Developmental leaps are significant steps in your baby's mental development. They're like upgrades to your baby's cognitive abilities, allowing them to perceive and interact with the world in new ways. Each leap brings a new set of skills and behaviors.
Fussy spells are common during leaps
Leaps often show as fussy spells, so they can feel like “regressions,” but they’re really progressions developmentally. After a leap, it’s likely you will see new skills emerge and a sense of calm return.
A look at The Wonder Weeks
The Wonder Weeks (book and app) is most widely associated with connecting parents to this brainy concept of leaps. It was written by two Dutch pediatricians who outlined universal time periods when babies typically progress through these fussy spells that are likely progressions, based off 35 years of extensive child development research and observation of parent-baby interactions.
Let's take a closer look at these commonly shared leaps you might notice in baby’s first year, as outlined by the Wonder Weeks team.
Leap 1 –Around 4 weeks old, your baby’s senses will boom, helping them connect more sensitively to the world around them.
Leap 2 –Around week 7, your baby gains greater ability to pick up on patterns within their environment.
Leap 3 –Around week 11, your baby will leap into better perception of transitions.
Leap 4 –Around week 14, your baby can now understand that some transitions relate to one whole event.
Leap 5 –Around 22 weeks old, your baby begins to understand how objects and people relate to each other.
Leap 6 –Around 33 weeks, your baby begins to categorize what things are and how things are different or similar.
Leap 7 –Around 41 weeks, your baby can now recognize a series of different events as part of a whole sequence.
Leap 8 –Finally, around 51 weeks, your baby can now perceive the whole sequence of actions as one thing.
Cognitive skills might be harder to notice
If these leaps feel a little confusing, you’re not alone! Your baby’s brain development is harder to follow than their physical development, which you can visibly see unfolding in how they move their bodies. Many of the brain skills your baby is working on are not as visible to the eye, so don’t hesitate to lean in with resources like the Wonder Weeks App, where you can learn more about each leap as you navigate it real-time.
The takeaway for everyday parenting
Understanding your baby's leaps can help you better support their development, holding more time and space to practice certain skills or engage in certain games and activities when they’re most likely to resonate. Since leaps often bring more tears and clingy behaviors, it can also be reassuring to remember that it’s normal for babies to need a little extra TLC during times of growth!