Growth spurt baby: All developmental spurts at a glance
In the first few months, your baby will experience eight growth spurts. During this time, it learns new skills, its senses and its own will develop. These changes do not leave your baby unaffected, it cries more and seeks your closeness. Here you can find out what happens during growth spurts and how you can help your baby.
Your baby will experience a total of eight growth spurts in the first 14 months, and with each growth spurt it will develop a variety of new skills. Watch it closely during these phases! Can it be something new?
These developmental spurts are very exciting for your baby, but they can also overwhelm your baby, especially in the beginning. These weeks are also a challenge for many mothers. Hence our advice for you: Despite the stressful time and your fussy baby, don’t lose your nerve. It’s part of the game to be stressed and burned out, never blame yourself for that! Give your baby your love and attention, especially in stormy times, and show him that you are going through this phase together with him. And always remember, each of these flare-ups is temporary and will pass.
Signs of a growth spurt at a glance
A growth spurt usually manifests itself with the following signs:
5th week | 8th week | 12th week | 19th week |
Your baby sleeps worse | Babies are strangers | Your baby is very hungry | Your baby is growing enormously |
Babies cry a lot more | Your baby wants to be breastfed more often | Permanent sucking is on the program | Babies are very hungry |
Your baby is more hungry | Your baby sleeps worse | Your baby is clinging | The nights are restless again |
Your baby is looking for you | Babies participate more in what is happening, they “babble” | There is sleep chaos, your baby wakes up often | Some babies become remarkably quiet |
The head circumference increases | Your baby screams and squeaks | Your baby gets cranky |
26th week | 37th week | 46th week | 55th week |
Your baby interacts with its environment | Babies start testing boundaries | Babies crawl and begin to climb | Your baby sleeps very restlessly |
Your baby is very strange | Babies become little explorers | Your baby explores the environment | Your baby is very strange |
Babies are moody and emotional | Your baby is sleeping less well now | Babies are remarkably moody | Babies whine and can become irascible |
Babies have strong fears of loss | Babies make more different sounds | Independence increases | Your baby seeks your closeness and reverts to “baby-like” behavior |
When do the growth spurts start?
Usually, your baby experiences the first growth spurt in the fifth week. Exceptions are children who were born too early or too late. Accordingly, the growth spurts start later in premature babies, for example. Since the signs vary depending on the growth spurt or can be of different severity, you will find detailed information on each growth spurt here.
1st growth spurt, 5th week
During the first growth spurt, your baby’s sensory organs are developing at a rapid pace. It sees better now, so it can see your smile! Immediately after birth, babies can only see clearly what is no more than 20 cm away. That is now changing.
In addition, your baby hears better and better, so that it becomes more and more attentive and wants to be part of your world. Help him discover by picking him up and exploring the area with him in your arms. The ability to recognize smells is also getting better and better, from now on your little one will recognize your individual smell. Also, your baby’s motor skills take a huge leap, such as their reflexes and reactions .
Signs of the 1st growth spurt
These developmental leaps place enormous demands on your baby. You will notice that very clearly by his behavior. These behaviors indicate the first developmental spurt:
- Babies sleep much less and are very restless because they perceive and process much more of their surroundings.
- Babies are more often looking for their mother’s closeness , because all the new impressions scare many babies at first, which is why they long for you and your closeness.
- They cry a lot more than usual, after all it’s their way of communicating at this age. In addition, all the new impressions quickly cause exhaustion, so give your baby time to explore and be amazed.
- Babies are much more hungry: It’s perfectly normal for a baby around five weeks to be unusually hungry and want your breast or bottle. His little body now needs a lot of energy!
- Physical Developments : Babies are less jumpy, they breathe more evenly, choke less and spit up less from their burps. The metabolism also improves, which is why digestive disorders occur less often. They also react to bright colors, since babies’ eyesight improves significantly from the sixth week.
- First tears: The tear duct is fully developed by the fifth week, so you will notice the first tears when your baby cries.
This helps your baby in the first growth spurt
The points described above are a kind of communication channel for your baby: if it cannot sleep at night or during the day and cries a lot, this is a sign that it is looking for your closeness. Many mothers are surprised by their little one’s unusual behavior and are amazed at how much their little one cries. But this is exactly what you should do:
- Warmth: Babies need a lot of attention and love around five weeks. Hold your baby in your arms so that his head is on your chest and he can feel your heartbeat. That calms it down immensely.
- Body contact: Stroke and caress your baby continuously. If you have visitors, it is often enough to put your little darling on your lap, the main thing is that it feels you are close. This is how you show your baby that it doesn’t need to be afraid of anything and that you are always by its side.
- Rock back and forth: Walk around the room with your baby, singing or humming a little song they know. The well-known melody signals to your little one that everything is fine and nothing bad is happening.
- Familiar sequences: Your baby is best comforted by familiar routines. For example, you always sing the same song when changing diapers.
- Restless sleep: Although it takes a lot of your energy and time, being around you will likely help your little one fall asleep. Babies feel incredibly comfortable on their mother’s breast. It often helps if they are carried in a sling and rocked back and forth. The same goes for the stroller or the car, many babies fall asleep quickly when pushed or driven.
2nd growth spurt, 8th week
Babies experience another growth spurt from the eighth week of life, which shakes up your everyday life again. Because this boost really boosts your baby’s senses: Hearing, seeing, smelling and tasting work much better now than it did a few weeks ago – but so does the sense of touch. In practice, this means: your little one’s attention is increasingly focused on colorful objects and noises from your environment.
Signs of the 2nd growth spurt
- First Sounds: Many babies make their first sounds during the second developmental spurt, in the form of unintelligible babbles. They often try to imitate you and other people around them. They want to be part of the action.
- Strong strangers: Many babies are now very strangers. Often only you are accepted as a mother and every other person is rejected outright. One reason for this may be the improved eyesight. Unknown people cause fear at first.
- Suckling: Many babies really like pacifiers because of the improved sensory organs . Alternatively, the thumb is sufficient or your baby wants the breast much more often than usual.
- Poor sleep: Babies sleep much worse and more irregularly during the second growth spurt. They don’t want to lie in bed alone, they just want to stay with their mum.
- Head circumference: Your baby ‘s head circumference will increase around the seventh to eighth week . Changed brain wave curves can also be seen during this time. The brain develops enormously, which can be seen in the new sensory and motor skills.
- Motor development: Your baby is slowly becoming more independent, which is mainly due to the improved motor skills. He can probably raise his head, fidget, grimace, prop himself up on his stomach, grasp, touch and feel for a few seconds now. Your own body is suddenly very interesting: Your baby likes to touch his face or grab his little feet.
This helps your baby in the second growth spurt
- Security: Your little one’s restless behavior is literally crying out for your love and affection. That’s why you should definitely respond to this need for security.
- Physical contact: Some mothers report that they can no longer get their little one away from them, it wants permanent physical contact. So take away your little sparrow’s fear of all the new impressions and show him that you go through everything together with him.
3rd growth spurt, 12th week
The third growth spurt is really exciting. A lot happens in the development of your baby. It becomes more active, can perceive moods and interacts more with you and its environment. It loves variety – it definitely doesn’t want to be bored.
Signs of the 3rd growth spurt
- Very hungry : Your little one now needs a large amount of milk and calories, because the initially small stomach has now also become larger. Your body reacts to this: Your breasts are now continuously producing more milk.
- Constant sucking: On the one hand, your baby needs a lot of energy from food, on the other hand, breastfeeding babies often want their mother’s breast just to suck on it. It’s similar with bottle-fed babies: they take their time emptying their bottles. They use the teat much more as a comfort dispenser, because sucking has a calming effect. Incidentally, many babies in this phase seek more physical contact with their mother during feeding, for example they put their hand on their breast.
- Clinging: Many babies cling to their mother particularly strongly during this time and want to be carried by her all the time. Maybe your little one likes to hide their face against your shoulder as if embarrassed when they see other people or you have visitors.
- Sleep chaos: Your little one’s sleep pattern is definitely turned upside down. But don’t worry, this is perfectly normal. Many babies wake up much more often at night and are hungry. There are simply no fixed times for sleeping and feeding.
- Physical development: Your baby now reacts to any stimuli from its environment, because the sensory organs have developed even more. Of course, this is also reflected in the ability to see and hear. The result: your baby is becoming more and more curious. In addition, it becomes more agile and loves its own movement. Pedaling could now become a new hobby.
- Shrill sounds: Your own sounds are suddenly very fascinating, which is why you have to be prepared for screeching, squeaking and other sounds at all volume levels in this phase. Even though these high-pitched sounds can be exhausting for us adults, they are important for your baby’s cognitive development as well as for the vocal cords, lip and tongue muscles.
- Social Behaviour: Your baby will gradually begin to respond to your moods. Many mothers now catch the first smile of their little darling. It also interacts with you a lot more and tries to “read” your face. A wonderful phase that triggers some emotions in many mothers.
This helps your baby in the third growth spurt
- Rituals: Your baby is asking more and more for fixed sleeping rituals because they give him orientation and support. For example, sing the same song to your baby before they go to sleep. Your little one will respond to these rituals by becoming calmer in such familiar situations.
- Child-safe environment: Grabbing and holding your baby is now becoming easier and better, so caution is required from now on. Because your little one will now start to put objects in his mouth. Right now you should pay attention to child safety in your home.
4th growth spurt, 19th week
The oral phase makes its grand entrance in the fourth growth spurt, which can last up to six weeks. Because grasping works so well that your baby puts almost everything in his fingers and then in his mouth. You will therefore develop a watchful eye for small parts or dangerous objects near your baby relatively quickly.
Signs of the 4th growth spurt
- Growth: Around this phase, your little one experiences an enormous physical growth spurt. You will quickly notice that the baby clothes no longer fit.
- Very hungry: As in every other development phase, your baby is very hungry around the 19th week and often wants your breast or the bottle.
- Restless nights: In this phase, the nights become restless again. However, this is perfectly normal. Your baby is always hungry and wants your affection. Especially in this stressful time, the reintroduction of the family bed could be very useful and stress-reducing.
- Moody: Many babies are incredibly moody at this stage. One day they beam happily in your face, the next there is only roaring. This erratic behavior can even occur within minutes, and crying can turn into bright laughter in a matter of seconds.
- Silent Staring: Some babies go downright mute. Instead of making the usual sounds, they are remarkably quiet and may just stare into space. Some mothers describe their baby as powerless, absent or even scary. But don’t worry, this is the literal “calm before the storm” before a new skill breaks through.
- Smooth transitions: Your baby is gradually able to perceive smooth transitions and to create them himself. This means that his movements no longer appear choppy, but softer. You will probably also notice that your little one enjoys watching you make “fluent transitions”, such as setting the table or getting dressed.
- Motor Development: Babies experience tremendous motor development at this stage. Some babies can roll from their back to their side or even onto their stomach.
- Teething: In addition, teething begins in some babies from the 19th week of life . However, it often takes up to the 24th week for the first teeth to break through.
5th growth spurt, 26th week
Your baby is really active in the fifth growth spurt. Even if it’s not moving yet, it’s trying to reach everything in the immediate vicinity and turn it upside down. From now on you can prepare yourself for chaos in the playroom.
Signs of the 5th growth spurt
- Interaction: Babies slowly begin to babble, tell fantasy stories, wave, or applaud. In short: Your baby now interacts much more with its environment.
- Strangers: Unfortunately, your baby will also be particularly skeptical in this phase and will quickly become strangers, even to people who have seen them before, such as grandma and grandpa.
- Moody: You will certainly notice that your baby is very moody or emotional. Many babies cry more than usual, are difficult to please, and get cranky easily. Your baby is showing you more and more how he is feeling.
- Fear of loss: Many babies are now even more attached to their mother than ever before. You’ll probably notice that even if you just want to leave the room: your baby accompanies you with a fit of screams.
- Consequences: Your baby is increasingly consolidating the connection between flowing processes. On this train, it takes great pleasure in making sounds associated with movement, such as throwing objects. They are fascinated that they can create something through their actions.
This helps your baby in the 5th growth spurt
- Show joy: Show your child that you share every new skill with him and that you are very happy about it. If he throws something down to make a loud sound, it will certainly irritate your nerves, but you should show your baby joy, after all, he has learned something again.
- Sling: Since your baby always wants to be by your side, we recommend a sling. So your child feels safe and secure.
- Picture books: Your baby already has the attention and interest it needs to look at picture books with you. In this way you also promote his comprehension, which is experiencing a big leap at this time.
6th growth spurt, 37th week
Ready, Set, Go! Most babies will start crawling now . If this is already the case with your baby, you have hopefully childproofed your home.
Signs of the 6th growth spurt
- Testing limits: You will surely notice that your little one is slowly developing its own will and will also express it loudly. If everyday activities such as changing diapers, changing clothes or going to bed don’t fit into the program, your baby will definitely let you know. Get ready for a loud time as your child is gradually testing their limits.
- Explorer: Your little explorer can now explore all the nooks, corners and niches of every room. Children also begin to categorize everything around them. You should definitely support your little one by letting them explore and touch everything themselves (of course, only what is safe).
- More hunger: Because your baby is becoming more and more active, it naturally uses up more energy. In addition, his taste buds are developing, which is why you are welcome to serve him new, previously unknown dishes.
- Poor sleep: Many babies are now sleeping poorly again. They don’t want to be put down at all and take a long time to settle down – or they signal that you should stay with them until they fall asleep. They just want to be constantly connected to you and demand your physical contact.
- Speech development: You will notice that your baby is making more and more sounds , which meanwhile also sound more and more different. With this development spurt, new abilities of the speech apparatus are added. The best way to support your child is to simply listen to them and, above all, speak to them. Explain to him what the different objects are called and repeat them over and over again. In this way, the words will gradually be memorized by your little one.
7th growth spurt, 46th week
Your little one wants to be more involved in your everyday life instead of just being a spectator. It may not be able to speak yet, but its gestures and sounds clearly and continuously say: I want to too! If you refuse this wish, anger or tears can hardly be avoided.
Signs of the 7th growth spurt
- Crawling: Crawling will probably work just fine. That’s why your baby is always looking for new challenges. It wants to climb up everywhere and get onto its chair, sofa or swing on its own. You have a very active time ahead of you! Here are some tips for you on how you can help your baby to crawl.
- Self-occupation: Consistent with this activity, babies of this age are becoming more self-absorbed. They explore their surroundings and seek entertainment. Right now, your home should be more childproof than ever before!
- Moody: Even in this development phase, your little treasure can become a moody toddler who constantly shows different emotions. New cognitive developments make the world seem unsettling and frightening for your baby again. Therefore, if he doesn’t like something, he reacts quickly with tears or a tantrum.
- Sequences: Your baby is becoming more and more aware that everything has a certain sequence. However, this has to be learned first. So you can explain any sequences in your everyday life to him. For example, that in order to be able to drink something, you first have to open the bottle, then put the bottle on and finally pour it into the glass. Your baby will surely follow your movements with big eyes!
This helps your baby in the 7th growth spurt
- Autonomy: Many babies of this age have a strong urge to do everything themselves. Let them try things on their own and intervene if necessary to demonstrate how to do it right. Of course, this does not apply to dangerous situations such as climbing stairs. You should always be there so that you can intervene directly. Because even if your baby wants to try different things, it still has no sense of danger.
- Respond to actions: At this stage, babies are testing how far they can go, and your response is their guide. Praise them when they did the right thing and tell them clearly when they did something they weren’t supposed to.
8th growth spurt, 55th week
Life is becoming more and more exciting for your toddler because they can now do so much themselves. Slowly but surely it is making its way to the first steps and it will definitely want to “help” you with your daily tasks at one time or another. It is developing more and more into a toddler and you will notice that the defiant phase is announced and outbursts of anger are increasingly part of everyday life.
Signs of the 8th growth spurt
- Restless sleep: Around the 55th week, the sleep routine of many small children is thrown overboard: they absolutely do not want to rest and allow themselves to be distracted by everything.
- Strong strangers: Many babies are now very strange again. Only mom is accepted, often not even your own dad. Some children show this by pulling the tail of your skirt and hiding behind you. But don’t worry, it will stop after a few weeks at the latest.
- Moody: Many mothers find their little ones particularly cranky, unpredictable and short-tempered at this age. Also, most children want to be with their mommy all the time. Try to keep calm and soothe your baby with gentle words. Pick them up and show them you’re there.
- Baby-Like Behavior: Some babies return what should be discarded “baby-like” behavior. This is very stressful for many mothers because they expect progress rather than setbacks. However, such regressions in development phases are completely normal and just the calm before the storm. The new ability is already waiting for its breakthrough.
- Programs: After developing the understanding of sequences in the previous stages of development, this now progresses towards the perception of a program. This means that your baby realizes that usual sequences can also vary. For example, a table doesn’t always have to be set in the same order, or the dressing of clothes doesn’t always follow the same pattern, but it’s still part of the “dressing” program. This means that rigid sequences gradually dissolve and children understand the general context behind them.
- Increasing head circumference: Around the twelfth month, the brain wave curves show clear changes. As a result, the head circumference increases again, and the glucose metabolism in the brain also changes.
This helps your baby in the 8th growth spurt
- Understanding programs: In this phase, the topic “Understanding programs” is a focus for your child. Support it by letting it participate when you complete programs. For example, with everyday tasks like putting on shoes or when it wants to play with you. Many babies also love watching their mothers groom themselves. Explain every step you take, from brushing your teeth to applying lotion to your face.
- Diverse activities: Children of this age can do far more than they could previously communicate. They observe everything closely and literally soak up this information. Therefore, offer your little one a certain variety in your daily activities.