How often does a baby go through a growth spurt and approx how much more food and sleep will they need?

Question

Also, when do growth spurts stop?

Answer 1

Newborns can go through a growth spurt as often as every two weeks, slowing down as they grow up. However, as it has already been mentioned here, every baby is different. The most noticeable growth spurts happen until the first tooth cuts. Growth spurts do not stop until maturity, although, like I said, they do slow down in frequency and intensity.

Your baby will dictate how much food and sleep they need during growth spurts. Watch for signs. There are no ready recipes for this, and nobody can tell you exactly how it will happen. Don't worry, when time comes, you will be able to handle it as it goes.

Answer 2

If only we knew...lol. Most babies (and the most is a very small majority) go through a growth spurt around the time of the check-ups. If ou are breastfeeding, the baby will eat what he/she needs and you won't have to think about it (not that you won't, but you won't have to). I breastfed so I don't know as much about bottles but when my nephew was still hungry at the end of the bottle, we made more and then added an ounce or two until he was hungry past the bottle again.
The rule for sleeping is always let sleeping babies lie. There is one exception, naps after 3pm should be kept small once a baby is older (3+months) so you can have a prayer of getting a good night's sleep. Let the baby tell you what and when and you will both be better for it.

Answer 3

From what I've read, that all seems pretty normal. I have a 5 month old, What I've noticed with her, is an increase in appetite, and she does sleep more often. She has been sleeping thru the night since about 8 weeks old, and normally in a day, she'll be awake for 1 to 2 hours, then sleep for 40min to an hour, and the cycle continues, but thru a growth spurt she will sleep during the day for around 3 hours., at least once in a day. and eat a lot more frequently.

Answer 4

I don't think it's an exact science. My daughter is 3 and every few weeks she'll eat like a horse and sleep really soundly. We always say that she's going through a growth spurt. They just do it all by themselves - there's nothing you need to do. When my daughter was a baby, she didn't have a growth spurt for ages and I was worried she wasn't growing quickly enough, then all of a sudden - puff!

Answer 5

Every baby is different.

My 1st son had a growth spurt for the first 2 months of his life! Ate and ate and ate...slept and slept and slept...

Then again every approx 6-8 months...

my 2nd son was the same, but let me tell you this...i dont think it ever stops coz my son is now 7 years old, and my other is nearly 3 years old, and they both tend to go through this every now and again, my youngest more so, but his takes longer than my eldest to have a growth spurt.....with my 7 year old it seems like he can grow a few inches over night!!

Answer 6

It's hard to say, as every baby is different. But your baby will know how much food and sleep he/she needs, as when they go through growth spurts, they eat a LOT and sleep even more!

The spurts stop when their eating/sleeping schedule goes back to normal. With my baby, that happened after a couple of days.

Answer 7

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html
Growth spurts
By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC



Most babies go through several growth spurts (also called frequency days) during the first 12 months.


What is a growth spurt?
During a growth spurt, breastfed babies nurse more often than usual (sometimes as often as every hour) and often act fussier than usual.

The increase in baby's milk intake during growth spurts is temporary. In exclusively breastfed babies, milk intake increases quickly during the first few weeks of life, then stays about the same between one and six months. As solids are gradually introduced after six months, baby's milk intake will gradually decrease.

Physical growth is not the only reason that babies may have a temporary need for increased nursing. Babies often exhibit the same type of behavior (increased nursing with or without increased fussiness) when they are working on developmental advances such as rolling over, crawling, walking or talking. Mom's milk is for growing the brain as well as the body!


When do babies have growth spurts?
Common times for growth spurts are during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less). Babies don't read calendars, however, so your baby may do things differently.

Growth spurts don't stop after the first year - most moms notice growth spurts every few months during the toddler years and periodically thereafter on through the teenage years.


How long do growth spurts last?
Growth spurts usually last 2-3 days, but sometimes last a week or so.


What is the best way to handle a growth spurt?
Follow your child's lead. Baby will automatically get more milk by nursing more frequently, and your milk supply will increase due to the increased nursing. It is not necessary (or advised) to supplement your baby with formula or expressed milk during a growth spurt. Supplementing (and/or scheduling feeds) interferes with the natural supply and demand of milk production and will prevent your body from getting the message to make more milk during the growth spurt.

Some nursing moms feel more hungry or thirsty when baby is going through a growth spurt. Listen to your body -- you may need to eat or drink more during the time that baby is nursing more often.

See My baby is fussy! Is something wrong? for tips on comforting a fussy baby.

Answer 8

i think girls have growth spurts right up until they are about 14 / 15 and boys 18... i just cant keep up with buying clothes for my 3... girl 15 1/2 ... boy 11... girl 6.... i can remember buying a pair of sandals for my eldest when she was around 2,they were slightly to big so i put them away for a month then tried them on her again,i couldnt believe they were to small after just 4 weeks...
i find they also have days where they cant stop eating then other days they're not that bothered. i've come to the conclusion that if they are hungry they will eat,if they're are not they wont.. just like us adults.

Answer 9

it depends on how old the baby is... growth spurts normally start slowing down at 12 months of age

Answer 10

Well every single baby is exactly the same, so once you get an answer you can rest assured you have the right one.