Wonder Week in Babies: Signs, Stages & How It Differs from a Growth Spurt
In the world of parenting, there is a term known as wonder week for babies. What is it? This term refers to phases during the first 20 months after a baby is born that can make the child frequently fussy and cry, and want to stay close to the mother. Wonder week marks one of the child development stages that indicates a leap in the baby’s mental growth. So when a baby becomes fussy, don’t panic yet Mom, the child may be going through this phase. There is no need to worry because everything can be handled with the tips below.
Definition of Wonder Week in Babies
Before discussing further how to deal with a baby’s wonder week, let’s understand this phase more deeply. Wonder week or the fussy phase in babies during the first 20 months of life is usually marked by an increased appetite or a desire to breastfeed more often.
In general, a child will be fussy for several days and this can last up to several weeks as developmental changes become more complex. This phase is common in babies and nothing to be overly worried about.
Although it is a normal developmental milestone, make sure the child is not showing health problems such as diaper rash, ear infection, or other reasons that trigger frequent crying and crankiness.
Signs of a Baby’s Wonder Week
The main signs in a baby experiencing a wonder week are often called the 3 C’s: clinginess (wanting to always stay close to the mother), crankiness (sensitive/fussy/easily upset), and crying (frequent crying).
Children in this phase usually develop new abilities that make them unwilling to be separated from their mother even for a short moment. The baby’s fussiness is generally accompanied by changes in appetite so they nurse more often.
Not only that, the little one may also cry more often for no apparent reason which can leave Mom confused and unsure what to do. However, don’t let this affect your mood or make you feel guilty.
Indeed this phase is very challenging and the baby can be hard to soothe, but stay optimistic and keep a positive mindset knowing that this phase will eventually pass.
Stages of a Baby’s Wonder Week
It turns out the baby’s wonder week phase has several stages. There are 10 stages beginning from the fifth week after birth which are summarized in the key points below.
1. First Stage
The first stage occurs in the fourth or fifth week after birth. In this phase the baby starts to realize that there are many things they can do with their senses.
For example when touching the baby’s hand dressing them smelling breast milk hearing the mother’s voice or seeing movements of light and color around them. These experiences can surprise the baby causing fussiness and crying. However the baby will usually start to respond with a smile as they get used to it.
2. Second Stage
At week eight the baby enters the second stage and begins to recognize objects around them. The baby becomes aware of movement patterns in their body and gradually moves their arms and hands. This phase is then followed by the baby’s desire to grasp toys.
3. Third Stage
Wonder week three usually occurs around the eleventh or twelfth week. The third stage is typically marked by the baby’s improved control of body movements. Arm and leg movements become smoother and the baby begins to reach for objects they want to hold.
4. Fourth Stage
Week 19 marks the start of the fourth stage where the little one begins to understand cause and effect. Babies usually become curious to try things and experiment to see the outcome of their actions.
For example when the baby throws a ball they want to know what will happen after it is thrown. Not only that babies will usually start doing many new things and can grasp objects better.
However Mom will need extra patience because at this stage the baby can become easily bored and impatient.
5. Fifth Stage
At week 26 the baby enters the fifth stage and begins to understand relationships between different things. The little one also shows other developments like lifting objects and looking downward.
This phase is also marked by the baby’s increased clinginess to the mother and anxiety when separated from Mom.
6. Sixth Stage
Wonder week six occurs at week 37. In this stage the baby begins to recognize categories. Babies become more aware that a dog and a horse are different animals or that an apple is not an animal. Babies also observe and compare more during this stage.
7. Seventh Stage
The seventh stage takes place at around 46 weeks. This phase marks the baby’s better understanding of correct sequences to get what they want. For example stacking toys and understanding the order of putting on clothes.
8. Eighth Stage
Development in the eighth stage increases as the baby begins to grasp cause-and-effect concepts. In other words the baby already knows that events are consequences of their actions. Generally the eighth stage starts when the baby reaches about 55 weeks.
9. Ninth Stage
Week 64 marks the beginning of the ninth wonder week stage. In this phase the baby becomes more skilled with language and shows emotions such as whining negotiating imitating and role-playing.
10. Tenth Stage
The tenth or final stage occurs at week 75. Generally the baby begins to apply what they have learned and act based on the situation. Interestingly the child also starts to understand empathy and the meaning of sharing. In addition language development accelerates significantly.
Difference Between a Baby’s Wonder Week and a Growth Spurt
Although both are characterized by a baby who becomes easily fussy and cries often, wonder week has a different meaning from growth spurt.
Wonder week generally occurs in stages starting from week 5 up to week 75. Its signs include increased sensitivity frequent crying and reluctance to be away from the mother.
This differs from a growth spurt which is a period of intense physical growth. During a growth spurt babies will nurse more often have changes in sleep patterns and become fussy. However this only lasts for a few days and at most up to one week.
Growth spurts can occur about five times in a child’s first year at around 6 and 8 weeks and at 3 6 and 9 months. However each baby’s growth timeline is different from another.
Tips for Dealing with a Baby’s Wonder Week
Wonder week in babies is normal and will be experienced by your little one. Therefore do not get stressed and go through it calmly so you do not become exhausted and overwhelmed. Below are some tips to handle baby fussiness during the wonder week that you can try.
- Hold the baby immediately when they start crying and cuddle them gently to keep them comfortable.
- Soothe the baby with a warm bath. This method is also effective at improving the baby’s mood.
- Take the baby for a walk to enjoy new sights so they can become happy again.
- Distract the baby by playing with them or introducing them to a new environment.
- Make sure you manage stress well because babies can also perceive the stress their mother feels.
Aside from wonder week the baby may also be fussy when weaning to a bottle because they might not be comfortable with the nipple provided. Therefore make sure you only choose teats from Hegen that are designed to resemble the mother’s breast so the baby is more likely to accept them.
There are 5 teat products from Hegen to choose from according to the baby’s age and feeding speed. You can select the Hegen teats that suit your little one’s needs below.
1. HEGEN TEAT EXTRA SLOW FLOW (2-PACK) for 0 Months
2. HEGEN TEAT SLOW FLOW (2-PACK) for 0-3 Months
3. HEGEN TEAT MEDIUM FLOW (2-PACK) for 3-6 Months
4. HEGEN TEAT FAST FLOW (2-PACK) for 6-9 Months
5. HEGEN TEAT THICK FEED (2-PACK) for 12 Months and Above
6. HEGEN BOTTLE BRUSH & TEAT CLEANER
Hegen’s bottle and nipple cleaner or brush is ergonomically designed to maximize cleaning with minimal effort and is made from soft nylon bristles. The brush handle can also be removed to clean teats and other hard-to-reach areas so teat cleanliness is better assured.
All Hegen baby teats are made from top-grade silicone that is safe and heat resistant up to 110 degrees Celsius. The teat shape also resembles the mother’s breast with an asymmetric design that makes the baby more comfortable while feeding.
Not only that Hegen baby nipples also feature anti-colic technology and are BPA/BPS free. Click here to shop now!
References:
- Haikal Luthfi. Bingung Bedakan Growth Spurt dan Wonder Weeks, Cari Tahu Yuk Bunda. https://www.haibunda.com/parenting/20200604173514-61-144515/bingung-bedakan-growth-spurt-dan-wonder-weeks-cari-tahu-yuk-bunda
- Halodoc. Bayi Tiba-Tiba Rewel, Awas Wonder Week. https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/bayi-tiba-tiba-rewel-awas-wonder-week
- SehatQ. 10 Tahapan Wonder Week Bayi dan Cara Mengatasinya. https://www.sehatq.com/artikel/wonder-week-bayi
