The Wonder Weeks
Hetty van de Rijt & Frans X. Plooij
This popular book outlines ten predictable developmental “leaps” in the first 20 months of a baby’s life. Each leap is associated with cognitive growth and often coincides with periods of fussiness, sleep changes, and clinginess. The authors offer insight into how babies experience the world as their brains develop new abilities.
Why It’s Included:
It validates what many parents observe — that babies go through emotionally intense but temporary phases as they develop. While not without critique, the core message aligns with our belief in responsive parenting: understanding a baby’s needs helps caregivers meet them with empathy rather than frustration.
Who It’s For:
Best suited to parents of babies under two years old, especially those seeking context for unsettled behaviour. Also useful for caregivers who want to support development through connection, play, and patience.
“My own observations of these predictable periods of infant development are reflected in this excellent guide. These stages correspond with some of the more challenging parenting periods and it helps to know what is going on in the background.”
Further Reading:
The Science of Parenting – Margot Sunderland
What’s Going On In There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life – Lise Eliot
