Short answer: Babies often go through short phases of feeding much more, sleeping worse and wanting to be held all the time. A growth spurt usually shows as a few days of extra feeding; developmental changes (often called “leaps”) can make a baby clingier and more unsettled for a while. Both are normal and pass. Feed on demand, keep things calm, and don't rush to change your routine — but get your baby checked if they seem unwell, have a fever or have fewer wet nappies.
Things were going well. Since yesterday your baby seems like a different child: clingy, tearful, wanting to feed every half hour and no longer settling. You start searching and find charts that seem to know exactly which week it will happen. The reality is less precise — and more reassuring.
Growth spurts
Babies don't grow at an even pace. A classic study in Science measured babies' length very frequently and found that growth came in short bursts separated by days or weeks of little measurable growth. Parents often notice a burst as a few days of extra hunger.
The NHS describes “cluster feeding” — wanting to feed much more often, sometimes almost constantly, for a period — as very common in the first three to four months, and notes that a baby may cluster feed for a few days during a growth spurt. Parents often notice this in the first few weeks and again around six weeks and three months, but every baby is different.
If you're breastfeeding: more frequent feeding is how your baby signals your body to make more milk. Breast milk works on supply and demand, so letting your baby feed when they want, for as long as they need, protects your supply. Topping up with formula means your baby feeds less at the breast, so you produce less. If you're worried your baby isn't getting enough, talk to your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist.
If you're bottle feeding: you can follow your baby's hunger cues during a growth spurt, but watch for signs they've had enough — turning away, pushing the bottle away, or milk spilling out of their mouth — so you don't overfeed.
“Leaps” and developmental changes
As babies develop, they start to notice and do new things — tracking faces, grabbing, rolling, sitting, realising you can walk away. These changes can be unsettling. Many parents notice a fussy, clingy patch shortly before a new skill appears, and separation anxiety around 8 to 10 months is well recognised.
Popular leap apps and charts predict these phases by the week. There is little independent research showing that all babies go through leaps at the same fixed ages, so treat a leap chart as a loose guide, not a timetable. If the week doesn't match your baby, nothing is wrong with your baby.
Signs you might notice
- More crying without an obvious cause, often in the evening.
- Wanting to be held all the time and protesting when put down.
- Shorter naps and more waking at night.
- Feeding more often — or, in older babies, being distracted at feeds.
- Being upset by things that didn't bother them before.
What helps
Mostly: less. This is a phase to get through, not a problem to fix.
- Feed responsively. During a growth spurt, more feeding is exactly what should happen.
- Keep your routine the same. This isn't the week to start a new sleep method or drop a feed.
- Lower the stimulation. Quieter days, fewer visitors, an earlier bedtime.
- Hold and carry. A sling can make these days easier. Follow the T.I.C.K.S. rule: Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest, Supported back.
- Look after yourself. Share the load with a partner or friend if you can, eat and drink well, and lower your expectations for the house.
In a couple of weeks you'll often see what your baby has learned. Right now, you mostly see the mess that learning makes.
When it isn't a growth spurt or a leap
Unsettled behaviour can also be a sign of illness. Ear infections, reflux and other problems are sometimes wrongly put down to “a leap”. Contact your GP, health visitor or NHS 111 (or your local equivalent) if your baby:
- has a high temperature (38 °C or higher), or seems unwell;
- is feeding much less than usual or has fewer wet nappies;
- cries inconsolably, or their cry sounds different;
- is unusually floppy or drowsy;
- is still unsettled after one to two weeks, or you simply feel something isn't right.
Emergency: call 999 in the UK, 911 in the US or 112 in the EU if your baby has difficulty breathing, has blue, grey or blotchy skin or lips, is very hard to wake, has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry, or has a rash that doesn't fade when you press a glass against it. Babies under 3 months with a temperature of 38 °C or higher need urgent medical advice.
Related reading
- Sleep regressions by age
- Starting breastfeeding: the first week
- Your baby's motor milestones
- A crying baby: when to call the doctor
Month by month: The First Year (PDF, English) guides you through your baby's first twelve months, including feeding, sleep and development.
Sources
- NHS Best Start in Life — Cluster feeding and Milk supply.
- NHS — Separation anxiety.
- NHS — When to get urgent medical help for babies and children under 5.
- Lampl M, Veldhuis JD, Johnson ML. Saltation and stasis: a model of human growth. Science. 1992;258(5083):801–803. doi:10.1126/science.1439787.
Written by the Bloom Guides editorial team. Last updated: 19 October 2026. General information only — not a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or doctor.