Growth spurts are a transitional phase in the life of a new-born baby in which development takes place faster than usual. The first few months progress irregularly: they follow a curve, yes, but at certain times development accelerates and reaches a peak.
To regain the balance that was temporarily lost, new parents need to recognise and deal with growth spurts, one after the other. There are typical signs to watch out for in these periods, and they can be managed with simple strategies: here is a short guide to help you deal with your baby's big changes.
When do growth spurts happen, and how do we recognise them?
During growth spurts, the weight, length and head circumference of the new-born increase very quickly. Although this is a completely normal phase, it certainly turns your baby's little world upside down. This is why characteristic signs usually appear with growth spurts, such as:
- Sleep disruptions when the baby sleeps more or less than usual.
- Increased appetite and cravings, however you feed your baby.
- Irritability, restlessness and frequent crying, especially at night.
- The desire and need to be held often and to be in close contact with mum.
This usually lasts two or three days, but in some cases, it can last up to a week. These are busy days for the whole family and can put a strain on mum and dad.
Knowing how to recognise a growth spurt and roughly when it will happen helps you face these moments more calmly. The stages are more or less as follows:
- Growth spurt at week2-3
- Growth spurt at week 6-8
- Growth spurt at 3 months
- Growth spurt at 6 months
- Growth spurt at 9 months
In each of these moments, as we said, the child seems to be growing bigger by the second. This happens on a physical level – weight can vary greatly, even from one day to the next – and also on a behavioural and emotional level. It is not uncommon for new abilities to emerge after a growth spurt, such as following a moving object with their eyes (at one month), making voluntary movements and grasping things (at three months), lallation (at six months) or crawling (at nine months).
But how can we best manage our baby's needs at these times?
How can we deal with baby's growth spurts?
As you just read, the signs of growth spurts mainly concern nutrition, sleep and behaviour, so coping strategies also have to do with these areas.
If your baby seems hungry all the time and eager to feed, you might wonder whether you are offering enough. In most cases there is no need to worry: these are simply a few more intense days. Keep going as you always have, following your baby's rhythm and feeding on demand. Within a few days, things usually settle back into a familiar routine.
But how can we cope with growth spurts when he feeds on formula milk? If you bottle-feed your baby, it's likely that you will need to increase the amount of milk at these times. In this case, it might be easier to manage, since you know the specific doses that you give each time, and you can easily just vary them. Just follow your baby's cues and adjust the amount little by little.
A mistake that should be avoided, whichever way you feed your baby, is to offer the baby alternatives when he wants to feed. Don't give your baby water, herbal teas or even the pacifier – unless it is already a habit – as they can fill him up without really satisfying his hunger.
In addition to these nutrition-related tips, here are three other simple suggestions to follow:
- See to the baby's needs straight away, thereby increasing the frequency and duration of the feedings, and comfort the baby when he or she becomes restless.
- Look after yourself too: make sure you are eating and drinking enough to keep your energy up during these busy days.
- Remember that, even though it is tiring, the growth spurt lasts just a few days and is completely normal: try to face it with calm, serenity and lots of affection ... and maybe get help at work and at home when you're feeling extra tired.
At the end of the first year, your baby is usually about 75 centimetres tall, weighs around three times as much as at birth and has learnt lots of new skills. Every baby grows at their own pace, so try not to compare and simply enjoy each new milestone together.
In any case, we are sure that with a little patience and all the love between you and your child, you will have no problem getting through each and every growth spurt with calmness and peace of mind.
