Baby growth spurt times? In general?

(April 19, 2010)

There are times when babies demand to be breastfed a lot more than usual. They also seem unsettled, cranky and wakeful. These signs make most mothers anxious that they are not producing enough milk because of which the baby starves and asks for more milk. The fact is that the baby is experiencing growth spurts. The mother has absolutely nothing to worry about as her body is producing enough milk and the baby is being fed adequately. These phases of “frequency days” coincide with the stages when a baby has faster growth – rolling over, sitting without support, crawling, and walking. Baby Growth spurts occur on days three and seven, during weeks one to three and six to eight, and then six months of the baby's age. Even after the baby turns a year old, he will experience growth spurts.

These will occur every few months and may continue through teenage years; basically, whenever the child grows physically. When the mother realizes that the baby is nursing more than usual, she must meet with his demands every time as it is good for the growth of the body as well as the brain. Growth spurts last for a day or two, but it is perfectly normal for a baby to nurse more than usual for about a week. After the growth spurt, the baby will feed less regularly and get back to its normal feeding pattern again. Additionally, the baby will also have irregular sleeping patterns. The baby will want to nurse not only during the day time but also at night.

If the mother is still anxious about the breastfeeding pattern, she can keep a few things in mind. If the baby is gaining weight normally, wets about six diapers everyday, and has a regular bowel movement, he is getting adequate milk. During this time, the mother needs to pay attention to her own bodily needs too. She may get hungrier and thirstier; so she must eat healthy foods and fluids adequately. The mother must also avoid giving the baby bottled milk and must not try to adjust his feeding time. This will only hamper with the natural demand of the baby and her own production of milk. To calm the baby down, the mother can give him a warm bath and take him out for a stroll. And, if she still feels something is wrong with the baby, she must consult a pediatrician.

Submitted by N on April 19, 2010 at 05:55