Babies experience a growth spurt during the palpable months. This means that they become aware of their surroundings, their needs change, their nutritional and belief needs are added.
“Baby in the womb; He will open his eyes from a warm, faithful, sterile but monotonous environment to a colorful and chirpy world. But babies go into tension when the birth process begins. Because he has begun to experience things he has never experienced before, to change his environment, to say goodbye to his routine,” said Istanbul Okan University Hospital Pediatrics Specialist Dr. Musa Bostancıoğlu talked about the growth attacks seen in babies.
WHAT IS GROWTH ATTACK?
The baby experiences heavy growth and development periods in certain weeks from its birth. Babies in these weeks; may be more grumpy than usual, may cry more, have sleep problems, lack appetite, but on the contrary, may be more voracious at times. The most valuable reason for this is that the baby is growing. Babies experience growth spurts in certain months. This means that they become aware of their surroundings, their needs change, their nutritional and belief needs are added. These requirements are; discovering colors, distinguishing moving objects, making sense of human gestures and discovering the boundaries of his own body. Being aware of the environment, the baby wants to join this environment; This is a very positive thing for his development. The best part is that when these growth spurts pass, they leave behind some sweet new feats. He is about to laugh, listen to the sound he makes by hitting his toy, learn to clap, get to know and watch his parents, turn on his face, sit, crawl, start walking.
SENSORY CONTACT IS PRECIOUS IN PERIOD OF ATTACKS
The baby’s increased interest in surrounding stimuli may cause him not wanting to spend time on feeding and rejecting feeding. It is extremely valuable for mothers to observe their babies appropriately during these periods and patiently meet their needs and wishes with true techniques. This can be achieved with more sleep, more hugs, more breastfeeding and feeding, by cuddling him profusely, increasing sensual contact and making him feel that he is in faith.
WHEN DO GROWTH ATTACKS OCCUR?
Although there are weeks in which growth spurt is expected, there is little play from baby to baby; 5th week 8th week 12th week 19th week 26th week 36th week 42nd week 55th week, 64th and 76th weeks. They show 10 growth spurts in total until the age of 2 and experience the 2nd age syndrome at the latest. Growth spurts in babies last in the middle of 2-4 days. As the baby grows, the attack times may extend up to a week.
CONDITION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Babies show significant progress in social development as well as their motor and mental development during these periods. The maturation of the border system of the baby, the rapid development of his brain and the diversification of his senses accordingly allow him to adapt more to the world after each growth spurt. Unlike the growth spurt, there may be gas pains between the 3rd week and the 3rd month. Crying that lasts longer than three hours and recurs at least three times a week is called “Colic”. These cries usually occur during the obvious hours of the day, especially in the evenings, and are spent by holding the baby in one’s arms and shaking him, and making him listen to the “shhhhhhhhhhhhh”-style sounds like a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner. While the salivary glands develop in the middle of 2-4 months, symptoms such as itching on the palate and drooling are observed. 6-7. Up to 38 degrees when teething per month; Mild fever, drooling, stool softening and restlessness can be seen without diarrhea. But; Symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, and self-release are not necessarily caused by a growth spurt. If these findings are present, they should be taken to the doctor. With the advice of neighbors, relatives and friends, any medicine not recommended by the doctor should not be given to the baby.
WHAT TO DO AGAINST GROWTH ATTACKS?
When he is very restless and has trouble sleeping, he can relax with a warm bath and then a massage. During these periods, mothers are afraid that their milk is not enough, as the baby wants to suckle frequently and even always stay at the breast. The growing baby’s need for breast milk has also increased, and this need will be met by breastfeeding the baby more often, so formula should not be started quickly. Radical changes such as sleep training, toilet training, starting additional food and circumcision should not be made during a growth spurt or other mood swings. Because the baby is in a self-disturbing transformation process, the change of routines causes attacks, and other routine changes should not be added to this.
