Growth Spurts And How To Handle Them
When you have your baby in your arms, you get strong feelings that you want to hold on to forever. But your little one will grow, and with that you will experience some changes and challenges – for example, growth spurts.
This is perfectly normal – it means your baby is growing up.
What are growth spurts?
Growth spurs, or crises, are the times when your baby grows in length. Then they will feel dissatisfied with the amount of milk they receive, and demand more.
During these periods, it is common for babies to feel uncomfortable and to cry a lot, to show that they are unhappy.
This natural process causes their mothers to produce more milk to meet the needs of their children. Remember that the baby’s needs regulate the production of breast milk. This means that all this happens naturally.
Why are there growth spurts?
These periods in babies’ lives are, as the name suggests, about them growing. Infants grow, and then require more food to get more energy. This is because they need this energy for their neurological, motor, and psychological development.
And the mother’s body then produces more milk to meet the baby’s needs.
How often do growth spurts occur?
All babies are different and thus have their specific needs. Therefore, the time intervals for the growth spurts will vary. However, they tend to come more often during the first few months. In general, they usually occur during the following times:
Between 15 and 20 days of age
At birth, babies usually have more or less regular needs, with predictable sleeping habits. But in the third week, this pattern changes – and at the same time the baby’s attitude changes.
For two or three days, the baby will want to eat every half hour. It will also be upset if the milk is removed.
Between 6 and 7 weeks
About 40 days after the baby is born, the milk changes character and becomes more salty. Again, the baby will go through a crisis. Babies tend to become more tense and easily irritated as they adapt to this change. This phase usually lasts for a week.
3 months
At about this time, many mothers stop breastfeeding after the baby begins to refuse breastfeeding. At this age, babies know how to eat fast. However, external stimuli cause them to become distracted and stop eating.
In this situation, babies understand that the mother can produce milk when they ask for it. This comes from several different processes in the mother’s body. This process can take up to three to four weeks.
6 months
After six months of age, growth spurts are less common. This is because babies then start eating solid foods. Then they become more manageable, and the mothers can better understand what they need.
1 year and older
After 12 months of age, there are new growth spurts that make the baby want more closeness. During this period, it often happens that the child seeks comfort and support from his mother.
What to do during a crisis
This condition can make new mothers feel frustrated, worthless and hopeless. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the psychological stages that you are going through. It is important that you handle it with patience, tenderness and calm.
Some tips from the experts are:
- Breastfeed your baby whenever he wants and needs it. Do not make him cry with hunger. If he is sad, it will make him feel reluctant to eat.
- If your goal is to breastfeed only, then you should avoid bottle feeding altogether. It can otherwise inhibit milk production.
- Eat more. Then you get the energy needed to produce enough milk for your baby.
- Remember it’s only temporary. This situation will only last for a short period.
- If your child does not want to eat, do not force it.
Finally, remember that the natural growth process involves stress and crying. This means that if you understand this process, it can help you use the right methods and act in the best way.
In summary – growth spurts mean that babies are growing up and becoming healthy children. If you are prepared for this, it can help you feel less frustrated by the development process.
