“My baby is a real angel, just nurses and sleeps.” “My child is so peaceful, eats really well, is obedient, and never gives me any trouble.” These are typical phrases from mothers considered blessed with their little angels! However, these same mothers, sooner or later, will complain about the trouble their little angels are giving them and, when questioning what is happening after noticing a sudden change in behavior, will discover that their children are going through yet another one of the many growth spurts throughout childhood.
Growth spurts, or as they are also called by pediatricians, developmental leaps, are very common events in children’s lives. Some signs are more evident, others are almost imperceptible to parents, especially when children are already more restless and prone to crying. However, when something changes in their children’s behavior, parents’ warning lights go on. Is it teething? A cold? What could it be? Could it be, could it be?
There are so many questions when everything could, in fact, be the result of growth spurts in height, weight, and physical development of the baby/child1. During these spurts, children become truly irritable, agitated, and fussy, and it can even seem like they are in pain, making parents even more worried without understanding what is really happening.
Growth spurts are linked to each new developmental milestone achieved by the baby, such as sitting, crawling, standing, or taking their first steps. But then we ask ourselves: what does that have to do with the child being so restless? The answer lies in the excitement the baby feels when learning a new skill. The excitement is so great that they want to repeat what they’ve learned over and over again, even at bedtime2. This is why sleep becomes restless, the baby wakes up more times than usual and, by sleeping less, becomes irritable.
It’s not possible to precisely determine the duration of growth spurts, but it usually takes a few weeks for everything to return to normal. While this phase is ongoing, lots of patience, affection, lullabies, fun playtime, and, again, lots of patience are needed.
A mother’s account:
And when that baby who was always so good suddenly turns into something without explanation? At 17 months old, Vicente went through crazy days. There were exactly 2 intense weeks that, for me, felt never-ending. It started with nights, he began waking up 4 to 5 times a night and sometimes wouldn’t go back to sleep. He wanted to be glued to me. Then came the daytime crying fits, irritability, everything upset him, even a simple look could throw him off. The nursing sessions that had already been reduced (he nursed a maximum of 3 times a day) became constant again—7, 8, 9 times or more. I even took him to the pediatrician to ask what was happening, and nothing, everything was perfect. That was when I researched and discovered that yes, it was a growth spurt, a spurt like I’d never seen before! I confess there were many times I felt at a loss. I cried along with him seeing him in that state, but I knew that in that moment he needed my patience and dedication even more!
See also: Baby’s Growth and Their Crises
Photos: Tania VDB
