What to Expect at 2 Weeks: Your Baby’s First Growth Spurt
Hello, and welcome to the two-week mark! 🎉
At this point, you might feel like your new baby has completely taken over your life—feeding constantly, sleeping unpredictably, and keeping you on your toes. If it feels like all you do is feed, soothe, and repeat... you’re not alone.
This stretch is often when your baby hits their first growth spurt, and while it can be overwhelming, it’s a healthy sign of development. Here’s what to expect, how to respond, and gentle reminders that this phase will pass.
👶 Physical Growth and Development
Weight Gain: In the first few weeks, babies begin gaining weight more steadily—around 1 ounce per day. During a growth spurt, this rate may increase slightly.
Length + Head Growth: Babies can stretch out in length and experience small increases in head circumference as the brain rapidly develops.
🧠 This brain growth supports improved motor skills, vision, and awareness. It's like your baby’s nervous system is booting up—adorably clumsy, but powerful.
🍼 Feeding Frenzy: What’s Normal?
Increased Appetite: Your baby may want to feed more often—sometimes every hour or two. Totally normal.
Cluster Feeding: Especially in the evenings, babies often feed in bursts. If it feels like baby is nursing non-stop, you're likely in the middle of a growth spurt.
💡 If it feels like cluster feeding is lasting all day, that’s your sign to connect with an IBCLC who can assess what’s going on and help you adjust.
For Breastfeeding Parents:
Your milk supply may take a day or two to catch up. Stay hydrated, eat nourishing food, and offer the breast often.
Trust that your body will respond to your baby’s cues—frequent latching is how supply builds.
For Formula Feeding Parents:
You may notice your baby asking for more frequent or larger feeds. Follow their hunger cues and use a paced feeding technique to support digestion and prevent overfeeding.
😴 Sleep: A Mixed Bag
More Wake-Ups: Your baby may wake more often or have trouble settling.
More Sleep Overall: Despite frequent wake-ups, many babies sleep more total hours during a growth spurt to support development.
🎵 Think of it as a symphony of short bursts—some loud, some restful, all part of baby's internal rewiring.
😢 Fussiness, Clinginess & Mood Shifts
Irritability: As your baby’s brain and body adjust, you may see increased fussiness—especially in the evenings.
Need for Comfort: Extra crying, clinginess, and wanting to be held more often is common.
📌 You’re not “spoiling” your baby—you’re soothing them through an intense developmental leap. You are their safe place.
🧠 Cognitive Clues: Baby’s Brain Is Blooming
More Alertness: Baby might begin to focus on faces, react to sounds, or follow objects briefly.
Visual & Motor Skills: Early signs of tracking with the eyes or responding to voices may appear.
👀 During calm, alert time, hold them close, make eye contact, and smile. Your face is their favorite thing to look at right now.
🧘🏾♀️ What Parents Need to Know
Trust Your Instincts: Nobody knows your baby like you do. If something feels off, listen to that voice.
Be Flexible: This spurt might disrupt any routine you were starting to find. That’s not failure—it’s growth.
Prioritize You, Too: Yes, even now. Ask for help. Nap when you can. Your well-being matters.
📞 When to Reach Out
Sometimes, growth spurts reveal deeper issues with feeding or latch that need attention. Reach out to an IBCLC if:
Baby is excessively fussy or not feeding well
Feedings feel painful, ineffective, or never-ending
You’re concerned about your milk supply or baby’s weight gain
You just want peace of mind or emotional support—we’re here for that too
💗 Final Thoughts: This Too Shall Pass
At two weeks, your baby is doing big work behind those tiny yawns and squeaks. While growth spurts can feel like chaos, they are beautiful signs that your baby is growing just as they should.
You’ve got this. And when it feels like you don’t? We’ve got you.
Need support with feeding, sleep, or postpartum life?
💬 Reach out anytime at milkinmotion.co or call/text 703-372-9711
Written by Laci Tang, IBCLC, Certified Babywearing Educator
Owner, Milk In Motion