Comments on: Growth Spurts

By: Cheryl Taylor

Cheryl Taylor — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:47:55 +0000

Growth spurts can be very unnerving, because a baby that was breastfeeding calmly can suddenly start acting fussy at the breast, latching on and off, and it can zap the confidence of mom! They also are very smart and can get annoyed when the fast initial flow of letdown begins to slow to a more steady flow. They are opinionated! Remember to continue to look to wettings for reassurance of intake.

By: cally

cally — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:36:12 +0000

Thank you for this post, it has made me feel SO relieved. My 10 week old has been fussing and delatching and not sucking properly for the last 2 days, making me fear the worst (that she is starting to reject my boobs!). But now believe she is just going through a growth spurt, will just persevere and hope she settles soon.

By: Cheryl Taylor

Cheryl Taylor — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:17:44 +0000

At 3 weeks old I would continue to nurse at least every 2 hrs during all your waking hours.

By: Jacki Cole

Jacki Cole — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:17:32 +0000

I usually let my 3 week old sleep as long as she wants at night and wake her every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day for feedings. Should I let her sleep longer during the day while she’s going through a growth spurt or keep to the day schedule for feedings?

By: Cheryl Taylor

Cheryl Taylor — Sun, 30 May 2010 12:26:15 +0000

There are continued growth spurts in the 2nd year also. They are seen with a marked increase in nursing and eating for 24-48 hrs followed often by a day of extra sleeping. Children continue to have these growth spurts throughout their years of growing. In the first six months of live growth spurts can happen very often.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:30:06 +0000

I would also like to know about growth spurts in toddlers. Especiall around the age of 12 months to 2 years. Anyone know?

By: marie

marie — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:43:05 +0000

In response to your reply to my question above, I am looking for additional information on growing spurts for non-breast fed babies that are now young toddlers. I am familiar with the infants but what would be an indication of a growing spurt in a toddler and how would I recognize it? I would appreciate a little more information on this subject or if you could direct me to a website that could assist me.

By: CherylTaylor

CherylTaylor — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:22:32 +0000

Growth spurts happen in all children even into the teens (and in boys you’ll often see it into college years!). There are significant growth spurts in the first year, particularly in the first 6 months (you’ll almost think they are in a perpetual growth spurt for 6 mo!) They are particularly noticeable in breastfed children because with mom as the source of nutrition she notices quickly that seem to want to nurse very often. First instinct might be to doubt milk supply. Don’t! As always, watch output for confirmation of intake. If wettings are still at least 6-8 per day then intake is still fine. The increased desire to nurse is a natural biological system to increase mom’s supply to meet the child’s “new” needs. With increased nursings mom’s supply will typically surge in 24-48 hrs.

By: marie

marie — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:33:30 +0000

do growth spurts happen only with breast fed babies? And can growth spurts
occur with older babies, say young toddlers around 18 months of age. I would appreciate a little more information on this subject concerning the toddlers.
thank you, marie rudert – infant/toddler teacher