During the first twelve months, most of the babies go through growth spurts which are otherwise known as frequency days. As same, most of the parents are very curious that when do babies have growth spurts too.

Do you know what are growth spurts?

The growth spurt is actually a developmental stage that babies show off quite often by behaving fussy, When Do Babies Start Teething, cranky or sometimes with regard to the hunger signs. Breastfed babies start showing growth spurts as they nurse more often than that of the usual times. But it is of temporary signs, wherein exclusively nursing babies intake adequate quantity, say for one hour once even in the first few weeks of the symptom. Most commonly between 4 to 6 months of the baby, parents can notice the growth spurt. When the baby is ready to have semi-solid food, baby’s milk intake will gradually settle down by comprising with weaning foods.

Growth spurts come out not only when the babies generate physical development as in with increased milk intake. But also with a behavioural change such as rolling over, crawling, standing up, started walking with & without support, talking et al, babies do have growth spurts wherein mom’s milk supply enough of nutrients, nourishments for overall growth and brain development.

When do babies have growth spurts?

The common time period for baby’s growth spurts are very first day’s immediately after hospital at home, say for around 7 to the 10th day of the baby. Gradually then:

  • 2 to 3 weeks
  • 4 to 6 weeks
  • 4th month
  • 6th month
  • 9th month (for some babies)

Expectedly babies do not read calendars, but then it is nature’s direction that baby does things differently and, in fact, different things too. In addition to some babies, growth spurts do not stop even after 12 months of the baby. Most of the moms state that they notice growth spurts periodically in every few months till toddler years and occasionally on through the ages of the teen. However, growth spurts last for minimum 2 days and a maximum of 3 days and in rare cases it will cause even for a week.

Signs & symptoms when babies do growth spurts

Your baby wants to eat a lot: When your baby seeks you to have more milk (baby of below 6 months) or wants to eat more than that of normal intake (baby of 6 or 6+ months), it is the first sign that your baby is going through a growth spurt. Sometimes older babies also want to have mom’s milk more than that of other weaning foods or solids.

Your baby will be up during night: Unlike normal days that your baby is quite good to sleep throughout the night, growth spurt disturbs him/her. During a growth spurt, your baby might be up quite often during the night and wakes you up too to fill his/her little tummy. Also, older babies do this.

Your baby goes crank: During a growth spurt, your baby might love only his/her mom’s shoulder to be on. He/she will act crank at the breast by being more frilly, latching and unlatching, mean to that the baby needs extra milk and you have to run fast with your milk production too. And so drink more; eat more to handle your growth spurting baby.

In addition, when your baby is hungrier and at the same time crankier, there is no need to concern worry about it. Though he/she finds tough times to eat, breastfeeding cope up the supplements on extra amount indeed. Though it is of temporary routine, breastfeeding will actually boost up the baby on the healthy pace with increasing milk supply.

Tips to handle growth spurt

You can just follow the child’s prime as normally. When baby intakes more mother’s milk frequently, the milk supply also will increase because of increased nursing. It is not required to wear the baby when the baby is still not ready to introduce such foods, or even more not necessary for formula milk or expressed milk during the time of growth spurt. If the baby is of the right age for introducing weaning foods, say for whether he/she is of 6 or more than 6 months, you can support yourself with introductory weaning foods. And so, just keep feeding on your little sprout when she/he is in a growth spurt. On the other side, nursing moms would feel more hungry or thirsty when the baby is going through a growth spurt. Moms should listen to their body, eat and drink as per that to manage the energy level for sufficient milk production to nurse the baby more often.

Is it important to visit a doctor?

In principle, growth spurts are one of the natural parts of the baby’s development. It will not harm the baby, wherein moms can go with it in its flow. However it lasts for 2 to 3 days, you can settle your baby’s hunger by proper feedings. But still when you find any symptom of fever, accompanied by puking, unsettled fever and persistent crying, it is advisable to have a doctor visit for your baby to check for whether the baby is suffering from  any other discomforts & health issues.

When your baby is undergoing a growth spurt, you can see as many as possible changes with him/her. They go fussy, irritable, lack of adequate sleep, more intake of mom’s milk or other introduced foods. The same set of battles might be there with a newborn too, wherein the new mom has to be coped up them to understand the things initially.

In general, parents must not see to that when do babies have growth spurts as in where to be ready to face the challenging changes, though they are of temporary. Just go with your baby’s wish to be, wherein you must not force him/her to be firm enough on sleeping time, eating routine, to be perfect by not going cranky and purposely making him/her to be an awakening when the baby actually feels sleepy. It is unpredictable and the best & right way of approaching the baby’s growth spurt is general to go with nature of its own course.