It’s 11.45pm. You are feeling drained out after trying for the last one hour and a half to put the baby to sleep. Now you have to rest as well (so no time for a shower) because she will wake up in one hour at most. And 4 or 5 more times before the sun rises.
What is happening to your sweet baby who used to sleep through the night, you might wonder? Well, he or she is likely going through a challenging growth spurt.
The good news is that you are not alone in your misery. We are going to explain to you all about these periods and how to go through them successfully.
What is a growth spurt?
In the first year of life, babies go through multiple growth spurts, in which they put on weight faster than usual and gain in length, while their head circumference will grow. By the end of this period, they will master a new skill.
Growth spurts take from 2-3 days up to one week. If it goes for longer, then the baby might be sick or stressed out. A house move, mom’s new job schedule interfering with breastfeeding and starting daycare could act as stress factors. Changing formula milk brand can also cause increased fussiness or tummy aches. If you are breastfeeding or have started introducing solids, you may consider allergies.
Signs that a small child is going through a growth spurt
The baby is constantly hungry. Just when your baby has settled into a sleep routine, she starts feeding wmore often at night. It does not matter whether she is breastfed or on formula. He or she is growing fast and needs more nutrients than usual.
In case you breastfeed exclusively, identifying growth spurts is essential because breastfeeding sessions will typically be longer than usual. Since feedings become frequent (sometimes even every twenty or forty minutes), your breasts may not feel full giving you the impression that you don’t produce enough milk. However, your lactation adjusts to the baby’s needs provided that you breastfeed on demand. As a result, supplementing with formula should not be necessary.
If the baby is on formula rather than breastmilk, increase the amount only gradually. If the baby spits, it means she took too much milk.
The baby sleeps less than usual and is fussier. Babies tend to sleep less during a growth spurt. Research has shown that they become unsettled and clingy which can affect night sleep and disrupt nap times. Be patient, this too shall pass.
When growth spurts happen
Specialists agree that small children experience growth spurts right around these times:
- 7-10 days of age
- three weeks
- four-six weeks
- three months
- six months
- nine months
- twelve-thirteen months
The first growth spurt usually happens in the first week or two after birth and the second one around six weeks. Your lactation will be established by then, breastfeeding becomes smooth, and the baby packs on pounds. Therefore, when growth spurts create a disruption in this routine, you might blame it on colics.
The three-month growth spurt is one of the hardest as the baby hits a lot of developmental milestones. She goes from being a newborn to be a small baby. She is now all gummy smiles when she sees you, loves sitting on the tummy and follows with her eyes noisy and colorful toys.
The six-month growth spurt can also be challenging for parents. It is when the baby learns to sit on its tummy. On top of the rapid growth, breaking the first tooth could also happen at this age. And let’s not forget about starting to eat solids. These are dramatic changes in the lives of our little babies and might overwhelm them.
The nine-month and one-year growth spurt are personality-related. The baby may be afraid to leave your side while in the past she would throw smiles at everybody. However, this is not a developmental regression, but it is the time when babies develop stranger anxiety.
What to do or not do
Growth spurts make babies cranky since they are hungry and tired all the time. This is because they are not able to have quality sleep. It can take a toll on parents who try to soothe and please the baby while they may actually overstimulate her.
What to do:
- practice babywearing; choose an ergonomic babywearing system
- practice skin-to-skin contact during the night
- ask for extra support from family and friends
- drop the feeding timetables and feed at first cue of hunger
- avoid clogged breasts
- don’t have expectations about baby’s sleep routine
- take care of your breasts.
