Those Who Have Experienced The Dreaded 6w Growth Spurt

jessa1228 · December 2014

I know every baby is different, but:

1. Did your LO sleep a lot more than normal right before going through it? DS will be 6 weeks on Friday and has been super sleepy (multiple 2-3 hour naps during the day, 4-5 hour stretches at night) the last 2 days.

2. Is the 6w growth spurt really as bad as everyone says? I thought I read somewhere that it's the worst of all the growth spurts.

Dumbgurl04 · December 2014

My LO just got over hers. The week before she probably slept the best the whole time she was out of the womb. We were getting 5-6 hours at night. Then all of a sudden she would barely sleep at nap time or at night and just wanted to eat.

I will say the 6 week one was a lot worse then the 3 week one

NunyaBennis · December 2014

Dumbgurl04 said:
My LO just got over hers. The week before she probably slept the best the whole time she was out of the womb. We were getting 5-6 hours at night. Then all of a sudden she would barely sleep at nap time or at night and just wanted to eat.

I will say the 6 week one was a lot worse then the 3 week one

Yep, this.
And then it got even worse after the growth spurt when she began making other developmental leaps and bounds... cranky needy pants!!! But just when you think you can't take one more night of it, it's over.

eta: and it's totally worth it because the screaming demon that plagues your nights turns into a sweet, cooing, smiling, reaching for you little angel face that suddenly learned to sleep again ... so, you know, that's cool.

Maelara · December 2014

We just went through this. Except she is 5 weeks. It has been hell. She wants to eat every 10-30 minutes sometimes and during the night it was every hour. I'm pretty sure we are done the growth spurt but she's sooo fussy still. I think that's the reflux though.

Cici3913 · December 2014

It was seriously awful. I thought she was sleeping more because she had just gotten her shots. But then she started eating all the time.

And i breastfeed and formula feed. She would barely take the bottle. She was only happy when she was attached to me and even then she was whiny.

All the other times it seemed like she would be crying constantly. Finally we got through it and now she's back to her happy self

NunyaBennis · December 2014

flutterbuggie said:
Ah crap, so how long did your babies act more sleepy for before starting the craziness? I think we are going on day 5 of her being a sleepy pants all day.

ETA - And how long does the spurt last for once it starts on average?

We had almost a week of blissful sleep (as in regular intervals with 4-5 hour stretches overnight) before .... maybe two weeks or so of sheer chaos? The cluster feeding growth spurt lasted a few nights, and the inconsolable fussiness paired with constant clinging directly followed for another week at least, closer to two.
What is time, really?

jac409 · December 2014

I think we just finally turned the corner on this as I got one four hour stretch out of him last night and he has been much happier. The past week, he was super cranky and wanted to eat every hour at night. He is six weeks and two days today. Just remember, it won't last!

hjenni · December 2014

My LO is 6 weeks today and he's been up every hour the past couple of weeks. I can't tell if it was/is a growth spurt or the acid reflux. We just started him on medication so I guess we'll see.

jessa1228 · December 2014

NunyaBennis said:

flutterbuggie said:
Ah crap, so how long did your babies act more sleepy for before starting the craziness? I think we are going on day 5 of her being a sleepy pants all day.

ETA - And how long does the spurt last for once it starts on average?
We had almost a week of blissful sleep (as in regular intervals with 4-5 hour stretches overnight) before .... maybe two weeks or so of sheer chaos? The cluster feeding growth spurt lasted a few nights, and the inconsolable fussiness paired with constant clinging directly followed for another week at least, closer to two.
What is time, really?

Crap. I just experienced that week of blissful sleep. And DS has been wanting to eat every 45ish minutes all morning. Looks like this is it!

silverwings72 · December 2014

I'm not looking forward to this at all. Gah! :-S

turtles7 · December 2014

I will be entering the 6 week growth spurt tomorrow. LO has slept 6 hours straight two nights in a row but has been feeding every hour when she is up. Hopefully this is part of the growth spurt. I haven't been able to get anything done!

NunyaBennis · December 2014

Good luck to y'all indeed ... weeks 6 thru 9 make weeks 1 thru 4 cupcakes with sprinkles!

oklahomamom09 · December 2014

LivInCA said:
@flutterbuggie‌ My LO will be 3 weeks on Dec. 23...so I feel you on the growth spurt just in time for Christmas! My in-laws really want us to spend the night at their place over Christmas, like we usually do (they live an hour away, but in Southern California holiday traffic, that time can easily double). So I'm thinking...with a new baby going through a growth spurt...probably not going to happen! Good luck with your LO and getting through the 6 week growth spurt.

My lo's 3 week growth spurt is happening at 2 weeks (I think that's what this is) ): I think it has to do with him being almost a week over due. I could be wrong tho, but nights have been miserable!

Dumbgurl04 · December 2014

NunyaBennis said:

Ah crap, so how long did your babies act more sleepy for before starting the craziness? I think we are going on day 5 of her being a sleepy pants all day.

ETA - And how long does the spurt last for once it starts on average?
We had almost a week of blissful sleep (as in regular intervals with 4-5 hour stretches overnight) before .... maybe two weeks or so of sheer chaos? The cluster feeding growth spurt lasted a few nights, and the inconsolable fussiness paired with constant clinging directly followed for another week at least, closer to two. What is time, really?

This was about it for us. It was like almost 2 weeks of great sleep. It seemed each day and night she got better. Then we had almost of week where she forgot what sleep was and was an overall fussy butt. Then after she realized what sleep was again she was still a little fussy and whiny for a few more days. Now it seems she is starting to become normal again

Jatpa003 · December 2014

Damn, I was hoping the sleepiness was going to be her version of the 6week growth spurt...

MrsG1019 · December 2014

Yea .. The sleepiness was the calm before the storm. The 6week growth spurt was no joke!! Hang in there ladies .. This too shall pass!!

hidingangel82 · December 2014

Wow, so i guess I've been right to dread this, Noob will be 6 weeks tomorrow and is super sleepy during the day.
I feel lucky to have an 8 week maternity leave, but can imagine how the 6 week leave mammas can do it!

NunyaBennis · December 2014

Exactly @hidingangel82‌ ! I'm taking unpaid leave right now. "They" think I should/could/would be able to return to work amidst that?

)

Maelara · December 2014

I didn't have any sleepiness before the growth spurt. But A was early (and my nurses thought she might be even earlier than the ultrasounds showed) so I'm thinking we just went through the 3 week growth spurt. Ick.

Anyway, growth spurts are only suppose to last at most, a week. Until the 3 month sleep regression that is.

smboswell1 · December 2014

Poopie. Beckham will be 6 weeks tomorrow, so this explains a lot!

mockingjay1 · December 2014

Oh man, this scares me, especially since 6 weeks will be right around Christmas... I have to say I don't think I noticed a 3 week growth spurt. LO seems to have a few good nights followed by a few bad nights on repeat.

TC0514 · December 2014

So is this different than the first leap the wonder weeks explains?!? B is 6 weeks today!

hidingangel82 · December 2014

Maelara said:
I didn't have any sleepiness before the growth spurt. But A was early (and my nurses thought she might be even earlier than the ultrasounds showed) so I'm thinking we just went through the 3 week growth spurt. Ick.

Anyway, growth spurts are only suppose to last at most, a week. Until the 3 month sleep regression that is.

Uh uh uh, the 3 month WHAT?!?!

JFH2010 · December 2014

Ours wasn't too bad, unless we haven't hit it yet (he's 6 weeks today). We had no extra sleepiness beforehand, two days of screaming, then a day where he did NOTHING but sleep. Now he seems back to normal. It seemed to coincide with him becoming much more alert, and it was a real change in behavior, so I'm pretty sure that was it.

mommymeg143 · December 2014

Ems is 7 weeks today. Our Wonder Weeks says that today is the end of her leap...Please Jesus be right!!

nessaalwayz · December 2014

This whole post scares me!

shan24 · December 2014

nessaalwayz said:

This whole post scares me!

I know, right?

lizgrace03 · December 2014

This goes by due date I believe- A had his last week. He had two days where he slept all afternoon and into the night then wanted to be up at 4am, then turned into a fusspot. He was not real fun to be around, just generally a fussy pants and needy. Today was a lot better, and he smiled and cooed all day!! So, it's worth it once they get through it!

Maelara · December 2014

hidingangel82 said:

I didn't have any sleepiness before the growth spurt. But A was early (and my nurses thought she might be even earlier than the ultrasounds showed) so I'm thinking we just went through the 3 week growth spurt. Ick. Anyway, growth spurts are only suppose to last at most, a week. Until the 3 month sleep regression that is.
Uh uh uh, the 3 month WHAT?!?!

It's just as bad as it sounds. N went from sleeping threw the night to wanting to play or scream all night long. It lasted for a couple months. It's not suppose to last more than 2 weeks or they say it has become a habit but at 3 months, there isn't much you can do in the way of sleep training. She finally started sleeping better and the 6 month growth spurt hit and it was right back to being up all night, playing. I did CIO at 7 months because I was so crazy tired I couldn't see straight. I didn't trust myself to drive, it was so bad. She's a fantastic sleeper now though!

Bugzee · December 2014

Looks like we tripped and fell right into this beast over the past 24 hours. LO is 5 weeks, 5 days. Supper fussy and now waking every 1-2 hours at night. Silver lining? Healthy & growing. Telling myself this is just a phase.

bigmamaT26 · December 2014

turtles7 said:
I will be entering the 6 week growth spurt tomorrow. LO has slept 6 hours straight two nights in a row but has been feeding every hour when she is up. Hopefully this is part of the growth spurt. I haven't been able to get anything done!

My LO was the exact same way, I mean the exact. She slept 6 hours straight for two days and the day that she made six weeks all hell broke loose. It was every 30 mins to a hour that she wanted to eat, my boobs never looked so pitiful once she was done. I don't even recall eating that much I just know I was drinking alot of water and apple juice.

AnnieRoo13 · December 2014

I'm pretty sure this started yesterday and I'm terrified. I guess I should be ready to not get anything done and just nurse all day. That sounds totally possible a week before Christmas, right?

torontokim · December 2014

This scares me to death. I'm my best friends maid of honour at her New Year's Eve wedding and my little guy will be coming. This might turn into a nightmare!

rox825 · December 2014

I just realized that LO will be 6 weeks on Christmas Day, son.of.a....

babyknutson · December 2014

Does anyone else feel like it's been one big growth spurt since birth? I seriously feel like that

Bugzee · December 2014

Yes I totally do! And well said @carolineheider‌, I was thinking that maybe I'm stressing myself out worse by trying to classify everything. It can be so daunting to know you have a week of "hell" ahead, and really be a killjoy. Hey, maybe some babies don't react at all to growth spurts! Tomorrow I'm going to try to have a different outlook.

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