>Oh we can have an interesting debate about this! I've found growth spurts >in a FT baby to be fairly predictable over the years. >About 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 mo. Have also seen these vary a few days or >week in either direction. That's my point! So (on observation only) if a growth spurt can vary in timing by up to a week in either direction, this means they can happen at 2 wks, 3 wks, 4 wks, 6 wks, 7 wks, and at any stage in between these times. I'm sure you have also seen babies who start demanding more feeds at just about any time at all.... >Have found it to be reassuring to tell mom what >is probably going on so she can go with the flow :-) Once most moms have >an explanation , they calm down and cope. What do others believe? I agree - but I say babies do vary in their needs at times and I don't pin it down to any particular phenomenon occuring at any particular time. I am sure if a mother calls you and says her baby is needing to feed more, you check out the usual things with her and if all is ok, you reassure her, too, in a similar way - even if her baby is 10 weeks and therefore not in a growth spurt! > >An aside, so many of the things LLLI has said since the beginning have been >later proved by research. Why would this be any different than 6-8 wet >diapers, no solids before 4 mo etc.? It could be very different. We do not bf physiologically in this culture...or at least very few of us do. We count the feeds, we watch the clock, we resist night feeds, we try and 'get them into a routine', we express and give EBM, or ABM....for me to 'believe' in growth spurts occuring at *predictable* intervals, I would need to see research done on a large number of babies in a population that feeds physiologically. I accept babies have growth spurts, which logically get reflected in more cues to feed. I also accept that babies may want to feed more often for other reasons - impending illness that's being fought off, need for comfort and reassurance, teething, thirst in hot weather...whatever. I find it hard to believe that any of this can take place at *predictable* times. I have to say, too, that in 20 years of doing this work, my observations do not tell me any different. Growth spurts and extra feeding can happen at any time at all! Heather Welford Neil NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html