What It Means
A growth spurt is a short period when a child grows noticeably faster than usual in height and weight. Cleveland Clinic calls growth spurts a normal, healthy part of development: babies have many of them in the first year, and there's another big one around pubertyPubertyThe years when a child's body matures into an adult's, usually starting between about 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, per Cleveland Clinic. See more. During a spurt, a baby or child is often hungrier than usual.
Try It: Estimate a Baby's Size at Their First Birthday
A rough guide using Cleveland Clinic's figures: about 10 inches longer and triple the birth weight by age 1. Every baby grows at their own pace, so the doctor's growth chart is the real measure.
Example numbers only. Ask your pediatrician how your baby is tracking.
How Parents Say It
- "He's eating everything in sight, must be a growth spurt."
- "She wants to nurse every hour today."
- "He grew three inches this year and nothing fits."
The Breakdown
Growth spurts by stage
| Stage | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First year | Many quick spurts; about 1010,000 stepsA popular daily step goal that began as the name of a 1960s Japanese pedometer; later studies find health benefits begin well below it. See more inches of length and triple the birth weight by the first birthday | Cleveland Clinic |
| BreastfedBreastfeedingFeeding a baby milk directly from the breast. The AAP recommends breast milk alone for about the first 6 months, then alongside solid foods. See more baby in a spurt | Wants to eat more often, sometimes every hour, called cluster feedingCluster feedingWhen a baby wants several feeds close together over a few hours, often in the evening, instead of feeding at spaced-out times. See more | Nemours KidsHealth |
| Girls, around puberty | A growth spurt somewhere between about 9 and 15 | Cleveland Clinic |
| Boys, around puberty | A growth spurt somewhere between about 12 and 17 | Cleveland Clinic |
Sources give slightly different puberty ranges, so treat these as broad windows.
Worked example. A baby born 20 inches long and 7.5 pounds would be around 30 inches and 22.5 pounds at their first birthday using Cleveland Clinic's rule of thumb. Babies vary, so treat that as a rough idea and ask the doctor how your baby is tracking.
When to talk to the pediatrician. Call if feeding seems hard, if your baby seems unwell as well as hungry, or if you're worried about your child's growth, appetite or weight at any age. Well-child visits are a good time to bring growth questions.
Good to Know
Extra hunger is part of a growth spurt, and for a breastfed baby, Nemours KidsHealth says you may need to nurse more often for a while. Hunger alone doesn't prove a spurt, so if your baby seems unwell, check with the pediatrician.
FAQ
Do babies eat more during a growth spurt?
Yes. Nemours KidsHealth says breastfed babies may want to eat more often during a spurt, sometimes as often as every hour, which is called cluster feeding.
How much does a baby grow in the first year?
Cleveland Clinic says babies grow about 10 inches longer and triple their birth weight by their first birthday.
When do kids have their puberty growth spurt?
Cleveland Clinic puts it between about 9 and 15 for girls and 12 and 17 for boys, around the same time as puberty. Other sources give slightly different ranges.
Do It in Buhata
Calendar and Reminders
Put each well-child visit on the Calendar in Buhata and set a Reminder a few days before to write down any growth or feeding questions.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Cluster feeding
When a baby wants several feeds close together over a few hours, often in the evening, instead of feeding at spaced-out times.
- Puberty
The years when a child's body matures into an adult's, usually starting between about 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, per Cleveland Clinic.
- Breastfeeding
Feeding a baby milk directly from the breast. The AAP recommends breast milk alone for about the first 6 months, then alongside solid foods.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic, "When Do Babies & Children Have Growth Spurts?"; Nemours KidsHealth, "Breastfeeding FAQs: How Much and How Often"
- my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22070-growth-spurts
- kidshealth.org/en/parents/breastfeed-often.html
Last updated .