Wonder Week 46

Sometimes, you just have to eat your words! Remember this post, well Eliza took my words and ran with them. She has gotten up every night since then. Last night she actually got up 3 times, she didn't even do that as an infant. I searched for an answer while trying anything to get her to go back to sleep, I think I found it, Wonder Week 46.


I was introduced to the Wonder Weeks by a great blog, Chronicles of a Babywise Mom, it has been a life saver. The Wonder Weeks gives you a “heads up” as to when your child will be making a mental leap and explains to you what is going on in the head of your child. 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.”

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.

Gosh if this isn't Eliza I don't know what is! Even though she isn't 46 weeks yet, she is working up to it and 44 weeks is when the storm should be the worst, then it will start to come down again around week 46. 


For this leap here is what Wonder Weeks has to say: 

How to help your child through this developmental leap

• Help you baby explore and experiment: Allow him to attempt to do things on his own. Don’t be quick to jump in and give him the solution. Then after some time, step in and show him how to do it correctly.
• Properly discipline/ correct and praise your child: Clearly let them know when they are going something dangerous or wrong. You should also spend time praising your child for doing something correct or following your directions.
• Use more Language: Always use correct pronunciation around your child. Don’t correct their incorrect pronunciation, instead repeat what they said in a correct pronunciation. For example if your child says, “dag” for dog, you should respond by saying, “Yes, that is a dog.” Also make sure you talk to you child telling them what you are doing and going to do.

Toys and Game to use during this leap

• helping out games: let him help you around the house with chores (dust, put clothing away). Let him help you dress him and groom himself. Allow him to use a spoon on his own, even if it is messy.
• naming games: teach them their body parts by touching them and saying their name. Go for a walk or around the house, point out things and name what they are.
• Songs/ Movement Games: 1. Pat A Cake, Pat A Cake, Baker’s Man, 2. Itsy Bitsy Spider, Row, Row, Row Your Boat
• Hide and Seek Games: 1. Wrap an object in paper or a bag and let you child take it out. 2. Hide something under a box or cup and have your child find it.
• Toys: 1. cars, trains, trucks 2. dolls with toys bottles 3. drums, pots, and pans to beat on 4. books with pictures of animals 5. sandbox with sandtoys 6. balls of any size 7. giant beads 8. stuffed animals 9. a car or wagon to ride in 10. blocks 11. small figures of animals or people 12. mirrors

New Skills that emerge after the fussy period is over (they may not exhibit all of these skills):
1. Points and talks more
2. he knows what goes together or comes next.

• tried to put a puzzle together
• tires to put different size containers together, stack or inside one another
• likes to turn on light switches
• puts things in a container with a lid, put lid on, than take objects out, and repeats this over and over
• loves stacking toys- such a ring stacker
• plays with cars
• fills bath toys with water and dumps them

3. Making and Using Tools

• uses something to assist in walking, such as a walker
• finds something that helps them reach an object that is high up- use it as as step
• points in the direction he wants to go

4. Locomotion (movement)

• puts head down in position that looks like an somersault or kind of like a head stand
• bends her knees trying to jump
• tries to aim before throwing a ball or object
• tries to climb off a chair or sofa
• tries to climb up and down stairs

5. Playing with others

• plays with you and communication desired games and toys he wants to play with
• repeats a game

6. Hide and Seek

• plays peek-a-boo
• enjoys hiding or finding other people who are hiding

7. Coping Gestures

• Imitates gestures that you do
• likes to look in the mirror with you and copy what you are doing

8. Helping out with the household

• hands you things you are putting away
• gets a simple object you ask her to get
• put clothing in a laundry basket
• plays with broom
• helps dust
• imitates you cooking

9. Dressing and Grooming

• Tries to undress himself
• helps you when you dress him
• brushes his hair with a comb
• tires to use a toothbrush
• sometimes uses the potty

10. Eating and Feeding

• offers food to other people
• blows hot food before taking a bite
• puts things on a spoon or fork to eat
• starts to use spoon (possibly)

Looks like we have a few tough weeks ahead of us, but I will never wish it different. I am so excited to see what will come from this. As of Monday Eliza is a mover and a shaker! Here she is standing, and taking a few steps, outside while waiting for daddy to come home from work. Looks like the leap is already helping!

 If you are wondering when your little one will be going through another leap here is the chart, check out the book, Facebook page, or the cell phone app. You won't be disappointed!!