It’s remarkable how quickly children grow. One minute, your baby barely fits into tiny onesies. Then, in the blink of an eye, they’re walking, talking and outgrowing their shoes and clothes every few months.
Growth spurts are a normal part of childhood but can come with challenges for parents and kids. Read on to learn when you can expect these spurts to happen, what signs to look for and when you should talk to a health care provider for support.
What is a growth spurt?
“A growth spurt is a period of rapid physical growth that occurs during childhood and adolescence,” said Ismaeel Bakhsh, MD, a pediatrician with Banner Health. “Hormonal changes drive them and typically happen at different stages for boys and girls.”
Here are the most common age ranges when you might notice rapid growth:
- Infancy: Babies grow the fastest during their first year. They can grow up to 10 inches and triple their birth weight in the first 12 months.
- Toddlerhood (ages 1 to 3): Growth slows a little after infancy, but toddlers still grow. On average, children gain a few inches in height and four to six pounds during these years.
- Preschool (ages 3 to 5): Growth is more gradual, but kids still gain a few inches in height and weight per year.
- School-age (ages 6 to 10): During this time, growth continues. Your child may gain a couple of inches and a few pounds per year.
- Adolescence (puberty): This is typically when you’ll see the most dramatic growth. “For girls, puberty usually starts between ages 8 and 13, with major growth spurts often peaking around 11 or 12,” Dr. Bakhsh said. "Boys tend to hit puberty later, between 10 and 15, with their biggest growth spurt typically around 13 or 14. But these ages vary widely depending on nutrition, genetics and other factors."
Signs your child is going through a growth spurt
Your child might act or feel a little different during a growth spurt. Some common signs to look out for include:
- Rapid growth in height: One of the most noticeable signs of a growth spurt is your child growing taller. “Your child might shoot up a couple of inches in a few months, outgrowing pants or shoes practically overnight,” Dr. Bakhsh said.
- Increased appetite: Does it seem like your child is eating you out of everything in the pantry and fridge? “Kids can get very hungry because their body needs extra food to grow,” Dr. Bakhsh said. “It’s a normal part of the growth process.”
- Growing pains: While not experienced by every child, growing pains are common during growth spurts. “If your child experiences growing pains, they may experience a dull, achy feeling in the legs, thighs, calves or behind the knees, often felt at night,” Dr. Bakhsh said.
- Changes in sleep patterns: During a growth spurt, your child may sleep more as their body works overtime to grow. “Sleeping longer or deeper is common since growth hormones kick in most at night,” Dr. Bakhsh said. “However, some kids may experience restlessness due to growing pains or their body adjusting to the changes.”
- Moodiness and clumsiness: As their body adjusts to changes, your child may feel more tired, moody or clumsy. These behavioral changes are common in growth spurts, especially as hormones and physical discomfort play a role in their emotions.
How can I support my child during a growth spurt?
Growth spurts can be tough on both your child and you. Here are some ways to help them during this process:
- Eat balanced meals: What your child eats can help or hinder their growth. Offer meals and snacks rich in vitamins, minerals, protein and healthy fats. Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and dairy. “Food gives you energy and building blocks — protein for muscles, calcium for bones and things like iron and zinc to keep things running,” Dr. Bakhsh said. “Healthy, balanced diets support growth, whereas an unhealthy diet or not enough food may slow growth down.”
- Manage growing pains: Growing pains can happen but don’t usually require medical treatment. You can help ease discomfort by giving your child a warm bath or massaging the affected area. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may also help (make sure to follow the correct dosage for your child’s age).
- Get enough sleep: Your child may feel more tired than usual during a growth spurt, so it’s important they get quality sleep. Growth happens when the body is at rest, so help your child improve their chances of quality sleep.
- Encourage physical activity: Regular exercise helps your child build strong bones and muscles. Make sure they get plenty of outdoor play and activities like swimming, running or biking.
- Stay patient with mood changes: Hormones and physical discomfort can leave your child cranky or emotional. Be patient with them and try to understand if they’re more irritable or clingy than usual.
When should I worry about my child’s growth?
While growth spurts are a part of childhood development, there are times when you should be concerned. If you notice any of the following, it’s a good idea to talk to your child’s health care provider:
- Slow growth or no growth: If your child seems much shorter or smaller than their peers and isn’t hitting typical growth milestones, this could be a cause for concern.
- Early or delayed puberty: See your child’s provider if they show signs of puberty before age 8 (girls) or 9 (boys), or if they haven’t shown any signs of puberty by age 13 (girls) or 14 (boys).
- Gaining or losing weight quickly: While some weight gain happens during growth spurts, significant weight changes can indicate an underlying health problem.
- Pain or discomfort: If your child’s growing pains are severe, last for a while or come with swelling or other signs of injury, talk to their provider. Sometimes, pain in joints or muscles could be a sign of an underlying condition.
- Other symptoms: If your child experiences other unusual symptoms alongside their growth spurt, like constant tiredness, lack of appetite or problems breathing, it’s important to get them checked out.
In addition to these red flags, regular well-check visits are a great way to monitor your child’s growth. During these visits, your child’s provider will track your child’s height and weight on a growth chart to see how they compare to other children of their age and sex.
If your child’s height or weight seems to fall off the growth curve or you are concerned about their height or weight, talk to their health care provider.
“They will ask you about your child’s diet, run blood tests or look at hormones to figure out what is going on and rule out any medical causes,” Dr. Bakhsh said.
Takeaway
Growth spurts are a natural part of your child’s development but they can bring some surprises. From sudden height increases to changes in appetite, sleep and mood, growth spurts signal that your child’s body is growing quickly. By providing healthy meals, ensuring plenty of rest and staying patient through mood shifts, you can help support their growth.
If you have concerns about your child’s growth — whether they seem to be growing too fast, too slowly or experiencing unusual symptoms — reach out to their health care provider or a Banner Health specialist.