Growth spurt in kids

10. 04. 2024

Every child will eventually go through a growth spurt, but each case is very individual. With some kids, it’s going to be a very challenging period both during the day and at night, with other kids, parents will barely notice any changes. So what is this growth spurt? When does it show up and what are its symptoms?

What is a growth spurt

It’s a period in which the child grows at a faster pace than usual. Babies cry more often, are restless, want to be nursed almost constantly, cannot be put down without crying, demand your attention. It might also happen that overnight, your baby grows out of the clothes he’s worn just the day before.

Signs of a growth spurt

• More frequent breastfeeding both during the day and at night;
• Restlessness during nursing;
• Changes in sleep patterns – the child sleeps way more or, on the contrary, much less;
• Excessive crying;
• The child cannot be put down;
• Greater weight gain;
• Nursing takes longer;
• Greater demand for attention.

When does a growth spurt usually occur and how long does it last

The period in which growth spurts occur varies even among experts. Nevertheless, babies don’t know a calendar, so the days and months are rather for reference purposes. In most cases it’s around:

• during their 7-10^th day of life
• at 3 weeks of age,
• at 6 weeks of age,
• at 9 weeks of age,
• at 3 months of age,
• at 6 months of age,
• 9 months of age,
• at toddler and preschool age,
• during puberty.

 

Usually, it takes 2 to 3 days. Before lactation increases (putting the baby to the breast more frequently increases lactation naturally), there is no need to feed a breastfed baby formula; it doesn’t mean you have too little milk, or that the milk is not strong enough. With formula-fed babies, you’ll just need to add one more portion into the bottle. It’s simply a time period that is natural for the development of children and even though it’s challenging for both sides, it is manageable. In rare cases, a growth spurt can take a whole week. In toddlers, pre-schoolers and older children, the sings of a growth spurt can be indicated by leg pain (shin area) and more restlessness, moodiness, something is suddenly off.

How to handle a growth spurt

The best you can do is to adjust to your child’s needs. More frequent nursing (be sure to check that the baby is actually drinking and not just sucking), carrying in a wrap or carrier, so that you don’t need to put the baby down. Besides, it’s essential to think about yourself and rest more often (if possible, take naps with your baby during the day), stay hydrated and make sure to not starve yourself.

The growth spurt is just another period on our parenthood journey. Just as when all the teeth come in, the cold goes away, you finish breastfeeding or give up diapers. It’s good to know that children grow in spurts which entails specific behavioural changes. No need to stress yourself out beforehand, as every child is different and handles various situations differently. We’re crossing our fingers for you that the course of the spurt goes as smoothly as possible and if by chance not, it will pass after a couple of days and you will get your smiling baby back.