Growth Spurts

As a parent, one of the most magical experiences is watching your baby grow! Growth spurts are a normal part of an infant's development and can occur several times during their first year. Here, we'll cover when these typically come about, how they might affect your baby, and tips to help soothe your little one (and yourself!) during these times.

When do Growth Spurts happen?

It's important to note that every baby is different, not all infants will go through growth spurts at the same rate, and some may have them more or less frequently.

Your newborn may lose up to 10% of their birth weight in their first week, and infants will usually regain that weight within the first two weeks after birth. Many babies also grow up to 10 inches in their first 12 months.

Growth spurts can happen at any point during your baby’s first year of development, but tend to be most common around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.

What can you expect during a Growth Spurt?

You may find your baby to be fussier, and they may want to eat more often, or for longer periods of time. Some infants may also have changes in their sleep patterns, needing far more than usual, or waking more frequently to feed. 

While these shifts in behavior can bring new challenges for parents, remember that it’s all part of the process. Your little one is growing rapidly and needs more nutrients to support that growth, and their bodies are working overtime to support their development.

How can you help soothe your baby during a Growth Spurt?

Provide More Frequent Feedings

As we’ve mentioned, during these times, your baby may need to eat more than usual. Make sure to provide plenty of opportunities to feed, whether you're chestfeeding, or bottle-feeding. Some parents try to pump more frequently if they can in order to build a supply that they can use, or so their partner or support system can help with feedings. Some parents may already provide formula regularly, or may start using it to adjust for the new, higher demand. Milk production often naturally increases to meet your baby’s needs, but some parents find taking lactation supplements to be beneficial as well. Do what works best for you and your child!

Provide Comfort

Your little one will need extra love and support during a growth spurt. Try holding, snuggling, feeding, rocking, and talking to them, giving them a bath, or perhaps going for a ride or a walk to help soothe their temporary discomfort. While it’s important to remain flexible to your baby’s needs, it can also be helpful to try to stick to as much of a routine as possible, as this can provide both you and your little one with a sense of security and predictability during these big adjustments. You may also benefit from attempting to maintain a regular sleeping routine, but don’t fret if a normal pattern is not in the cards for your baby right now. Again, changes in sleep are a common occurrence during a growth spurt, so do what you can, when you can!

Take Care of Yourself

While you are seeing to all of your baby’s needs, make sure to take care of yourself, too. Growth spurts can be a challenging time for everyone involved, and it can be easy to forgo our own needs in order to meet theirs. You can’t pour from an empty cup, though, so make sure you are getting rest where you can, fueling your body with good meals, and asking for help when you need it, if it is available to you.

Be Patient

Your baby may be fussier than usual, so it's important to be patient and understanding. Most growth spurts only last for a few days, sometimes up to a week. Remember that this is a normal part of their development, and it will pass!

Growth spurts are a normal part of an infant's development, and they can occur several times during their first year. During these times, your baby may need to eat more frequently, sleep more or less than usual, and may be crankier or fussier overall. By offering more frequent feedings, and doing the things that bring comfort to your baby, you can help soothe your little one through these tough times. 

Be patient, remember that this will pass, get in all of the extra snuggles that you can, and make use of the resources and support systems that you have to help take care of your baby, and you!