Growing Pains: Toddler Growth Spurts
“It’s true what they say: kids grow like weed and the toddler growth spurts are real. This year alone, we watched our toddler daughter grow about 8cm/3in during lockdown.”
With another toddler growth spurt behind us, Lady Yeya is now looking more like a big kid. Her limbs are longer and leaner. Her face is less “baby” like. Her physical features are more pronounced. Since last March, Lady Yeya grew about 8cm (roughly 3 inches). I remember joking with another parent last summer that we could finally go to Legoland with our now 90cm toddlers. In a flash, Lady Yeya is now 98cm and over half my size. She is a mini-version of her dad, so hopefully Lady Yeya will inherit her dad’s height instead of my short stature.
But let’s get back to those toddler growth spurts. Last week Kenz and I struggled with her toddler tantrums, meltdowns, and mood swings. Seriously, it drained the joy of parenting. I attributed this kind of misbehaviour to either a cognitive developmental leap or major toddler growth spurt. My guess is it is the ladder. Why? Well here are some telltale signs of a major toddler growth spurts based on my own experience.
Insatiable Appetite
This is no joke. During a toddler growth spurt, Lady Yeya has an insatiable appetite, eating three square meals and endless amounts of snacks throughout the day. Last week, a fellow mom friend kindly hosted us for lunch and Lady Yeya was not shy asking for three helping of pasta bolognese. I was amazed and amused at the same time. She was eating like an Olympian.
For us, the most telltale sign of a growth spurt is her frequent request for extra milk throughout the day, including an extra cup before bed. I am pretty certain it is her body’s way of getting extra growth-promoting nutrients such as calcium and protein for strong bones and muscles. Yes indeed, to borrow from the famous commercial: “milk, it does a body good.”
Beauty Sleep
Lady Yeya has always been a good sleeper ever since she was a newborn. We are very lucky that she loves her beauty sleep. That said, being a toddler and growing is hard work. During toddler growth spurts, Lady Yeya gets very tired by the end of the day. It’s not usual for her to go to bed before her usual 8pm bedtime. She’s vocal about it: “I’m tired. I’ll be happy when I go to sleep.” Then she would log upwards of 13 hours of sleep for a few nights in a row, waking up at 9am. I won’t lie, it is very nice to have an extra hour to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and an adult conversation with my husband.
Clumsiness and Crankiness
There is a general clumsiness associated with toddler growth spurts based on my experience. With changes in their little bodies, there is also a shift in their centre of gravity, making our toddlers more clumsy. I swear Lady Yeya’s legs and knees are covered in bruises from falling over or misjudging distances. Being accident prone is part of toddler life that we all have to accept as parents.
Lady Yeya is also very cranky thanks to a constant dull ache on her legs and thighs. And it is during these growing pains when Kenz and I find ourselves carrying our big toddler up the stairs because of the general discomfort during these toddler growth spurts. Yes, growing pains, both literally and figuratively.
Outgrown Clothes
With each toddler growth spurt comes a pile of outgrown clothes. Lady Yeya’s leggings are noticeably shorter and shorter. Shirts are smaller where I can barely get them over her head and arms. Shoes seem to be okay as I always buy half a size up so she can grow into her trainers or boots. Yes, it is time to find an uninterrupted morning of that tedious task of shifting and sorting all of your child’s outgrown clothes. It’s a pain, but definitely needs to be done to avoid a massive clutter build-up in the guest room closet.
Like everything in parenthood, this too shall pass and settle with time. Although I am sure there are many more growth spurts and cognitive developmental leaps in the near future too. For now we’ll be sure to enjoy the last year of toddlerhood before Lady Yeya starts school next September. Threenager and all, I’ll take it.
