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By the sixth or seventh month of your baby’s life, you might find yourself shopping for new clothes because they have outgrown their current ones. Are you surprised? Don’t be! Your baby is growing beyond your imagination- an occurrence known as growth spurts.
What are Growth Spurts?
Growth Spurts are the intense period of growth that occurs during your baby’s first year. It’s not just about physical size, but also about overall development. Your baby packs on the pounds and develops by inches. In their first year, infants typically gain around 10 inches (25 centimetres) in height and triple their birth weight. It’s indeed, a remarkable transformation!
However, going deeper, most of these growth spurts predictably occur in the first six months. By the time your baby reaches nine months, you will observe that your newborn has successfully achieved the developmental milestones from one to six weeks and three to nine months.
What are the Symptoms of Growth Spurts in Your Baby?
As a first-time parent, recognising the signs of growth spurts will empower you to respond effectively to your baby’s needs. By understanding and anticipating these phases, you can provide the best support for your little one’s incredible journey for development. So, when your baby undergoes a series of growth spurts, here are the telltale signs:
Hungrier Than Usual
When your little one enters the growth spurt phase, you’ll notice that he or she’s feeling hungrier than usual. You will notice that your baby is hungry when he or she is constantly crying or feeling irritated, restless, sticking the tongue out, sucking the lips or hands, latching onto the breasts at every opportunity, or dissatisfied even after having a full bottle of milk.
Frequent Night Wakings
Those blissful 5 or 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep may become a distant dream. Growth spurts often disrupt sleep as your baby wakes up frequently due to hunger or tiredness.
Feeling Cranky
As a new mom and dad, it may be challenging for you to deal with the crankiness or mood swings of your newborn baby during the growth spurts, but you need to understand that even the most cheerful baby undergoes this change. You may additionally observe your baby wanting to eat more frequently and waking up at night with demands for comfort feeding can display a level of fussiness that seems out of the ordinary.
Are There Ways to Deal With the Growth Spurts of Your Newborn?
Yes! There are. If you notice symptoms of growth spurts in your baby, here are some tips to support your baby:
- Ensure that you provide proper nourishment to your baby
- If your baby is breastfed, increase the feedings during growth spurts to boost milk production.
- For formula-fed babies offer slightly larger portions or feed more frequently to satisfy their increased appetite. This ensures your baby gets the nourishment essential for their growth!
- Create a sleeping environment for your baby.
- If you notice that your little one likes to sleep more during the day (maybe for 3 or four hours), you needn’t worry much. Allow your baby to nap during the day if they seem tired.
- Create a sleep routine for your baby.
- Keep the lights dim while your baby is trying to sleep
- Soothe your baby.
- Rock, cuddle or hug your baby to comfort them.
Newborn’s growth spurts are not a constant condition. As mentioned above both nutrition and genes impact them, but they don’t beyond the first year of your baby’s life. Before you know it, your baby will no longer be little. Cherish these moments, love them and celebrate their wonderful growth.