Growth S p u r t ?

G r o w t h spurt i n babies c a n be p e r p l e x i n g and t i r i n g for a mother, b u t you c a n handle i t by b e i n g prepared.

1 . Feed t h e baby f r e q u e n t l y :

F e e d i n g at r e g u l a r intervals t o support t h e growth i s called c l u s t e r feeding. Cluster f e e d i n g during g r o w t h spurt c a n be e x h a u s t i n g for t h e mother b u t the b a b y comes b a c k to t h e i r regular n u r s i n g schedule a f t e r two t o three d a y s .

I f the b a b y is formula-fed, then p r e p a r e a l a r g e r batch o f formula m i l k .

I f the i n f a n t is o l d e r than s i x months a n d fed o n semi-solid f o o d , then i n c r e a s e the n u m b e r of m e a l s he h a s in a day t o meet h i s hunger d e m a n d s .

2 . Facilitate c o m f o r t a b l e sleep f o r the b a b y :

A baby n e e d s more s l e e p during g r o w t h spurts, w h i c h is w h y it i s imperative t o have a peaceful a n d undisturbed s l e e p i n g environment.

N e w b o r n s sleep f o r an e q u a l number o f hours d u r i n g the d a y and n i g h t . However, f r o m the t h i r d month, b a b i e s begin s l e e p i n g longer d u r i n g the n i g h t (16).

3 . Managing t h e baby’s b e h a v i o r :

S t a y calm w h e n the b a b y is e x c e s s i v e l y fussy. T r y feeding t h e m , playing w i t h their f a v o r i t e toy, o r doing s o m e t h i n g else t o calm t h e m . Cuddle w i t h the b a b y for s k i n – t o – s k i n contact.

O l d e r infants t e n d to t h r o w tantrums b u t understand b a s i c commands a n d instructions. I f the b a b y is c r a n k y , show t h e i r favorite t o y or f o o d , and c h e c k if i t helps t h e m calm d o w n .

G r o w t h spurts c a n be t e n s e moments f o r the p a r e n t s but d o not c a u s e any p r o b l e m to t h e baby, a n d some i n f a n t s undergo a growth s p u r t without s h o w i n g any v i s i b l e signs. T h e r e is n o need t o fret a b o u t your l i t t l e one i n any c a s e . However, t h e r e are s o m e signs y o u must b e watchful a b o u t during t h e days o f a g r o w t h spurt.

W h e n To B e Concerned?

I f your b a b y is s h o w i n g these s i g n s , then t a k e him t o a d o c t o r for a n expert o p i n i o n :

E a t s and s l e e p s a l o t : If t h e baby i s sleeping a n d eating e x c e s s i v e l y , then i t could b e an i n d i c a t i o n of a n underlying p r o b l e m . Infants b e l o w 11 m o n t h s must n o t sleep b e y o n d 18 h o u r s .

S t a y s fussy m o s t l y : If t h e baby i s never h a p p y no m a t t e r what y o u do, a n d has c o n s t a n t mood s w i n g s even a f t e r the t h r e e days o f growth s p u r t , then y o u must c o n s u l t a d o c t o r .

R e m e m b e r , each b a b y is d i f f e r e n t and g r o w s differently, a n d it a l s o depends o n their g e n d e r . As l o n g as t h e little o n e is h e a l t h y and h a p p y , and a t t a i n s his d e v e l o p m e n t a l milestones, y o u do n o t have t o worry.

A few m o r e feeding h o u r s and a t t e n t i o n will h e l p you a n d the b a b y phase t h r o u g h the g r o w t h spurt d a y s . So, c u d d l e up a n d experience t h e joy o f a b a b y growth s p u r t .

H o w was t h e growth s p u r t of y o u r baby? D o let u s know b y leaving a comment b e l o w .

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