📈 Growth spurts: the 3-6-9 rule

When to expect it

• 3 days (often the exact moment you get home from the maternity ward, just to keep you on your toes).
• 3 weeks.
• 6 weeks (often the toughest one for crying and nonstop demands).
• 9 weeks.
• 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months.
• The tell-tale signs: rapid-fire feeds, a grumpy baby whenever you dare set them down, and broken sleep for 1 to 3 days.

The survival protocol

1. 1. Responsive feeding

   Offer breast milk or correctly prepared formula according to hunger and fullness cues. Do not force a bottle or automatically increase every feed by a fixed amount.

2. 2. Check intake

   Seek feeding support for persistent distress, reduced wet diapers/diapers, lethargy or growth concerns. Supplemental feeding can be medically important; discuss supply and intake without blame.

Same topic

• 🍼 Measuring and prepping a baby bottle
• 💨 Burping baby after a bottle or nursing session
• 🥕 Starting solids: the ultimate beginner's guide
• 🥛 Storing pumped breast milk

Read next

• 🤱 Breastfeeding and family life
• 😭 Taming the evening witching hour meltdown