Baby growth spurt

When your baby was born, her birth weight included excess body fluid, which she lost during her first few days. Most babies lose about one-tenth of their birth weight during the first five days, then regain it over the next five, so that by about day ten they usually are back to their original birth weight. Most babies grow very rapidly after regaining their birth weight, especially during growth spurts, which occur around seven to ten days and again between three and six weeks. The average newborn gains weight at a rate of 2⁄3 of an ounce (20–30 grams) per day and by one month weighs about ten pounds (4.5 kg). She grows between 1 1⁄2 and 2 inches (4.5 to 5 cm) during this month. Boys tend to weigh slightly more than girls (by less than 1 pound, or approximately 350 grams). They also tend to be slightly longer than girls at this age (by about 1⁄2 inch, or 1.25 cm).

Most healthy, full-term newborn babies double their birth weight by four months and triple it by their first birthday. Keep in mind, though, that all babies grow at their own pace (see Growth Charts in figures 1 to 4). A small or large baby may be perfectly healthy. Also, babies have growth spurts and fluctuations in their rate of weight gain.

The first year of life is a time of amazing change during which babies, on average, grow 10 inches (25 centimeters) in length and triple their birth weights. On average, babies between 3 and 6 months grow in length and weight at a steady but slightly slower rate compared with the first 2 months of life. Sometimes, it may seem like your baby is outgrowing clothes every other day and you can’t keep up. Don’t worry. Rapid growth will start to slow down in the second half of the first year (see Growth Charts in figures 1 to 4).

Given all the growth that happens then, new parents might be surprised when their child doesn’t continue to grow so fast after the first year. But no child continues the rate of growth of infancy. After age 1, a baby’s growth in length slows quite a bit. By age 2, growth in height usually continues at a fairly steady rate of about 2½ inches (6 centimeters) per year until adolescence.

No child grows at a perfectly steady rate throughout this period of childhood, though. Weeks or months of slightly slower growth alternate with mini “growth spurts” in most children. Kids actually tend to grow a bit faster in the spring than during other times of the year.

A major growth spurt happens at the time of puberty, usually between 8 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years in boys. Puberty lasts about 2 to 5 years. This growth spurt is associated with sexual development, which includes the appearance of pubic and underarm hair, the growth and development of sex organs, and in girls, the start of menstruation.

By the time girls reach age 15 and boys reach age 16 or 17, the growth of puberty has ended for most and they will have reached physical maturity.

If your baby is not growing at the expected rate, or the growth rate slows, your doctor will want to make sure your baby is getting enough to eat.

Your doctor may ask you about:

• How many feedings a day your baby gets. At 2 months old, a breastfed baby may feed about 8 times in a 24-hour period; formula-fed babies usually eat less frequently, about every 4 hours. Now that babies are drinking more at a time they will feed less often and sleep longer at night.
• How much your baby eats at each feeding. A baby generally nurses for at least 10 minutes, should be heard to swallow, and should seem satisfied when done. Bottle-fed babies eat about 5 to 6 ounces (148–177 milliliters) — some more and some less — at each feeding. Breastfeeding mothers may benefit from seeing a lactation consultant to increase comfort and improve technique.
• How many bowel movements your baby has each day, and their volume and consistency. Most babies will have 1 or more bowel movements daily, but it may be normal to skip 1 or 2 days if consistency is normal. Breastfed babies’ stools tend to be soft and slightly runny. The stools of formula-fed babies tend to be a little firmer, but should not be hard or formed.

Most of the time, a baby’s growth will simply be tracked over the next few months during routine well-baby visits. But if your doctor is concerned about your baby’s growth, he or she will want to see your baby more often.

What parents can do to ensure your child grows and develops normally:

You can do a few things to help ensure that your child grows and develops normally. Critical to kids’ overall health and wellness are:

• Enough rest: Sleep patterns vary by age and individual child. But most kids need an average of 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Sleep gives growing bodies the rest they need to grow well.
• Good nutrition: A balanced diet full of essential vitamins and minerals will help kids reach their full growth potential.
• Regular exercise: Because obesity is a problem for many kids, parents should make sure that their kids exercise regularly. Bicycling, hiking, in-line skating, sports, or any enjoyable activity that will motivate kids to get moving will promote good health and fitness and help them maintain a healthy weight.

Figure 1. Girls growth chart birth to 2 years length for age and weight for age percentiles

Figure 2. Girls growth charts from birth to 24 months for head circumference for age and weight for length percentiles

Figure 3. Boys growth chart birth to 2 years length for age and weight for age percentiles

Figure 4. Boys growth charts from birth to 24 months for head circumference for age and weight for length percentiles

What is growth?

Physical growth refers to the increases in height and weight and other body changes that happen as kids mature. Hair grows; teeth come in, come out, and come in again; and eventually puberty hits. It’s all part of the growth process.

What are growth problems?

A child’s growth and development can be influenced by:

• genetics
• eating habits and nutrition
• sleeping patterns
• endocrine function (hormones)
• presence or absence of chronic illness

Each child grows at a different pace. Try not to compare your child’s growth with children of the same age. Every parent needs to regularly monitor their child’s growth. This can be done with the help of growth charts and the child’s doctor.

If a child’s growth is not monitored closely, growth disorders may be missed. A growth disorder prevents the child from reaching the optimum height and weight. It can influence other aspects of the child’s mental, physical, or emotional development.

Types of growth disorders

Failure to thrive

Failure to thrive is not a growth disorder. It is a label given to children whose weight or rate of weight gain is significantly lower than other children of the same age and gender.

Failure to thrive can be caused by many factors:

• feeding problems
• illness, poverty
• malnutrition
• poor interaction between parent and child

Regardless of its cause, all children who are failing to thrive are at risk for slow or stalled growth.

Short stature

Short stature is also a descriptive label. It is not a growth disorder. It refers to children whose height or rate of height gain is lower than other children of the same age and gender.

Short stature can have some of the same causes as failure to thrive. More commonly, it is associated with genetics and not disease. Some children grow more slowly but stop growing at a later age and so they reach normal heights. Other children simply inherit a parent’s final height.

Children with short stature may not eat as much as you would like because they do not need to until they have a growth spurt. Pressuring children to eat more may make them gain weight but not height.

Endocrine diseases

The endocrine system is the body’s chemical messenger system. It transports hormones throughout the body. The hormones help regulate processes in the body, including growth. When there is a disorder with the endocrine system, growth can be stunted.

Endocrine disorders include:

• Growth hormone deficiency: This rare disease happens when a child has little or no growth hormone. Growth hormone is made by the pituitary gland. Growth hormone stimulates growth through chemical interactions in the body. Without it, or without enough of it, growth is slowed or stunted completely.
• Hypothyroidism: This is a condition caused by low levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. Without enough of this hormone, babies can suffer from poor brain development. Older children can have slow growth and slow metabolism.

Turner syndrome

Short stature is found in girls with Turner syndrome. Turner syndrome is when a girl is born with a missing or damaged X chromosome. Girls with Turner syndrome are not able to reproduce because their ovaries do not develop properly. They may also show other physical signs.

What are growth charts?

Kids grow at their own pace. Big, small, tall, short — there is a wide range of healthy shapes and sizes among children. Genetics, gender, nutrition, physical activity, health problems, environment, and hormones all play a role in a child’s height and weight. And many of these things can vary widely from family to family.

So how do doctors figure out whether kids’ height and weight measurements are “healthy”? Whether they’re developing on track? Whether any medical problems are affecting growth?

Doctors use growth charts to help answer those questions. Here are some facts about growth charts and what they say about a child’s health.

Why do doctors use growth charts?

Growth charts are a standard part of your child’s checkups. They show how kids are growing compared with other kids of the same age and gender. They also show the pattern of kids’ height and weight gain over time, and whether they’re growing proportionately.

Let’s say a child was growing along the same pattern until he was 2 years old, then suddenly started growing much more slowly than other kids. That might mean there is a health problem. Doctors could see that by looking at a growth chart.

Does a different growth pattern mean there’s a problem?

Not necessarily. Doctors consider the growth charts along with a child’s overall well-being, environment, and genetic background. For example:

• Is the child meeting other developmental milestones?
• Are there other signs that a child is not healthy?
• How tall or heavy are the child’s parents and siblings? Was the child born prematurely?
• Has the child started puberty earlier or later than average?

Are all kids measured on one growth chart?

No. Girls and boys are measured on different growth charts because they grow in different patterns and at different rates.

And one set of charts is used for babies, from birth to 36 months. Another set is used for kids and teens ages 2–20 years old. Also, special growth charts can be used for children with certain conditions, such as Down syndrome, or who were born early.

What measurements are put on the growth charts?

Until babies are 36 months old, doctors measure weight, length, and head circumference (distance around the largest part of the head).

With older kids, doctors measure weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). It’s important to look at and compare weight and height measurements to get a full picture of a child’s growth.

Why is head circumference measured?

Your pediatrician will pay particular attention to your child’s head growth, because it reflects the growth of her brain. The bones in your baby’s skull are still growing together, and the skull is growing faster during the first four months than at any other time in her life.

In babies, head circumference can give clues about brain development. If a baby’s head is bigger or smaller than most other kids’ or the head stops growing or grows too quickly, it may mean there is a problem.

The average newborn’s head circumference measures about 13 3⁄4 inches (35 cm), growing to about 15 inches (38 cm) by one month. Because boys tend to be slightly larger than girls, their heads are larger, though the average difference is less than 1⁄2 inch (1 cm).

For example, an unusually large head may be a sign of hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid inside the brain. A head that’s smaller than average may be a sign that the brain is not developing properly or has stopped growing.

What are percentiles?

Percentiles are measurements that show where a child is compared with other kids. On the growth charts, the percentiles are shown as lines drawn in curved patterns.

When doctors plot a child’s weight and height on the chart, they see which percentile line those measurements land on:

• The higher the percentile number, the bigger a child is compared with other kids of the same age and gender, whether it’s for height or weight.
• The lower the percentile number, the smaller the child is.

For example, if a 4-year-old boy’s weight is in the 10th percentile, that means that 10% of boys that age weigh less than he does and 90% of boys that age weigh more.

Being in a high or a low percentile doesn’t necessarily mean that a child is healthier or has a growth or weight problem. Let’s say that the 4-year-old boy who is in the 10th percentile for weight is also in the 10th percentile for height. So 10% of kids are shorter and weigh less than he does, and most kids — 90% — are taller and weigh more. That just shows that he’s smaller than average, which usually doesn’t mean there is a problem. If his parents and siblings are also smaller than average, and there are other signs that he’s healthy and developing well, doctors would likely decide that there’s no reason to worry.

What is the ideal percentile for my child?

There is no one ideal number. Healthy children come in all shapes and sizes, and a baby who is in the 5th percentile can be just as healthy as a baby who is in the 95th percentile.

Ideally, each child will follow along the same growth pattern over time, growing in height and gaining weight at the same rate, with the height and weight in proportion to one another. This means that usually a child stays on a certain percentile line on the growth curve. So if our 4-year-old boy on the 10th percentile line has always been on that line, he is continuing to grow along his pattern, which is a good sign.

What could signal a problem?

A few different growth chart patterns might signal a health problem, such as:

• When a child’s weight or height percentile changes from a pattern it’s been following. For example: If height and weight have both been on the 60th percentile line until a child is 5 years old, and then the height drops to the 30th percentile at age 6, that might suggest a growth problem because the child is not following his or her usual growth pattern. But changing percentiles doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. Many kids may show changes in growth percentiles at some points in development, when it’s normal for growth rates to vary more from child to child. This is particularly common during infancy and puberty.
• When kids don’t get taller at the same rate at which they’re gaining weight. For example: If a boy’s height is in the 40th percentile and his weight is in the 85th percentile, this means he’s taller than 40% of kids his age, but weighs more than 85% of kids his age. That might be a problem. On the other hand, if he’s in the 85th percentile for both height and weight and follows that pattern over time, that usually means that he’s a healthy child who’s just larger than average.

If you have any questions about your child’s growth — or growth charts — talk with your doctor.

How often should I feed my baby?

It’s generally recommended that babies be fed whenever they seem hungry, which is called demand feeding (or feeding on demand). Most newborns who are formula-fed feed every 2 to 3 hours. As they get bigger and their tummies can hold more milk they usually eat every 3 to 4 hours.

And if your baby is very young, or having problems gaining weight, you shouldn’t go too long without feeding, even if it means waking your baby. In this case, talk to your doctor about how often your baby should be fed.

How do I know my baby is hungry?

Signs that babies are hungry include:

• moving their heads from side to side
• opening their mouths
• sticking out their tongues
• placing their hands, fingers, and fists to their mouths
• puckering their lips as if to suck
• nuzzling again their mothers’ breasts
• showing the rooting reflex (when a baby moves its mouth in the direction of something that’s stroking or touching its cheek)
• crying

Despite what you might think, crying is a late sign of hunger. You should give a feeding before your baby gets so hungry that he or she gets upset and becomes difficult to calm down.

It’s also important, however, to realize that every time your baby cries it is not necessarily because of hunger. Sometimes babies just need to be cuddled or changed. Or they could be overstimulated, bored, or too hot or too cold. If your baby cries only an hour after a good feeding, there may be something else causing the distress.

How much should my baby drink?

In the first few weeks, mix 2- to 3-ounce (60- to 90-milliliter) bottles for your newborn. Gradually increase this amount as you become familiar with your baby’s eating patterns and appetite. Here’s a general look at how much your baby may be eating at different stages:

• On average, a newborn drinks about 1.5-3 ounces (45-90 milliliters) every 2-3 hours. This amount increases as your baby grows and is able to take more at each feeding.
• At about 2 months, your baby may be taking 4-5 ounces (120-150 milliliters) at each feeding and the feedings may be every 3-4 hours.
• At 4 months, your baby may be taking 4-6 ounces (120-180 milliliters) at each feeding, depending on the frequency of feedings and his or her size.
• By 6 months, your baby may be taking 6-8 ounces (180-230 milliliters) every 4 to 5 hours. This also depends on whether you’ve introduced any baby food.

Why does my baby seem hungrier than usual?

As babies gain weight, they should begin to eat more at each feeding and go longer between feedings. Still, there may be times when your little one seems hungrier than usual.

Your baby may be going through a period of rapid growth (called a growth spurt). These can happen at any time, but in the early months growth spurts often occur at around:

• 7-14 days old
• between 3-6 weeks
• 4 months
• 6 months

During these times and whenever your baby seems especially hungry, follow his or her hunger cues and continue to feed on demand, increasing the amount of formula you give as needed.

Is my baby eating enough?

Babies grow at different rates, and at times you may wonder whether your baby is getting enough nutrients to develop properly. To help determine whether your baby is eating enough, follow the schedule of regular well-child checkups so that your little one can be weighed and measured.

In the meantime, your newborn’s diapers are a good indicator of whether your baby is getting enough to eat. You’ll probably be changing at least six wet and four dirty (soiled or “poopy”) diapers each day at first.

Newborns’ poop is thick and tarry in the beginning and then becomes more yellow or green as they get older. Formula-fed babies often have firmer, less seedy stools than breast-fed babies.

Wet diapers should have clear or very pale urine. If you see orange crystals in a wet diaper, contact your baby’s doctor. Crystals are usually not a cause for concern, but sometimes they can be a sign of a baby not getting enough fluid or of dehydration. Other possible signs of underfeeding include:

• not gaining enough weight
• seeming unsatisfied, even after a complete feeding

If you’re concerned or notice any signs that your baby isn’t getting enough nutrition, see your doctor.

1 month growth spurt

The first month of life is a period of rapid growth. Your baby will gain about 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters) in length this month and about 2 more pounds (907 grams) in weight. These are just averages — your baby may grow somewhat faster or slower. Next month, you can expect to see your baby grow 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters) in length and gain about 2 pounds (907 grams). At this rate, it may seem like your baby is outgrowing clothes every other day and you can’t keep up. Don’t worry. Rapid growth will slow down in the second half of the first year.

Your baby can go through periods of increased hunger and fussiness. This increase in hunger means your baby is going through a period of fast growth (a growth spurt). If you breastfeed, you might find your baby wants to eat more often (sometimes every hour!) during certain times of the day. This is often called “cluster feeding.” Formula-fed babies may want to eat more often or will drink more formula than usual during feedings.

You’ll learn to see the signs that tell you that your baby is hungry or when your baby is full. You will know your baby is hungry when she seems restless, cries a lot, sticks out her tongue or sucks on her hands and lips. You will know your baby is full when she is no longer interested in feeding or just falls asleep at the end of a feeding session. Remember, babies’ tummies are very small and they need to be burped after feedings to release gas that can cause discomfort.

Your doctor will measure your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference and track his or her growth on a standardized growth chart (there are different charts for boys and girls). Your baby might be large, small, or medium-sized. As long as this growth pattern stays consistent over time, chances are your baby’s progress is just fine.

If your baby is born prematurely, keep in mind that growth and development should not be compared with that of a full-term child. Preemies will need to be followed more closely and may need to be weighed more often during the first months to make sure they are growing properly. They have some catching up to do.

If your baby is not growing at the expected rate, or the growth rate slows, your doctor will want to make sure your baby is getting enough to eat.

Your doctor may ask you about:

• How many feedings a day your baby gets. At 1 month, a breastfed baby may feed about 8 times in a 24-hour period (roughly every 2–3 hours); bottle-fed babies usually eat less frequently, perhaps every 3 to 4 hours.
• How much your baby eats at each feeding. A baby generally nurses for at least 10 minutes, should be heard to swallow, and should seem satisfied when done. At this age, bottle-fed babies may drink up to 4 to 5 ounces (118–148 milliliters) at a time.
• How often your baby urinates. Babies should have at least 4 to 6 wet diapers a day.
• How many bowel movements your baby has each day, and their volume and consistency. Most babies will have 1 or more bowel movements daily, but it may be normal to skip 1 or 2 days if consistency is normal. Breastfed babies’ stools tend to be soft and slightly runny. The stools of formula-fed babies tend to be a little firmer, but should not be hard or formed.

Most of the time, a baby’s growth will be tracked over the next few months during routine well-baby visits. But if your doctor is concerned about your baby’s growth, he or she will want to see your baby more often.

What can your baby do?

At 1 month, most of what babies do is still caused by reflexes. They aren’t thinking about their actions. They will be sucking, swallowing, searching for milk and grasping an object if you put it in the palm of their hand (although most of the time they’ll keep their hands clenched in tight little fists). They will also step one foot in front of the other if you put their feet on a flat surface.

They will start to focus with both eyes at 1 month and should be able to follow a moving object from side to side. They will probably prefer looking at a human face to looking at an object and will gaze deeply into your eyes if you hold them about 45 cm away. Most babies can recognize their parents by this age.

One-month-old babies love the sound of your voice, but they will get startled if they hear a loud noise. They might fall backward and throw their arms and legs out, blink their eyes and breathe faster.

By the end of the first month, most babies can raise their head when you lay them on their stomach, and they will turn their head to one side. As their neck muscles get stronger, they will be able to turn their head and lift it up when they’re in a car seat or carrier.

Your baby will cry loudly when they are hungry or uncomfortable. When they are happy and content, they usually make little gurgling noises. Respond to your baby’s sounds by gurgling and cooing back.

At 1 month, some babies will be learning how to soothe themselves, with a dummy or even by sucking their fingers or thumbs. Helping your baby to suck is a good way to calm them down.

How to help your baby develop

Spend as much time with your baby as possible. Looking deep into their eyes and smiling at them will help them to bond and to feel safe and secure.

Read and sing to your baby. Even though they can’t understand, they will enjoy hearing your voice. Music helps to stimulate their senses and will keep them amused. Playing with them will also strengthen your bond.

Help your baby to develop neck strength by putting them on their tummy for 1 to 5 minutes at a time. This is called tummy time. Always keep an eye on your baby during tummy time and always put them to sleep on their back.

Development problem signs

Babies develop at a different rate. At 1 month, you will still be learning about your baby and their needs. But talk to your doctor if:

• they aren’t feeding well
• they are regularly sleeping a lot more than 16 hours a day
• they aren’t moving their arms or legs
• they aren’t following your face with their eyes or responding when they see you
• they aren’t making gurgling sounds
• they don’t startle or seem not be hearing things
• you are worried about your baby’s crying or sleeping

2 month growth spurt

Babies continue to grow quickly in weight and length this month. The first 2 months of life is a period of rapid growth. Your baby will continue to grow at a similar rate, gaining about 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters) in length and 2 pounds (907 grams) in weight this month. These are just averages, your baby may grow somewhat faster or slower, and is likely to have growth spurts.

Your baby can go through periods of increased hunger and fussiness. This increase in hunger means your baby is going through a period of fast growth (a growth spurt). If you breastfeed, you might find your baby wants to eat more often (sometimes every hour!) during certain times of the day. This is often called “cluster feeding.” Formula-fed babies may want to eat more often or will drink more formula than usual during feedings.

You’ll learn to see the signs that tell you that your baby is hungry or when your baby is full. You will know your baby is hungry when she seems restless, cries a lot, sticks out her tongue or sucks on her hands and lips. You will know your baby is full when she is no longer interested in feeding or just falls asleep at the end of a feeding session. Remember, babies’ tummies are very small and they need to be burped after feedings to release gas that can cause discomfort.

Your doctor will measure your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference and track his or her growth on a standardized growth chart (there are different charts for boys and girls). Your baby might be large, small, or medium-sized. As long as this growth pattern stays consistent over time, chances are your baby’s progress is just fine.

If your baby is born prematurely, keep in mind that growth and development should not be compared with that of a full-term child. Preemies will need to be followed more closely and may need to be weighed more often during the first months to make sure they are growing properly. They have some catching up to do!

What can your baby do?

By 2 months your baby will have discovered their fingers and hands. They will hold their hands open and grab an object (although they don’t know how to let go yet!) They might also clasp both hands together.

Two-month-old babies will start to learn how to coordinate their movements. Instead of the jerky arm and leg movements that made when they were born, they can move more smoothly and in more of a circular motion. They will kick both legs strongly and will be very wriggly. They may even roll over, so don’t ever leave them alone on a change table.

Their neck will be getting stronger all the time. During tummy time they might be lifting their head and moving it from side to side. Some babies can even lift their chest off the ground by now.

Some (though very few) babies can sleep through the night by the time they reach 2 months. But even if you’re not one of the lucky parents or carers, your baby will at least be sleeping for longer stretches at a time. They’ll probably be having 2 to 4 long sleeps and will be more awake and alert during the day – although babies’ sleep patterns still vary widely at this age.

Your baby’s eyes, which may have been crossed when they were younger, move together most of the time now. They will clearly recognize you, will look at you when you talk to them, and can follow you with their eyes. They will love looking at your face and will be giving you some lovely smiles. They will like looking at objects with more complex patterns and colors.

They will also be making a lot more sounds and gurgling, including sounds like ‘a’ or ‘o’, and they will seem to listen to you and talk back to you.

How to help your baby develop

As your baby develops more of a rhythm, you’ll find they are awake more during the day. This gives you more time to interact with them and help them develop. Spend plenty of time reading to them, singing, and talking. That way they’ll get used to sounds and words and will start to develop language and communication skills.

You can play with them by letting them look at and feel a variety of objects with different designs, colors, and shapes. Plastic toys and soft balls work well.

They will love looking at you, so make sure you smile at them a lot. It releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your baby’s body and helps them to feel safe and secure. You could also give your baby a massage to relax them. After a bath is a good time.

Continue with 1 to 5 minutes tummy time to strengthen their neck and upper body. It will help them develop the muscles they’ll need later to sit and crawl. But always put your baby to sleep on their back.

Development problem signs

Babies develop at a different rate. At 2 months, talk to your doctor if:

• they aren’t smiling by 8 weeks
• they don’t calm down, even for a little while, when you pick them up to comfort them
• one side of their body seems to be stronger than the other
• they’re still holding their fingers in a tight fist
• sudden noises don’t startle them
• they aren’t feeding properly
• they’re floppy or stiff

3 month growth spurt

Your baby will continue to grow in length and weight at a steady rate this month. By 4 months, most babies have doubled their birth weight. If your baby is not growing at the expected rate, or the growth rate slows, your doctor will want to make sure your baby is getting enough to eat.

Your doctor may ask you about:

• How many feedings a day your baby gets. At 3 months old, a breastfed baby may feed 8 times in a 24-hour day; formula-fed babies usually eat less frequently, about every 4 hours.
• How much your baby eats at each feeding. A baby generally nurses for at least 10 minutes, should be heard to swallow, and should seem satisfied when done. At this age, bottle-fed babies may eat up to 6 to 7 ounces (177–207 milliliters) at each feeding.
• How many bowel movements your baby has each day, and their volume and consistency. Most babies will have 1 or more bowel movements daily, but it may be normal to skip 1 or 2 days if consistency is normal. Breastfed babies’ stools should be soft and slightly runny. The stools of formula-fed babies tend to be a little firmer, but should not be hard or formed.

Most of the time, a baby’s growth will be tracked over the next few months during routine well-baby visits. But if your doctor is concerned about your baby’s growth, he or she will want to see your baby more often.

By 3 months, your baby will have formed a strong attachment to you. They will respond to you with lots of smiles, and might even talk back to you in their own way. The worst of the crying should be nearly over, and you can really enjoy your baby as they grow into their own little person.

What can your baby do?

By now your baby will be starting to experience emotions and communication. They will respond to different expressions, know your voice and will turn to look for you when they hear you. They may start laughing out loud and look around them in wonder – especially at their fingers and toes.

They will smile at strangers, but they definitely know who their parents are by now. Their brain is growing fast and they will start to recognise people by sight and smell as well as by their voice.

They will be gurgling a lot and trying to respond to you when you talk to them. Their sense of touch is also becoming more sensitive and they will be able to pay attention to things for longer.

From now on, your baby will start to reach out for objects as the muscles develop in their arms and hands. They will try to put things in their mouth, although they can’t quite coordinate their hands and eyes yet, take a long look at objects and shake or rattle them.

Physically, your baby will have better control of their head movements and will start to hold their head up when they’re sitting up. When you give them tummy time, you might notice they roll from their front to their back, lift up their head or push up their chest with their hands.

They will be waving their arms and kicking their legs strongly. If you hold them upright with their feet on the floor or your lap, they’ll probably push down on their legs.

A lot of the time, if they are near a dangling object, they will bat at it with closed fists. However, they can also open their fingers to grasp an object and they will be better coordinated, so they can bring their hands together.

How to help your baby develop

This is the time when the foundations of language are built. Talk and read to your baby as much as possible. It will help them learn how language works and how conversations go back and forth. Respond to your baby with words or with different noises, to encourage them to express themselves.

Choose baby books with large, bright pictures. It doesn’t really matter what the words are, it’s the sound of your voice that counts. Point to things around your baby and tell them the names. If you live in a bilingual home, it’s OK to use both languages to describe the world to your baby.

You can help your baby to develop the muscles in their neck and back by dangling a toy in front of them when they’re on their tummy. Or offer a toy to them to help them learn to grasp it. Stimulate their sense of touch by stroking them with different materials like fur, felt and tissue. Cuddles, massage and moving them through the air will all help to calm them down.

Development problem signs

Babies develop at a different rate. At 3 months, talk to your doctor if:

• they aren’t smiling by 8 weeks
• they don’t calm down, even for a little while, when you pick them up to comfort them
• one side of their body seems to be stronger than the other
• they’re still holding their fingers in a tight fist
• sudden noises don’t startle them
• they aren’t feeding properly
• they’re floppy or stiff

6 month growth spurt

By the time they reach 6 months, babies have a much better sense of who they are and how they fit into their world. They will have a good sense of the difference between their parents, siblings and other people, and may even start to be anxious of people they don’t know.

Six months is the recommended age to introduce solid food. If you haven’t already started, you can try offering small amounts of smooth, pureed or mashed food once a day, and still continue breastfeeding or formula feeding. When you are giving your baby solids, you can also offer some small sips of cool, boiled water from a sippy cup. If you have allergies in your family, talk to your doctor or child and family health nurse before you introduce common allergy foods like eggs or cow’s milk.

Your baby is now due for their 6 months check. This is when you and your doctor will discuss sleep patterns, safe sleeping and prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), healthy diet and teeth care, growth and safety. Your baby also needs their third scheduled vaccination, which involves just one injection this time.

What can your baby do?

From about 6 months – sometimes a little later – your baby’s hand control will have developed enough so they can grab an object and move it towards them. They might even be able to pass an object from hand to hand and will learn how to let go of something (and to understand that it fell). It’s too early to tell whether they are left or right handed; they will tend to use one hand a lot and then switch to the other.

Most babies can roll over by 6 months, which means you need to be very careful to keep hold of them on the change table or bed. They are starting to push themselves up into a crawling position and may be able to rock back and forth on their hands and knees. They can push up and down with their legs in a standing position and may be able to sit with support. They will often be able to turn themselves in the direction they want to go by now.

Six-month-old babies love interacting with you and will start to let you know what they want. They are learning how to attract your attention in ways other than crying. They will also start to understand your emotions from the tone of your voice, for example if you speak to them harshly. Some babies at this age can understand a few words, like “bath”, and can recognize their own name.

Their communication skills will be developing fast. You will be hearing lots of babbling, singing, squeals and bubble blowing, sometimes referred to as ‘vocal play’. They love language games and understand how to take turns as you ‘talk’ to each other. About half of 6 month-old babies can repeat a sound over and over again (“babababa”). Some will even combine several sounds together (“baga”). Mimic the sounds back to them to help them learn to talk.

How to help your baby develop

Your baby will love exploring the world. Surround them with safe things they can touch and put in their mouth, like a soft ball, different fabrics, teething rings or bells.

Talk and listen to your baby, looking them straight in the eye, making facial expressions and responding to their sounds. They will love being read to, especially books with bright pictures. Have a cuddle while you read to them so you can enjoy this special time together. Reassure them when they’re with people they don’t know, to help them feel safe and secure.

Start introducing solid foods to your baby now. This is important to give them the nutrients they need, including iron, but also to strengthen their jaw to help with chewing food and talking.

If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to baby proof your house. Your baby will soon be on the move so make sure their environment is safe.

Development problem signs

All babies develop at different rates. At 6 months, talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse if:

• your baby doesn’t seem interested in things around them
• doesn’t seem to know their parents or respond to people they know well
• isn’t showing any interest in their surroundings
• isn’t reaching for objects
• isn’t starting to babble or make any voice sounds
• doesn’t make eye contact
• can’t be comforted by a parent or a close carer.