Duration of a growth spurt

Growth spurts can vary greatly in their duration. In some phases and also different from child to child, they only last one or a few days. In other children, a growth spurt can also last for a week, during which the child appears dissatisfied, apparently always hungry and tearful. As suddenly as a growth spurt begins, it often stops again. After a growth spurt, the baby’s perception and abilities often change and it perceives its world differently.

How many growth spurts are there?

Some studies have shown that growth spurts in babies coincide with developmental milestones. On average, there are eight growth spurts up to the 14th month of life, and most children experience them at some point. However, the growth of a baby is very individual and cannot be predicted to the day. It is not a cause for concern if a child does not experience a growth spurt at the calculated time. The paediatrician checks in the regular U-examinations whether the baby is developing in line with its age.

When do the growth spurts occur?

In the first 14 months of a child’s life there are 8 growth spurts. The first growth spurt takes place around the 5th week of life. During this time, children are noticed by the fact that they want to be breastfed more often and need more physical closeness.

The second growth spurt starts around the 8th week of life. Many babies do not want to leave their parents and want to avoid all strangers.From the 12th week of life the 3rd thrust takes place. This is the phase where daily routines or structures can be introduced, such as times for naps or typical breastfeeding periods.

Furthermore, the child needs more energy and must be breastfed more often and more. Around the 4th month of life the next push occurs. The children have more waking phases at night and an even greater need to breastfeed than before.

They grow a good deal. This episode sometimes lasts up to a month and can be very strenuous. The 5th episode occurs in many children from the age of half a year.

The children try to crawl and move around. First attempts at speaking become more pronounced and many a syllable is tried to be formulated. The 6th growth spurt falls in the phase of the 9th month.

The babies are able to move further distances by crawling and learn to understand the difference between desirable and undesirable behavior. The 7th push begins around the first year of life. Sometimes the babies can already speak their first words.

They are more independent and can keep themselves busy for shorter periods of time. The frenzy of discovery knows no boundaries. Dangerous objects, sockets, doors and cupboards should be secured.

From the 13th month of life the 8th growth spurt begins. After this spurt, the children carefully begin to make their first attempts at walking. Many a child is more often dissatisfied and happy in these phases in quickly alternating phases.