Last night at 9, after feeding Nayul 100ml of formula, the spicy version of parenting started at 10 pm 🌶. Nayul drank the formula well, burped properly, and seemed ready to go back to sleep after being comforted and settled. At that time, my wife went to our room to catch some sleep, preparing for the midnight feeding.
About 30 minutes later...!? Nayul suddenly started crying intensely. I thought it might be because of a wet diaper, so I quickly changed it. I tried calming her with soothing words, even making the 'shh' sound that usually works. But Nayul's cries didn’t stop; they grew even louder. Eventually, my wife woke up and came to see Nayul. It seemed like Nayul stopped crying when my wife held her, but that was just wishful thinking... haha.
Nayul started crying again. Thinking she might be hungry, I prepared another 50ml of formula. She seemed hungry but I decided not to feed her, thinking it might disturb her feeding schedule. After about an hour, Nayul finally fell asleep from exhaustion 😭😭. Only then could my wife and I relax.
Why did she cry like that!? While searching for reasons why newborns cry, such as colic and stomach pain, I came across the term 'Wonder Weeks'. It's referred to in Korean as the period of rapid growth or growth spurt.
Growth Spurt
What is this 'Growth Spurt' or 'Wonder Weeks'?
It refers to periods of rapid physical and mental development, specifically the 'mental leaps'. Wonder Weeks occur about 10 times over 20 months. During these leaps, the baby may cry more and be fussier than usual. Being aware and understanding these stages in advance can be beneficial for effective parenting.
1. First Leap: The World of Sensations 👉 Age: 4-6 weeks post-birth
The baby becomes more aware of their surroundings, realizing they're no longer in the womb. Objects around 20-30cm away become more discernible, and they start responding to parents and nearby objects.
2. Second Leap: The World of Patterns 👉 Age: 7-10 weeks
They start noticing patterns, like their hands and feet, and begin differentiating between day and night.
3. Third Leap: The World of Smooth Transitions 👉 Age: 11-13 weeks
The baby begins to show more fluid transitions in movements, such as grabbing objects and looking around.
4. Fourth Leap: The World of Events 👉 Age: 14-20 weeks
They start noticing changes in their surroundings and may develop stranger anxiety.
5. Fifth Leap: The World of Relationships 👉 Age: 22-26 weeks
This period can be characterized by separation anxiety. Babies begin understanding relationships between objects and between people.
6. Sixth Leap: The World of Categories 👉 Age: 33-37 weeks
Babies start classifying the things they've encountered, not just by their physical features but also by emotions.
7. Seventh Leap: The World of Sequences 👉 Age: 41-46 weeks
During this period, children start to recognize and control the flow of various events and relationships. For example, when they eat:
- Grasping the spoon
- Putting the spoon in the bowl
- Scooping the food with the spoon
- Opening their mouth
- Putting the food in and eating
They become aware of such sequences and demonstrate them through actions. Of course, they might not execute these steps perfectly from start to end. It's a critical time to observe and patiently teach them repetitively.
8. Eighth Leap: The World of Programs 👉 Age: 51-54 weeks
At this stage, kids understand that several actions with a sequence, like eating, comprise one program. They don't just recognize it, but they also act on it. For instance, they might attempt to help with the dishes. Instead of stopping them, it's beneficial to support and allow them the opportunity to try. There are also other leaps around 60-64 weeks (focusing on principles) and 75 weeks (systems). However, these are more relevant for toddlers, so we'll delve into them later.
Reflecting on the recent surge in my baby Nayul's frequency and intensity of crying, it seems he's likely undergoing the first leap. It was quite an episode today, as he cried so much that his voice became hoarse, especially during our trip for his regular check-up.
Thankfully, the check-up went well! While researching, I found apps that send notifications aligned with a baby's Wonder Weeks and provide advice for each stage. However, most of the content is in English, and there's a fee, so whether to use it is up to individual preference.
Study notes from May 2, 2023