Kids grow fast.

When your kids are small everyone tells you, “Before you know it, they’ll be in college!” and “Enjoy these crazy years. They’ll soon be gone.”

But when you’re in the middle of the sleepless nights, potty-training or the “terrible twos” it’s hard to believe them.  The days seem to drag on, and it’s difficult to see an end in sight.

Making it even harder, kids don’t come with an instruction manual.  New parents can spend hours reading books to prepare them for parenthood, but once your doctor or midwife places your new baby in your arms, you feel totally unprepared.

And then, just when you feel like you’re finally getting the hang of feeding him, your baby starts a growth spurt.

Growth spurts, scientifically speaking, are a short time of rapid physical growth when children increase in weight and height more quickly than average.

Growth Spurts

Babies triple their weight during their first year of life, but most of this increase happens in just a few short bursts.  This is known as “cluster feeding” when your baby wants to eat more often than she has before.

Ages 1-6 months – Rapid Growth

Baby growth spurts happen around these ages during the first year of life:

• 2 weeks
• 6 weeks
• 3 months
• 6 months
• 9 months

If your baby has been sleeping fine, but suddenly begins waking early from her naps, chances are, it’s a growth spurt.

If you’re breastfeeding, try letting her nurse twice as long or feed her more often.  Your supply will eventually catch up with your baby’s demand.  The good news is that baby growth spurts only last about one or two days.

If you’ve got a schedule or routine, let it go for a couple of days.  They’ll get back on more of a schedule once they get through the growth spurt.

When you begin solids, it can be more difficult to spot a growth spurt, but they will still happen.  If your baby seems hungry offer him more food.

Ages 6-12 months – Slower Growth Rate

During ages 6-12, your baby’s growth rate will be slower than the first 6 months of life.  It will eventually slow and stabilize by their first birthday.

Ages 1-2 – Growth Rate Can Slow and Possibly Stop

Toddlers actually only gain about 5 pounds between the ages of 1 and 2, and their appetite may actually decrease.  Don’t let this worry you.  They’re still growing.  You’ll just be able to get the full 6 months wear out of those clothes you bought her!

Ages 2-10 – Steady Growth Rate

Kids gain about 5 pounds each year between the ages of 2 and 10.  This is a period of steady growth where parents can usually anticipate shoe and clothing sizes for the next season. (Hooray for taking advantage of those end-of-season clearance sales!)

Ages 9-15 (for Girls) and 11-12 (for Boys) – Major Growth Spurts

Girls hit puberty between the ages of 10-12.  This is a period of rapid growth when they grow up to 3 inches per year.

Boys hit puberty around age 11-12, and can gain up to 4 inches per year.

When puberty ends, the growth plates where their bones grow actually fuse together.  Both girls and boys stop growing completely around the age of 20.

Signs of Growth Spurts

During a growth spurt, parents may notice:

• Increased appetite
• Aching legs, usually at night (growing pains)
• Irritability
• (Babies and Toddlers) Waking up early from naps

Aching legs and arms, especially around the ages of 3-4 and then again at ages 8-12, can be a sign of growth spurts, but it’s possible that “growing pains” may simply be the result of increased activity.

If your child complains of growing pains, try these ideas:

• Encourage them to take rest breaks throughout the day
• Have them take warm baths before bed
• Gently massage their muscles, paying special attention to their limbs

Chiropractic and Growth Spurts

A child’s first year of life (the fastest period of growth) is one of the most important periods for spinal development.  In a short time, they completely form their secondary spinal curves in their neck and low back.

This is also a period of time when potential for trauma is high because they’re learning to stand and walk.  We recommend that you have your child’s spine checked at least once during this period.

The Long-Term Impact of Childhood Falls

After the age of one, we recommend regular checkups, especially if your child experiences a major fall off trees, furniture, or even their bike.  These minor traumas to the spine can cause problems that may go unnoticed.

Left untreated, they can cause the spine and joints to slowly degenerate.

Our chiropractors often treat adults with back pain and neck pain stemming from injuries they experienced as a child or teenager.  Many didn’t experience any symptoms of pain or stiffness until it reached the advanced stages, years later, in adulthood.

If the spinal problem that was causing these symptoms had been corrected at an early age, then they could have avoided a lifetime of chronic back and neck pain.

Check-ups for Middle-Schoolers

We also recommend regular check-ups at least once a year during the early teenage years to ensure your child’s spine is developing correctly.

Your chiropractor will also check for signs of scoliosis.  Early diagnosis and treatment has been proven to stop the scoliosis curve from becoming severe.

Last year, we planted a tree in our back yard.  We staked and tied it to make sure it would grow straight while it was young.  If we hadn’t done that, and the tree bent over whenever the Kansas wind blew for 10 years, it would be impossible to straighten it.

Do not let your son or daughter’s spine grow like an un-staked tree.  Take steps, today, to ensure that their bodies grow and develop as they were intended.