How to identify a baby's growth spurt or sleep regression
Updated Aug 28, 2024
If you’ve found yourself wondering how your baby could possibly be hungry again over the last few days, they may be experiencing a growth spurt. Growth spurts commonly occur over a baby’s first year of life (and later in adolescence too) and they can lead to a temporary uptick in appetite, increased fussiness, and changes in sleep patterns.
It’s common for parents to wonder whether sleep changes are due to a growth spurt or a sleep regression. In this article, we’ll walk you through changes in sleeping and eating that may occur during a growth spurt, give you tips for navigating any new sleep challenges, and provide answers to frequently asked questions regarding growth spurts and sleep regressions.
Editor's Note
Every baby is different and will experience growth spurts and sleep pattern changes at different times. The age ranges listed in this article should be used as a guideline. For newborn babies between 0 - 2 months, we don’t worry about sleep “regressions” because sleep patterns typically haven't become predictable yet. Also note for children who were born early, we go by their adjusted age for development.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Common growth spurt ages
Babies go through many growth spurts in the first year of life. Infants typically grow 10 inches (25 centimeters) in length and triple their weight during their first year []! Growth tends to slow down in a child’s second year and we won’t expect the same rapid changes in height and weight to continue. Instead, slow and steady growth tends to occur after their first birthday until a second notable round of growth occurs later in adolescence [], at around the time of puberty.
Also, note children won’t all go through growth spurts at the same time. Every baby is different! However, there are some common growth spurt ages between birth and 1 year []:
2 - 3 weeks
6 weeks
3 months
6 months
Common sleep regression ages
Contrary to popular belief, there are no prescribed ages where all children will suddenly have trouble sleeping — can happen at any age. However, there are a few common ages where we tend to see sleep decline due to a variety of factors:
3 - 4 months: At this age, there’s a biological change in the way infants sleep. Rather than continuing to sleep like a newborn, they begin to have additional cycles of light sleep and deep sleep []. This change doesn’t automatically mean your little one’s sleep will plummet. However, it can contribute to a so-called “” because your baby can start to wake fully between sleep cycles and may seek help falling back to sleep.
8 - 9 months: Infants at this age are growing and changing so fast! , growing out of a, , and are a few factors that may be impacting their sleep. For this reason, it’s not uncommon for children to have a sudden, significant decline in sleep patterns around 8 - 9 months.
18 months: At this age, toddlers may be testing boundaries and seeking independence which can impact sleep. Other factors that may contribute to a sleep regression at around 18 months include being ready to transition from , , and heightened .
2 years: Toddlers at may be searching for autonomy and testing boundaries, especially around sleep. At this age, factors like big changes at home (, for example), milestones (like ), , heightened separation anxiety, and/or transitioning too early can also contribute to poor sleep.
How do growth spurts impact sleep?
Growth spurts may influence sleep in a variety of ways. For instance, research shows [] that a growth spurt may actually lead to unexpected additional napping and an increase in total sleep duration. On the other hand, it’s not uncommon to see disrupted sleep due to increased hunger associated with growth spurts.
For older babies, more frequent waking could lead to a sleep regression if routines change as a result (e.g., parents start helping a baby to sleep when they previously fell asleep independently). Little ones may also be fussier than normal [] during growth spurts and this may lead to sleep resistance.
For newborn babies between 0 - 2 months, however, we don’t worry about “regressions” because sleep patterns typically haven't become predictable yet. Note that newborn sleep is expected to be chaotic and it’s normal for sleep to be unpredictable from birth to until around when babies develop a more regular 24-hour rhythm of sleeping and eating. It's normal for newborns to have varied sleep periods and wake up overnight for feedings and comfort whether they’re going through a growth spurt or not.
Sleep regression vs. growth spurts
This handy growth spurt vs. sleep regression chart may help you decipher the differences between the two.
| Aspect | Growth spurt | Sleep regression |
|---|---|---|
| Typical ages | 2 - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months. However, growth spurts can occur at any time. | 3 - 4 months: caused by a biological alteration in the way a child sleeps. Other common ages: 8 - 9 mo, 18 months, 2 years. However, sleep regressions can also occur at any age. |
| Duration | A few days | Depends on the cause, as well as the strategies used to improve sleep |
| Signs & symptoms | Increase in appetite, fussiness or emotional outbursts, sleep changes (increased sleep or sleep challenges due to hunger) | Sudden, significant worsening of sleep including increased night wakes, resisting sleep, early morning rises, skipped or short naps |
| Management strategies | Provide additional feeds as needed, aim to be flexible with sleep changes (additional unexpected sleep and/or more disrupted sleep due to hunger). Try to have patience and rest assured that growth spurts are temporary | Maintain consistent bedtime routines and age-appropriate sleep schedules, consider sleep training, stay consistent with independent sleep skills |
Key differences between growth spurts and sleep regressions
Typical ages: Growth spurts tend to happen a few times over the first year of a child’s life, typically around 2 - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. However, all babies are different and they can happen at any time. We tend to see sleep regressions at 3 - 4 months (when there’s a biological alteration in the way babies sleep), 8 - 9 months, 18 months, and 2 years. Children may go through a sleep regression (a sudden worsening of sleep) at any age, though.
Duration: Baby growth spurts tend to last a few days []. On the other hand, sleep regressions can vary in length and depend on the contributing factors (i.e. teething, growth spurt, developmental milestone, life change, etc.) as well as the strategies used to improve sleep. A child who regularly falls asleep independently will likely go back to their typical sleep habits once the external issue resolves (a tooth erupts, they recover from an illness, etc.) whereas sleep challenges can persist if new were introduced during this period, like rocking to sleep, etc.
Symptoms: Growth spurts may lead to temporary sleep changes, such as additional unexpected sleep [] and/or more disrupted sleep due to hunger. A sleep regression indicates a sudden worsening of sleep patterns. If a child is experiencing increased waking due to hunger during a growth spurt, this could potentially lead to a sleep regression for babies 3 months and older depending on how the child falls asleep at night. For example, if a baby is receiving help to get to sleep during a growth spurt (e.g. feeding to sleep, which is normal and natural) and comes to rely on that support, they may start calling out for parental help more frequently at night [].
Overlapping signs
Worsening of sleep: By definition, a sleep regression indicates a decline in sleep. Growth spurts can be accompanied by sleep challenges if a child is waking more frequently due to hunger that stems from rapid physical changes.
Increased fussiness: Physical changes that occur during a growth spurt may make your child fussier than usual []. While sleep regressions don’t usually directly cause fussiness, if your baby is not getting the rest they need this can lead to heightened emotions due to overtiredness. Overtired babies have a harder time staying asleep and falling asleep so it’s a bit of a vicious cycle!
Increased night feeds: It’s common to see a growth spurt at 3 months, at about the same time that a baby’s sleep architecture matures. Parents often — understandably — start to feed their child back to sleep more frequently throughout the night due to the increased hunger. However, once the growth spurt passes, the new pattern of increased night feedings can remain and lead to new sleep challenges that we refer to as “.”
How can I tell if a baby is having a growth spurt or sleep regression?
If you’re trying to suss out whether your little one is going through a growth spurt or there’s something else at play that’s impacting sleep, it can be helpful to evaluate factors like:
Is your child suddenly eating much more or less than normal? This may indicate a growth spurt.
Have you noticed increased sleepiness and sleeping? Babies may nap more during the day and sleep more at night around the time of growth spurt.
Have the sleep changes lasted more than a few days? This may be an indication that it’s not due to a growth spurt.
Is your little one exhibiting any discomfort? Pain may indicate that your child is teething or has another ailment that’s negatively impacting sleep. Note that growth spurts typically do not cause limb pain [] like growing pains do. Be sure to consult your child’s doctor if your little one appears to be in pain.
Has your child experienced a recent life change or developmental milestone? New physical milestones (like sitting up or crawling), illness, moving, and starting at a new daycare facility are just a few examples of things that may lead to a sleep regression.
Can growth spurts and sleep regressions happen at the same time?
Sure! Growth spurts may lead to a temporary change in sleep routines (e.g. feeding your little one to sleep or back to sleep throughout the night). For babies three months and older, these changes can potentially lead to an increase in disrupted sleep even once the growth spurt is over. d
Dealing with growth spurts and sleep
Tip #1: Be flexible with sleep during growth spurts
Growth spurts can lead to unexpected additional sleep and/or more disrupted sleep due to hunger. During these sleep changes, aim to be flexible with sleep schedules so your little one can get the sleep they need. This may look like rolling with it if your little one takes an additional nap or offering an earlier bedtime (no earlier than 6:00 PM) if they instead had short or skipped naps on that particular day. While maintaining an age-appropriate sleep schedule is important, it can also be helpful to change things up sometimes. These changes are usually temporary and sleep will get back on track.
Tip #2: Feed on demand
It’s normal for little ones to experience an increased appetite [] during growth spurts. You can support your baby’s temporary eating changes by feeding on demand and providing extra nutrition to satisfy their appetite (breastmilk and/or formula in addition to solid food meals if age-appropriate).
Tip #3: Be patient
When children go through growth spurts and/or sleep challenges, it can be frustrating for tired parents. Try not to be discouraged if your little one’s sleep has changed due to rapid growth or another factor. Some patience will be required on your end!
When to seek professional advice
Growth spurts and sleep regressions are both normal when it comes to child development. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not difficult for little ones and parents to endure, especially when everyone’s exhausted. But you don’t have to navigate these tiring times alone. If you’re looking for personalized sleep support, that’s where we come in! Through get personalized sleep analysis and guidance for your child that suits their needs as well as your family’s preferences.
When it comes to growth spurts, your child may be extra fussy, sleepy and hungry. This can also be taxing for caregivers. However, growth spurts typically do not cause pain. If your child appears to be going through a growth spurt and they also seem to be experiencing discomfort, contact their healthcare provider to rule out any other health issues.
Takeaway
Babies typically experience multiple growth spurts in the first year of life, commonly around 2 - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. However, every baby is different and growth spurts may happen at any age.
Growth spurts typically last a few days and typically lead to increased hunger and fussiness and changes in sleep patterns. Research shows babies may have unexpected increased napping and an increase in overall sleep totals. On the other hand, increased hunger may lead to disrupted sleep (i.e. increased night wakings). Both are considered normal and we recommend being flexible with sleep during a growth spurt.
Growth spurts and sleep regressions are a normal part of child development, but they can be frustrating for babies and caregivers alike — especially when everyone’s tired. Try to have patience during these times and support your little one’s growth as well as possible.
Growth spurt or sleep regression FAQs
Q: How can I help my baby if they’re experiencing both a growth spurt and a sleep regression simultaneously?
A:
If your little one is in the midst of a growth spurt and having trouble sleeping, consider being flexible with sleep, increasing feedings to match their appetite, and offering early bedtimes if sleep has been poor. Growth spurts typically end after a few days and the hope is that sleep will return to “normal” not long after that.
Q: What role does teething play in sleep regressions and growth spurts?
A:
It’s possible that teething and growth spurts occur simultaneously, especially around 6 months old as this is a common time for children to be growing rapidly and getting new chompers. Both teething and growth spurts may lead to new sleep challenges.
Q: Are there specific signs that indicate a sleep regression or growth spurt is ending?
A:
If your child’s eating and sleeping patterns seem to be returning to their normal baseline after a few days, this is likely a good indication that their growth spurt is ending. Sleep regressions “end” when sleep patterns improve (i.e. night wakes subside and naps lengthen). There’s a variety of factors that influence when and how this happens.
Q: How long should I expect sleep disturbances to last during a sleep regression compared to a growth spurt?
A:
Sleep regressions don’t have definitive durations, as an improvement in sleep depends on the cause and strategies used. On the other hand, growth spurts usually last a few days so sleep should not be impacted for too long if your child is under three months or your baby has already developed age-appropriate independent sleep habits and no new sleep onset associations were introduced during this time.
Q: How do growth spurts impact my baby’s sleep patterns and is this different from a sleep regression?
A:
Growth spurts may have an impact on your child’s emotional state, hunger levels, and their sleep patterns too. Babies may experience unexpected additional sleep during a growth spurt and/or wake more frequently due to hunger. Potential increased waking could lead to a sleep regression in babies over three months if behaviors changed. For example, if parents start helping the baby to sleep when they had previously been falling asleep independently.
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Note: The content on this site is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your doctor, pediatrician, or medical professional. If you have questions or concerns, you should contact a medical professional.
