Wonder Weeks

If you haven't heard of it and you have a little one, under a year,  this could be a sanity saver. At times, it has been for me.

The following is an introduction directly from The Wonder Weeks' website that explains the premise...

                                                                                             

This world wide bestseller:

• Will save your sanity
• Help your baby to get the most out of his development

Ever wondered why your baby drives you crazy during certain times? Or, that no matter what you do, you can’t seem to make him happy or comfort him? Or, that he doesn’t eat well; doesn’t sleep well?

Have you ever thought – based on your child’s erratic behavior – that there is something wrong with your parenting skills?

Most probably you can answer a couple of these questions with resounding ‘YES!’ We know this because decades of scientific research have shown that all babies go through the same fussy phases at the same time. Frans Plooij, Ph.D., and author of the worldwide bestseller The Wonder Weeks spent almost 40 years exploring the reason and timing of these fussy phases all babies go through during their first years.

Here’s the good news! You, dear parent, are doing nothing wrong, and there is nothing wrong with your baby. On the contrary: the fussy phases ARE good news! These fussy phases signal great and drastic changes your baby’s mental development. During these times, his brain is giving him new possibilities. So many possibilities, in fact, that the world around him seems totally different and new. No wonder he is fussy! He needs to get grip on this ‘new world’ suddenly in front of him. As a result, he acts out and becomes more Clingy, Cranky and Cries more.

During a leap it is possible your baby:

• Eats less
• Sleeps less or wakes up a lot of the times
• Seems to go back in his development in stead of forth
• Cries more
• Is cranky
• Clings to you all the time
• Is ill more often
• Is not satisfied, no matter what you do.

The Wonder Weeks gives you a “heads up” as to when these periods are expected and explains to you what is going on in the head of your child. Forewarned is forearmed! By knowing what is changing in the mental development of your child, you can help him go through these difficult phases and it will help you as you know why he is not the easiest baby in the world right now. It’s no wonder that new parents everywhere who have read the book calls it a “sanity savior.”

                                                                                              

I don't own the book, I don't know everything about the research behind these results but I can tell you that it is almost always accurate for Miss Mak and was for CJ too.

They even broke it down into a handy-dandy little chart which is basically all I use. Honestly, I don't really pay attention to what the developmental change is, rather I use it to explain why my little munchkin is temporarily unbearable and how long until they're wonderful again.

Wonder Weeks PDF {please, ignore the giant bronze boob!}

I hope this helps!