Growth spurts 0 -12 months
Did you know your baby will triple their birth weight in the first 12-18 months of life?

They will have approximately 6-8 growth spurts to help make this happen.

I’m sure you agree, it is the only year you will be happy to triple your weight in 12 months. Because we know it is a year of rapid growth, we also know that simultaneously to growth spurts- sleep is often impacted. Also there feeding patterns will need to change to help accommodate rapid growth.

The major growth spurts occur at
  • 3-7 days
  • 2-4 weeks
  • 6-8 weeks
  • 3-4 months
  • 6 months
  • 8-9 months
  • 12 months

Not every baby will have every growth spurt according to the above times but it’s a gauge to help parents understand why things may be changing developmentally and to know when to seek answers.

Is your baby currently requesting more food?           

Suddenly having broken sleep in the night?

Becoming more active in their daily play?                  

Vocalising more through protest cries?

You are not alone! We hear Parents second guessing, GOOGLE searching, and seeking help on these issues on a daily basis.

Here are some of the impacts & influences of growth spurts in the first 12 months:

• 3-7 days babies can safely loose up to 7-10 % of their birth weight in the first 3 days and then ideally we like them to return to their birth weight by 10-14 days.
This is due to the components of milk changing, from colostrum  to transitional milk, and also increasing in volume.

• 2-4 weeks milk changes from transitional milk (more watery) to mature milk that has a fatty creamy component. This assists baby to put on weight and you should see them spread out times between feeds as they become more satisfied.

• 6-8 weeks This is simply a developmental mile stone that we know babies will all tend to have a growth spurt, lasting 3-7 days on average. You may notice from 6 weeks that your milk supply feels less-this is because the body stops making an excess, and will only make what your baby has been requesting. Your baby’s increased demand, and lengthen duration at the breast will assist increasing your supply during this time.

• 3-4 months There is an increase in coordination and movement allowing your baby to burn more energy and speed up their metabolism. This is why they will begin asking for more feeds and increase the volume of which they consume. Between 4-8 months your baby’s sleep cycles change to make them wake more frequently overnight. This can make some parents go from 0-1 feed to 3-6 feeds overnight. Ask for help is this is what’s happening.

• 6 months Obviously this is the recommended time for commencing solids, and with that your baby will put on subsequent weight due to the food remaining in the system for longer. The body needs to learn how to digest and break down the solid food, and it is wise to only introduce 1-2 new foods per day (in the early days).

• 8-9 months Your baby may have started earlier, but this is the time teething symptoms are very evident. During teething there is more whinging and feeding seems to increase. More food is also required with the increase in mobility and activity.

• 12 months Appetite increases with increased mobility and activity. Your baby will be consuming a great variety of foods. It is important to recognise that majority of your baby’s calorie intake should be through their milk consumption for the first 12 months.

During growth spurts you will notice if you have a feed, play, sleep schedule that it doesn’t quite go to plan like it used to. This is normal and importantly it is better to work with your baby’s body language than it is to work by the clock. This growth spurt will only last 3-7 days and then you can come back to your schedule or adjust it slightly as needed.

If you need help working this out, or if you are unsure if what you are experiencing with your baby is just a growth spurt- we are here for you. Don’t struggle on your own or get confused with conflicting advice on line. Contact us for help.

Consider asking to join the private Facebook page. This is where parents come together in the Q & A forum. They help strengthen one another in the parenting journey because “it takes a village to raise a child”. We all face challenges, have questions and have learnt skills, that if we share our experiences we can empower others. It is fabulous watching everyday parents teaching each other.

Written by Alison Gregory Endorsed Midwife, Parenting Educator, Sleep and Lactation Consultant

Photo by Roland Hechanova on Unsplash