How to Deal with a Growth Spurt During Breastfeeding

Your little one suddenly wants to nurse every hour, sometimes more.

They’re cranky, won’t nap well, and have been up all night fussing and wanting to nurse. You are exhausted, drained, and even start to doubt whether you have enough milk for your baby.

What’s going on here?

 It sounds like your baby is in the middle of a growth spurt.

Rest assured, all babies go through them, and all growth spurts are temporary.

What Are Growth Spurts in Babies?

When you have a baby who increases their nursing frequency seemingly out of nowhere and exhibits increased signs of crankiness and sleeplessness, it’s possible that you’re dealing with a baby growth spurt.

While it’s true that babies are growing pretty much all the time (they have a lot of growing to do!), they do have concentrated times where they grow exponentially.

These are called growth spurts, or “high frequency days.”

They happen every few weeks in your baby’s first six months of life.

When Do Growth Spurts Happen?

 All babies are different, and may have their own timetable when it comes to growth spurts.

However, there are some patterns that can be seen across the board when it comes to growth spurts.

Typically, growth spurts happen at 7-10 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.

But growth spurts don’t end at 6 months…

Many moms find that their babies, toddlers, and older kids continue to have high frequency days where they’re extra hungry and extra grumpy!

What Are The Signs Of A Growth Spurt?

The most common sign of a growth spurt is that your baby wants to breastfeed more frequently—and you may feel blindsided by this.

Just when your baby seems to have adopted a breastfeeding and sleep routine, the whole thing gets tossed out the window.

 Hold tight, though, because growth spurts are temporary: as quickly as they begin, they also end.

Other signs of a growth spurt:

• Your baby may seem fussy, even at the breast; they may seem to push your breast away, or cry at the breast.

• Your baby may not want to be separated from you, nursing for a short period of time, and then waking up to nurse more, especially in the evenings. This is called “cluster feeding” and is common during growth spurts.

• Your baby’s sleep may be all over the place. They may sleep in short spurts, waking up more frequently. At other times, they may sleep better and longer than before.

In addition to signs in babies, YOU as a nursing mom may be experience some symptoms as well:

• You may be more thirsty and hungry than usual.

• You may be more exhausted and upset.

• Your nipples may feel tender from extra nursing.

• After a few days of increased nursing, you may start to leak more or feel extra full.

Common Concerns About Growth Spurts

 Here are some answers to the most common baby growth spurt questions.

Do I Have Enough Milk?

Before your baby’s growth spurt, you were making enough milk to meet their needs if they were growing well, peeing and pooping, and meeting milestones.

Breast milk supply is usually established by one month postpartum and stays the same until about six months, when solid foods are typically introduced.

However, breast milk supply isn’t a static thing. It can increase or decrease according to your baby’s needs.

All your baby has to do if they want you to produce more milk is to breastfeed more frequently. So during a growth spurt, your baby is doing just that. They’re doing their job—even if they’re acting fussy while doing it.

 What will happen is that after about 2-3 days of increased nursing, your supply will increase.

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Again, the increased breastfeeding and the fussiness do not mean you don’t have enough milk, just that your baby needs a bit more because they are having a growth spurt.

On rare occasions, a baby will act fussy at the breast and want to nurse more frequently because of a true decrease in milk supply...

But this would likely correspond with a decrease in your baby’s weight gain, and fewer wet and dirty diapers.

If you have any suspicions that you’re dealing with decreased milk supply, contact your pediatrician and/or a breastfeeding counselor or lactation consultant.

When Will The Growth Spurt End?

Growth spurts typically last about 2-3 days, but some can last as long as a week or two.

What you will usually find is that after your milk supply increases after a few days of increased nursing, your baby is a little less fussy. However, they still may want to nurse more frequently and sleep less soundly. 

Then, suddenly they start to sleep better, and nurse a little less. Whew! It’s over.

After the growth spurt, you probably will notice that your baby has grown. This is the most exciting part! Some babies may go up a size in clothing or diapers after a growth spurt.

Remember that growth spurts aren’t just about growing physically, but often correspond to developmental changes in your baby. So, you may notice that they have new skills, or seem to be aware of their surroundings in new and different ways.

Is There Something Wrong With Me Or My Baby?

One of the hardest things about when your baby has a growth spurt is that it’s easy to doubt yourself as a parent.

You wonder if you have caused your baby to be so temperamental and grouchy.

You wonder if you’ve set your baby up for poor sleep habits. And you’ll inevitably wonder whether you’re making enough milk, or will be able to meet your baby’s increased needs.

Once you determine that your baby is probably going through a growth spurt, you can rest assured that you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong!

Your baby is just being a baby, and your job now is to feed them and comfort them. You’ve got this!

How To Take Care Of Yourself During A Growth Spurt

In a way, taking care of your baby’s needs during a growth spurt is the easy part.

Nurse, comfort, nurse…nurse, comfort, nurse…on repeat. 

But it can’t be underestimated how much of a toll your baby’s growth spurt can take on you.

Here are some things to do to get through it, both emotionally and physically.

1. Make Sure To Eat And Drink!

Your caloric needs will increase as your supply increases during a growth spurt. Your thirst will increase as well.

You don’t have to eat a certain number of calories or ounces of liquid to make enough milk for your baby, but you should keep yourself well nourished and comfortable so you have the energy to get through this intensive time.

2. Ask For Help

Yes, you may be the only one who can breastfeed your baby right now, but that doesn’t mean others can’t help you out!

Your helpers can make sure you have everything you need while you are camped out on the couch nursing: food, drink, phone charger, a good book, etc. They can also take care of housework and cooking while you tank your baby up.

There is also nothing wrong with pumping and asking your partner or baby’s caregiver to give your baby a bottle of pumped milk to relieve you.

3. Take Breaks Whenever Possible

Being stuck in the house with a cranky baby can take its toll emotionally.

Try to get outside for some fresh air at least once a day. Take your baby with you if there is no one home to watch them. Really, just a ten minute stroll can work wonders for you both.

If you have childcare, use it.

Go out for an hour and get a mani-pedi. Take a nap. Journal. Take some time for yourself, even if it’s short.

You need breaks and self-care when you are giving so much of yourself to your baby.

Growth spurts, cluster feedings, and up-all-night nursing marathons are some of the things no one really warns you about when you become a parent.

In many ways, you can’t fully appreciate how intense these times can be until you’re in them.

But once you understand what is going on—and you realize how perfectly normal and healthy something like a growth spurt is—you’ll be able to get through it with a little more confidence and ease.

And remember, your baby’s growth spurt will be over before you know it.

I promise.

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Related Article: The 4 Best Pacifiers For Breastfed Babies