Baby's growth spurt: we explain!

The first months and years of a baby's life are punctuated by growth spikes.. But what is a growth spurt? How do they manifest themselves? We explain in this article.

What is a growth spurt?

Growth peak, peak day, growth spurt, and so on. These are all terms used to describe periods when your baby's development accelerates. Your baby will grow, gain weight and ask to eat more frequently. These phases in your child's feeding are particularly noticeable for breastfeeding mothers, who will find that their little one demands to go to the breast much more.

These are episodes that will disrupt and punctuate your baby's daily routine on several occasions and at different intervals. On average, peaks last from 2 to 48 hours. They may last longer (up to 5 days, for example). Of course, as your little one grows, you'll need to buy him new clothes and diapers. In fact, the choice of diaper size is important, as a snug-fitting diaper reduces leaks and keeps baby dry.

At what age do growth peaks occur?

Several growth peaks occur at different ages. To help you understand, we've outlined below the times of life when your baby's growth spurt is most likely to occur.

Growth spurt in infants

An infant's first growth spurt occurs around the 7th or 10th day of life. From then on, the next growth spurt generally occurs every 3 weeks. This may vary from child to child.

Peak growth around three weeks

The biggest change comes around the 3rd week of life. Following this event at around three weeks, the time between peaks increases progressively, to around 6 weeks, and then even further apart.

Growth peaks in babies (3 months/6 months)

The next peaks occur at around 3 and 6 months. Then at 9 months. Even after a year, your baby may experience several more growth peaks.

Knowing the most likely ages at which your baby may experience growth spikes means you can better anticipate symptoms. However, these peaks can also occur without very precise dates.

What are the symptoms of a growth spurt?

There are several signs that your baby may be experiencing a growth spurt.

• Your child is asking to eat more often: this can be expressed by crying, restlessness, etc. Your child's appetite is increasing, but if you are breast-feeding, the rate of milk production takes longer to adapt to demand, so he won't be satiated and will ask for food more often;
• Your baby's mood changes: the fact that your baby becomes grumpy is a sign. If your baby's behavior changes, reassure him by increasing contact with his mother;
• Your baby 's sleep pattern: because of his growing appetite and frequent feedings, his sleep pattern is disrupted. So, if your baby has recently been sleeping through the night, he may wake up for a feed or several bottles. Fortunately, this is only temporary.

What to do when faced with a growth spurt?

These can be difficult times. Fortunately, there are several tips to help you

Calming your child

The first thing to do is try to calm your baby down.

• Take a bath: the combination of the sound of water, warm water and skin-to-skin contact will tend to calm and reassure your baby.
• Giving your baby a pacifier: since suckling cravings increase during a growth spurt, a pacifier can help satisfy the need to suckle.
• Play quiet music or white noise to capture his attention, soothe and reassure him.

During growth spurts, babies need to be surrounded. Stay close to him. He may also take longer to fall asleep in the evening: here again, continue to reassure him.

Growth peak and breastfeeding

Milk production will naturally adapt to your baby's needs (supply and demand). It will be higher to match your baby's demand. The body is a finely tuned thing, and many factors can vary during breastfeeding: quantity, quality, color, percentage of fat and water content, antibodies, nutrients, etc.

Trust your baby and feed him as much as he wants. During these periods, baby expends a lot more energy and therefore needs to eat more.

This can sometimes be a trying time for moms, as they go through periods known as "cluster feeds", when your baby is crying out for the breast. Bear in mind that this is a temporary, transitional period. Don't hesitate to ask for help from those around you at these times, for example by preparing meals in advance, or by creating a quiet space where you can breastfeed in peace and quiet. And don't hesitate to use lanolin on your breasts if necessary to soothe them.

Growth spurt and bottle-feeding

If you're bottle-feeding your baby, the principle is the same as for breast-feeding: you need to listen to your baby , who will express his need to be fed.

Your little one will also have a greater need to suck: you can give him a pacifier to relieve this.

In conclusion, growth peaks are crucial stages in your baby's development during his first year. Having explored the mechanisms of growth peaks in babies, it's clear that these developmental phases can vary from one child to the next.

Each week brings new discoveries and unique challenges for parents. Their children's weight gain and height growth are essential indicators of their health and well-being throughout the year. The sound advice of a pediatrician can be invaluable in navigating these busy times.

Lactation management, especially for mothers, remains at the forefront of maternal concerns, sometimes requiring additional support to maintain optimal health levels. A well-established schedule of visits to the pediatrician can help keep a close eye on maternal development and provide advice on how to manage these hectic times.

Ultimately, maternal and infant health and well-being remain a priority, with attention paid to every detail of this exciting maternal period.

FAQs on baby growth spikes

What are the signs of a growth spurt?

When do growth spikes occur?

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