Growth peaks, growth spurts or peak periods are times when babies need more energy, and therefore more food. That's right! The term "growth spurt" refers to a very rapid and sudden increase in your child's height and weight. These peaks are completely normal and do not last long, but they can be tiring. You'll soon learn to recognize them.
CONTENTS :
- What is a growth peak?
- Are growth peaks regular?
- How can I tell if my baby is experiencing a growth spurt?
- Breastfeeding and managing growth spurts
- 4 little helpers to support your child...
What is a growth peak?
Growth spurts are short but intense periods when newborns, babies and toddlers suddenly gain weight and centimetres. Often (but not always) more grumpy, tired or irritable than usual, they demand more attention and , above all, much more milk. Indeed, during a growth spurt, hunger is particularly difficult to appease.
⏰ Fortunately, these periods generally last no more than 24 to 72 hours.
Are growth peaks regular?
Because every baby is unique, a growth spurt can occur at any time, or not at all. However, certain periods are more likely to trigger them:
- at 3, 6 and 9 weeks of age,
- at 3, 6 and 9 months of age.
This is the 3 - 6 - 9 rule which, although not systematic, is nevertheless regularly verified. In fact, there's a certain correlation between the appearance of growth peaks and the major stages in a baby's development.
It's true! Just after a peak period, you'll often notice a surprising progression in your child's language, socialization, curiosity andindependence or motor skills.
Which growth peak is the hardest to get through?
No growth peak is more complicated than another. They're all the same! In fact, babies generally go through one as early as their 10th day of life, without their parents really noticing. While some are more grumpy, others simply demand their bottle more often.
💡 Did you know? For little and big eaters and, of course, for the wolf-like hunger of growth spurts, Élhée evolving baby bottles come in several sizes (150 ml, 240 ml and 330 ml) and also in gift sets to give or collect!
How can I tell if my baby is experiencing a growth spurt?
Here again, it all depends on the child, but there are some characteristic signs that can appear during this period of rapid growth. Learning to spot them will help you anticipate this period with the greatest serenity.
- During growth spurts, your baby will ask you to breastfeed or bottle-feed more often. Day and night.
- His feeds will also be longer and more vigorous. They may feel like they're not enough to feed your baby, because he's always hungry.
- He can be irritable and very impatient at mealtimes.
- Fallingasleep can also be a little more difficult, while night-time awakenings are often more frequent for a few days.
- Finally, your baby may ask for more cuddles, more contact and more attention, simply because he senses that something is different.
But what's true for one baby is not true for another. In fact, some children show no signs at all, or so little (apart from wanting to eat more often) that parents fail to notice them. This is known as a "silent" growth spurt.
Breastfeeding and managing growth spurts
Growth spurts affect both breastfed and bottle-fed babies. However, while for some it's "enough" to prepare more bottles, as a breast-feeding mother you may have many questions, not least about your lactation capacity.
🍼 Which bottle size should you choose for your baby?
Don't worry, everything's going to be fine! The only thing to do is to follow your baby's needs. If you're breastfeeding exclusively and you're available for your baby, that's perfect. Put him to the breast as soon as he starts to fuss. The more he suckles, the more your lactation will be stimulated. You may be more tired for a few days, but you'll get the hang of it.
If you're pumping, organization may be a little more complicated, but for a mom, nothing's impossible, is it? So, following the 3-6-9 rule, try toanticipate peaks in demand by expressing your milk a little more often than usual.
3 tips to boost your milk production
As well as putting your baby to the breast more often, there are a few tips that can help you stimulate milk production to meet your little one's increased needs.
- Give both breasts at every feed: baby has a better chance of being and you stimulate your lactation more.
- Drink plenty of water (breast milk is over 80% water).
- Discover breastfeeding herbal teas and/or treat yourself to a non-alcoholic beer from time to time (fennel and hops in particular are known to support breast milk production).
And if you have any questions about your lactation, whether in conjunction with your child's growth spurt or not, talk to your doctor, midwife or IBCLC-certified lactation consultant, who will help you find the best recipe for breastfeeding.
4 little helps to accompany baby...
Growth spurts disappear just as they appeared, in one fell swoop, with no real change apart from a finally appeased appetite. But while you're waiting for relief, here are a few things you can do to accompany your baby between feeds.
- Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding: meet his needs without making him wait. By crying and demanding, baby isn't trying to annoy you, he's just really hungry. simply very hungry. What's more, you can offer to feed him more often yourself, without waiting for him to ask.
- Sleep Sleep: because it's true that hunger can wake up a growing baby, even at night, offer your child regular rest periods with naps and quiet times throughout the day.
- Physical contact: Carry him, cuddle him, massage and caress him... Anything that relaxes and soothes him between meals is a good idea. right now.
- Patience and understanding: don't forget that growth peaks don't last and that, although a little trickier to manage with very small breastfed babies patience (and breast or infant milk) works wonders.
And 2 tips for moms!
Don't forget to take care of yourself! In the midst of post-partum, you have your own needs, your own fatigue and perhaps even your own aches and pains.
- Eat healthily and fill up on vitamins at every meal, drink plenty of water and get some sleep... Yes, at the same time as baby if you can!
- Also for breast-feeding mothers, nipple pain can occur. At the end of each feed, massage the nipples with a drop of breast milk or lanolin.
Les biberons Élhée accompagneront votre bébé de la naissance jusqu'à 24 mois et plus, pour lui permettre une parfaite autonomie, sans risque de casse.
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