Your Guide to Newborns and Growth Spurts: What to Expect and When

Newborns and growth spurts can feel sudden: one day your baby seems settled, the next they want feeding constantly, sleep differently and cry more. These short bursts of rapid change are common in the early weeks and may come with a jump in weight/length or a new skill, but timing varies from baby to baby and episodes usually pass within a few days (sometimes up to a week).

Typical signs include:

• Extra hunger (including cluster feeding and night feeds)

• More or less sleep than usual

• Fussiness, clinginess and needing more comfort

Because similar changes can also signal illness, it helps to know what’s normal and when to seek advice—so let’s look at patterns, practical tips and red flags next.

What Are Growth Spurts?

A growth spurt is basically a burst of rapid growth, where your baby can grow a lot in a short period of time. Sometimes, it might even seem like they’ve sprouted while you weren’t looking!

During these spurts, you’ll usually notice your baby growing taller and gaining weight. In their first year, babies typically grow about 24cm (roughly 10 inches) and their birth weight triples. Your little one’s head gets noticeably bigger, too, especially in the first four months.

Most of the time, the growth of infants happens at a steady pace, but now and then, you’ll spot those sudden newborn or toddler growth spurts that seem to come out of nowhere. Understanding what a growth spurt is can help you track these exciting changes.

For month-by-month changes, you can stay informed with our development milestones breakdown, covering feeding, sleeping and important physical leaps.

When Do Babies Have Growth Spurts?

Wondering 'When do newborns have growth spurts? ' As every baby is different, there’s no set timetable, so your little one may not experience growth spurts in exactly the same way or at the same time as others, and that’s absolutely fine. However, it’s common for newborns to lose weight within the first week after birth. By 2 weeks, most babies regain that weight, though some require a bit more time.

After that, your baby will be weighed monthly until they reach 6 months, and then every two months until their first birthday. So, when do growth spurts typically occur? These rapid phases of development are quite common, especially during both the newborn stage and later as older babies, typically happening at:

• 10 days

• 3 weeks

• 6 weeks

• 3 months

• 4 months

• 6 months

• 9 months.

Your baby might experience other growth spurts outside of these common intervals, as all children are different. You may want to create a baby growth spurt chart by using our Baby Growth Chart Calculator to see how quickly your newborn is growing.

What Are the Signs of a Growth Spurt?

Although signs of infant growth spurt and other growth spurt symptoms can appear at different ages, there are a few classics to watch for. Here are some things you may notice right before your little one shoots up in size or hits an exciting new milestone:

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How to Support My Baby's Growth Spurt

If you notice signs of a growth spurt in your infant, there are a few simple things you can do to make this phase a little easier for both of you:

• Feed your baby more if they seem hungry. It’s best to feed your baby when they’re hungry, so if your little one is going through a growth spurt, they may need additional feeds throughout the day. Common hunger cues – signs that your baby is hungry – include restlessness, sucking on fingers, making murmuring sounds and rooting (turning and opening their mouth).

• Help soothe your fussy or cranky baby. If you’ve ruled out other causes and think your baby’s being fussy due to a growth spurt, try different ways to soothe them. You can hold your baby and rock or cuddle them, listen to soothing music, stroke their back or give them a warm bath.

• Help your baby sleep. Sleep training techniques typically result in your little one sleeping better. And if growth spurts are interrupting your baby’s sleep, you may need to revisit some of those strategies. Try sticking to a bedtime routine, limiting stimulation before bed and creating a dark and calm sleeping environment, especially when your baby is going through a growth spurt.

How Long Do Growth Spurts Last?

Growth spurts in babies don’t last long at all – usually around three days. In this short time, you’ll likely notice your baby drinking more, sleeping differently, or being extra fussy as they grow. Every baby is different, but things usually settle back to normal pretty quickly. Just remember: these spurts are totally natural, and when and how they happen can vary from child to child.

So, if you’re wondering how long newborn or infant growth spurts last, the answer is typically just a few days, though this may differ for each infant.

What Happens After a Growth Spurt?

Once the growth spurt is over, your baby’s feeding, sleep and mood may go back to their usual patterns. For toddlers, the big growth spurts slow down. Around age 1, you’ll notice things steady out, and from age 2, it’s a much calmer ride.

Some parents love to snap pictures to show before and after a growth spurt – it's often surprising how much they change.

The Bottom Line

All parents expect to see their children grow and develop over the years, but baby growth spurts can happen quickly, leaving you thinking your little one has grown overnight! You may spot some of the signs that your baby’s growth spurt is coming before it happens, like being hungrier or a little fussier than normal.

A growth spurt can happen at multiple ages, such as 10 days, 6 weeks or 3 months, which is normal and natural in the first year of your baby's life. They’re nothing to worry about, but if you do notice your little one is hungrier than normal or even a little cranky, be prepared to change up to a bigger size of nappy soon!

For extra help through every baby milestone, download the Pampers Club app for savings and offers while you stock up.