Baby Holly
BABY Holly won’t sleep, is clingy, grizzles no end and fusses over everything. That’s where we’re at right at this moment. However, instead of letting out a *sigh*, a *huff* or showing off a :), I’m jumping for joy. Well, kind of.
You see, amid Baby Holly’s Naomi Campbell-style hissy fits, I’ve been able to finally get my hands on The Wonder Weeks book. No, this is no Fred Savage tale, although The Wonder Years was a damn fine TV show.
Written by Hetty Vanderijt and Frans Plooij, The Wonder Weeks has uncovered the eight “fussy’’ phases in the first 14 months of bub’s life and shows you how to turn them into magical leaps forward. Yes, those cranky pants baby episodes are bub simply developing new skills. Cool, huh?
We’re at the very challenging Wonder Week 26. This one is about relationships, so Baby Holly is beginning to understand that something can be inside, outside, on top, above, next to, underneath or in between something else. Of course, the most important element in all of this is the distance between her and I. When I’m not in the room, all hell breaks loose.
Here’s one of the most important pages in the book – the one which shows when the Wonder Weeks are (the fussy periods) and the Sunny Weeks (where they’re happy having mastered their new skills and go back to normal). More of those please.
The book, compiled after studying mums and bubs over a long period of time, shows you which games and toys are best for your baby during each key week and how to encourage each leap forward. Of course, it won’t turn your baby into a genius. Drats!
Here is a quick guide to each Wonder Week, but really you should check out their website The Wonder Weeks (they even have a leap alarm to sign up to) and grab a copy of the book. I’ve been a bit stingy and borrowed mine from the library, but I may just have to buy a copy (and the more updated version goes through to toddlerdom).
Wonder Week 5: The World of Changing Sensations
Wonder Week 8: The World of Patterns
Wonder Week 12: The World of Smooth Transitions
Wonder Week 19: The World of Events
Wonder Week 26: The World of Relationships
Wonder Week 37: The World of Categories
Wonder Week 46: The World of Sequences
Wonder Week 55: The World of Programs
Now you know when to lock yourself inside the house and ban all visitors. Or put a sign on the door saying: Beware: feral baby inside.
I’ll give more detailed info on each as Baby Holly experiences them. So first, here’s what we’re doing to help her development during Wonder Week 26:
Reading more books, as Holly is now more interested in them- Playing with our stacking blocks (building towers and showing how they fit inside each other).
- Singing and talking to her when I leave the room, so she knows I’m still there.
- Encouraging her movement (some babies can now start crawling), by giving her plenty of floor time and doing exercises with her arms and legs.
For more information, I have reviewed the book and had author Frans Plooij guest post. You can also buy the book (affiliate link).
Have you heard about The Wonder Weeks? How do you cope (or not cope) during your baby’s fussy periods?
i haven’t heard of this book. going to check it out now! any help is good help 🙂 quick calculation tells me the smiling tiger must be somewhere around week 46??? sequencing…interesting!
Oh, lucky you, Rachel. The Smiling Tiger is about to come into a Sunny period! 🙂
The child health nurse told me about The Wonder Weeks when Ella was a baby, but I only half took it seriously. Now with Holly, it’s been so much easier to aniticpate when the fussy period is coming and to know I’m not going insane!!!
Just a heads up if you’re going to get a copy from the library – I had to wait a long, long time to get my copy. It’s pretty popular!! The website is really helpful too. 🙂
i checked my library’s catalogue and they don’t have it! may have to look for it on my beloved book depository! any excuse to visit their website….
Hehe! Sounds good! 🙂
I heard of it when Abi was a bit younger but for some stupid (probably sleep deprived) reason I never actually got it. I’m glad it’s working for you.
Yes, I think that’s why I never got around to it with Ella. Am glad I’ve taken the time to look at it this time. It’s stopped me from tearing my hair out! 🙂
How I wish I had that book when the pinks were babies!! Sounds fabulous Kellie – hope it helps :O)
So far so good, Caz. Yes, wishing I had found it when Ella was a bub too. 🙂
I’ve never heard of this book before and with my baby now at 4.5 it’s not going to help me much. But it really sounds interesting, and if it helps you to “Keep Calm and Carry On” then it’s worth the library wait.
Exactly, Glenys. Was definitely worth the wait.
Although, I really think I’m going to have to buy it, especially the updated version. The new version apparently helps nip the terrible twos in the bud before your child even reaches age two. I like the sound of that!! 🙂
You know I never really went through the terrible two’s with my boys. I learnt from reading (goodness knows what now), that most of that drama was due to kids not being able to express themselves and getting frustrated.
I taught my boys some very basic sign language, really only a handful of signs, drink, eat, and please. and a few animals I think. That gave all of us a lot of confidence during that period.
What a great idea, Glenys. Ella has begun learning sign language at childcare, which I’ve posted about before. She’s even been teaching me a bit. I really think I might look into teaching Baby Holly the basics, as I can see how beneficial it would be. Thanks. 🙂
I found this book not long after my 2nd child was born – isn’t it brilliant?! I recommend it to everyone. I really wish I’d had it for my 1st as she screamed all the time about everything. I cuddled her as much as I could but still felt like I didn’t manage it well at all – I lost my temper with her and screamed back once or twice! My son is so easy-going but it’s still hard dealing with the fussiness and poor sleeping sometimes, so the info in the book has helped a lot there. Does anyone know if they’re going to bring out a book for 2-5 year olds? That would be really handy to have…
Hey Neo,
I haven’t heard anything on another follow up book. But I agree, it would be SO handy.
It’s nice to have that reassurance that everything’s OK, isn’t it? Before having the book, we had some pretty frustrating times too trying to figure out what the problem was and how to fix it. The book really gave us peace of mind!
So glad to hear of other mums benefiting from it! 🙂
[…] explained in my last post, The Wonder Weeks is a book by Hetty Vanderijt and Frans Plooij which has uncovered the eight […]
[…] my Week 26 post The Book That Stopped Me Crying, which includes the Wonder Weeks […]
I’m off to see if the library has a copy for me to borrow until I win the giveaway ha ha! 🙂
Quick question: The wonder weeks book, does it stop at week 61? Because 2.5 is sucking hard right now.
Hey V, The new version of the book goes up until 75 weeks, or 17 months. However, Frans makes the point in the book that other changes occur between 1.5 years and 16 years, so there’s a chance he may be going through a development leap. This doesn’t help you much though!
Not sure if you read it or not, but Frans guest posted for me yesterday, so there might be something within that to help you – https://threelilprincesses.com/2011/09/guest-post-by-the-international-bestselling-author-of-the-wonder-weeks/
Still going through a Wonder Week with Holly at the moment and it’s been damn tough. Feeling for you. xx
I think it is a SHOCKING oversight that wonder weeks are not more widely advertised by health professionals. It is such a relief knowing that the weird clingyness is actually totally normal. I wonder how much money our health system would save from unnecessary doctors visits by worried mums?
Have to agree with you on that. Our child health nurses push it here in North-West Tassie, but I think it should be broader than that. 🙂
[…] also been a strong advocate for The Wonder Weeks book, which recognises the developmental leaps babies go through every few months – aka, when your […]
[…] already posted about Week 26, provided a copy of the Wonder Week chart, reviewed the book and had author Frans Plooij guest […]