Your 6-week-old baby is probably changing quickly most notably getting a lot bigger. At this age, a growth spurt is very common which leads to increased hunger, irritability, and numerous night-wakings. Learn how to survive the 6-week growth spurt based on my 15+ years as a sleep consultant.
In this article:
- What is the 6 Week Growth Spurt?
- How Long Does the 6 Week Growth Spurt Last?
- How Do I Know if My 6 Week Old is Having a Growth Spurt?
- How to Survive the 6 Week Growth Spurt
What is the 6 Week Growth Spurt?
The 6-week growth spurt is a period of time during which your baby will grow considerably. All babies are different, of course, but many babies will gain an additional 2-4 ounces over the average of 4-7 ounces per week. In addition, your baby may increase their length and head circumference. Increased length and head circumference are usually less noticeable but you may find you need to go to the next-size clothing sooner than you thought!
How Long Does the 6 Week Growth Spurt Last?
Most growth spurts last a few days to a week. The 6-week growth spurt isn’t any different though you may find that you feel like it lasts longer. This is because your baby may also be going through the 6-week sleep regression and peak of fussiness at the same time. What I like to call “The 6-Week Peak,” you can expect a week of difficulty with your baby. This was the time when I started to consider cutting dairy out of my diet, but that was unnecessary. Once you’re past this peak, your baby settles into a more calm demeanor and routine…that is…until the next Wonder Week!
How Do I Know if My 6 Week Old is Having a Growth Spurt?
The biggest clue your baby is going through a growth spurt is increased hunger. Perhaps your baby was going three hours between milk feedings but now only going two hours. This is usually temporary or a sign you need to increase the size of your feedings. If you are bottle-feeding, of course, you can try simply increasing how much milk you put in the bottle. This will, most likely, become the new “normal” size as babies generally won’t go back to a smaller bottle.
If you are breastfeeding, you will likely need to cluster feed for several days until you start making more milk. You might be tempted to top off the baby with a bottle, but instead, try to feed your baby directly more often. Otherwise, your body might not get the signal it needs to make more milk. It’s very important to recognize that your milk supply is directly impacted by your baby’s feeding frequency!
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Other things you may notice during a growth spurt:
- Sleeping for more hours during the day
- Change in sleep patterns
- Increased night waking
- Fussiness and irritability
- Being more clingy. Who doesn’t want to be held when they are feeling miserable?
How to Survive the 6 Week Growth Spurt
To survive the 6-week growth spurt, the best thing you can do is plan to stay home and not get as much done that week. Take heart that it will be over before you know it but if you lower your expectations about all you can get done this week, it will go by much faster. Plan a week of low-key interactions with family and friends, resting on the couch with your baby, and feeding the baby very frequently. Provide your baby with comfort any time they feel irritable and respond to their cues often to help get them past this sooner.
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