Developmental Leaps, Settling and Sleep - Little Ones

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December 9, 2021
Developmental
Leaps, Settling and
Sleep
By Kate Wood
After my eldest was born, I kept hearing other mums

talking about their little one being in a ‘leap’ and how
difficult it was. I had no idea what they were talking
about!
After a brief internet search, I came across The Wonder

Weeks and entered a whole new world of leaps, fussy
periods, “the three C’s” and more. I learned a LOT.
If you've been in the dark about your baby's

developmental leaps, read on to find out more about
what happens during these leaps, how they affect your
baby's sleep, and how you can navigate these tricky
periods.
In this article:
What are developmental leaps?
Signs your baby is in a leap
How do leaps affect your baby's settling and sleep?
How long do developmental leaps last?
How you can help your baby during a leap
Toddler developmental leaps
Feeling confused about your baby's sleep

needs?
Let our sleep experts help you every step of the way.
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What are developmental

leaps?
You may have been in the same situation as me, listening
to others talking about “leaps” and nodding along,
wondering what they are talking about. Well fear not,
soon you’ll be an expert on them!
Quite simply, a developmental leap is a period of intense

mental development that your baby experiences.
According to The Wonder Weeks, babies will experience

10 mental leaps during their first 20 months of life. These
leaps are linked to their corrected age, which is based on
their due date rather than the date they were born.
Signs your baby is in a leap

During this time your baby has a lot going on. Their brain
is so busy learning new skills, taking on more information
and making major mental developments that it is bound
to have a knock on effect.
Here are some signs that your baby might be in a leap:
Increase in the ‘three C’s’: crying, clinginess and

crankiness
Change in sleeping patterns
Their mood is more unpredictable
Existing skills improving
Learning new skills
Separation anxiety
Change in their health
Fussiness when feeding
Let's break some of these signs down a bit further and

look at what is going on for your little one during a
developmental leap...
Change in mood or behaviour

The Wonder Weeks talks about an increase in the "three
C’s" during a leap. These are:
1. Crankiness
2. Clinginess
3. Crying
If you notice a big shift in your baby’s temperament then

it is likely they may be going through a developmental
leap. Their mind is doing extraordinary things right now
and their world is changing. This is hugely daunting for a
small baby who is still learning to make sense of the
world.
Imagine if tomorrow you discovered that aliens lived

among us or that you had the ability to fly. Your whole
understanding of the world, and what you thought you
knew, has suddenly been thrown into turmoil. You now
have to learn how to make sense of this ‘new world’.
This is what your baby does during each developmental

leap. As their perception of the world changes, they have
to adjust to the new norm. During this unsettling time,
it's understandable that your baby wants to feel safe and
secure, which is why they may be more clingy than usual.
Although you might understand why your baby is crying

more, not wanting to be put down or just constantly
grumpy, these mood changes can still be tough on
parents too. So don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need
it.
Consider inviting a friend or family member over to

entertain your little one and give you a break, or try
venturing outside for some fresh air. Lots of babies enjoy
being out and about, seeing new places and faces. It also
helps to break up the day for you.
And remember - this won’t last forever.
Fussy feeding
During a leap, you may also notice that your baby
suddenly seems less keen on feeding. Being fussy during
feeds (whether breastfeeding, bottles or solids) is fairly
common but luckily, tends to be short-lived.
Your might notice that your baby:
Wants to feed more frequently than before
Isn't interested in feeds at their usual feeding times
Comes on and off the breast or bottle, or is easily

distracted by what is going on around them
Takes smaller quantities of milk, preferring to snack

feed throughout the day
Is fussy with solid food, even with foods they

previously enjoyed
Wants to snack more if they are on solids and eat

smaller meals
Here are some tips to help your baby with their feeds
during this time:
Stay consistent with offering your baby their feeds at

the usual times.
Try feeding them in a quiet space if they are easily

distracted.
Make sure your little one is still having plenty of wet

and soiled nappies. If you notice a change in the
amount of wet nappies, consult your healthcare
professional to rule out dehydration.
If your baby is on solids, try eating with them so that

they can mimic you eating.
Ensure they have a favourite food on their plate or try

presenting food in a different way, such as making a
picture with the food or using an ice cube tray as a
plate.
Remain calm if they are being fussy - your baby will

pick up on your stress or frustration. If they get upset,
take a break, do something else and try again later.
If your baby is always fussy during their feeds, regardless

of whether they are in a leap or not, you'll find some
possible reasons for this here.
My baby has started fussing duri…
Change in health
Although less common, some parents also notice a
deterioration in their baby’s health during a leap. The
most common health issues experienced include:
Colds
Coughs
Teething
Ear infections
If you notice a change in your baby’s health, contact your

doctor or health professional for further advice. If you're
not sure whether your baby is unwell, we have some
signs and symptoms to look out for here, as well as tips
for how to care for a sick baby.
Learning new skills

So far, it seems like developmental leaps bring about a lot
of negative changes. However, this one is a positive! This
is the reward for coping with all those negatives... you get
to witness your baby learning, developing and changing
before your eyes.
Here are some of the highlights you can expect:
Learning to smile
Holding their head upright
Rolling over
Looking for main caregiver
Holding toys
Waving
Playing peek-a-boo
Babbling and ‘chatting’ with you
Starting to role-play
Vocabulary improvements
It is a joy to witness this growth and change your baby's

development and it definitely helps to balance the scales
a little more!
How does a leap affect my

baby's settling and sleep?
Not only has your happy baby suddenly had a personality
transplant and turned into a misery but now you’re
noticing a shift in their settling and sleep too. Don’t
panic!
Your baby’s brain is developing rapidly during their leap,

which can take a toll on their sleep but this is only
temporary. This might look like:
Resisting naps or bedtime. Your baby can find it

harder to wind down, meaning they need a longer
wind down time before sleep.
Difficulties settling to sleep. Your baby may find it

difficult to self-settle and instead, will need your help
to settle to sleep or will only want to sleep when you
are close to them.
Waking more during the night. Your baby may wake

more frequently or for longer during the night, to
practise new skills they are trying to master during
this leap.
Waking early in the morning. Try to ensure your

baby's room is promoting sleep and reinforce that it is
time to sleep by keeping them in their bed for as long
as they are happy.
Wanting to feed more overnight. This can be because

your baby isn't feeding well during the day or because
they are using more energy and becoming more
mobile.
Having shorter naps. Catnapping can be common

during this time as babies can find it harder to link
their sleep cycles.
More tired during the day. With all the extra mental
stimulation, your baby can seem to struggle with their
usual awake times. You may need to reduce their
awake times a little while they are in a leap.
Often these are short-term changes and once your baby

is out of the developmental leap, their sleep pattern
should revert to normal.
Having said that, it is quite easy for new sleep habits to

creep in during this time. For example, if your little one
isn’t settling well, you might start actively settling them
to sleep with patting, rocking or feeding. Then, once the
leap is finished, instead of going back to self-settling,
your baby continues to rely on you settling them to sleep.
This is because the patting, rocking or feeding, has
become a new sleep association for them.
To get your baby back to self-settling, you'll need to wean

them off that new sleep association. Our Little Ones App
can guide you through this, step-by-step, with several
gentle methods to choose from that are tailored to your
baby's age and current sleep association.
My 10-month old has started wa…
How long do developmental

leaps last?
I know it can feel like your baby’s leap will never end but I
promise you, it will!
Developmental leaps vary in length. The shortest leaps

are just a week long and the longest are roughly five
weeks. It may sound like a long time but even during the
longer leaps, you will usually find that there are peaks
and troughs. Some days you wouldn’t know they were in
the middle of a leap and other days, you definitely know!
On the tough days try to remember that this is just a

phase and "this too shall pass".
How can you help your baby

during a leap?
The biggest way you can help your baby through their
developmental leaps is to keep in mind that it is just a
phase. Your baby isn’t broken, they’re just going through
a lot right now!
Staying as consistent as possible with your baby's routine

and settling is not only reassuring for them, but will also
help their sleep to get back to normal again once they are
out of the leap.
Here are our top tips for getting through your baby's
developmental leaps:
Stay calm and try to remember that leaps are a good

thing - it means your baby is learning and developing
as they should!
Try to stick to your usual routine as much as possible.
Try to avoid introducing new sleep associations that

will be hard to wean your baby off later.
Give your baby more physical contact - skin to skin

can really help!
Use a sling to keep your baby close by, while also

keeping your hands free for other things.
If you need a break, enlist some help from your

partner, family or friends.
What do you suggest for a little …
Toddler developmental leaps

Congratulations, you and your baby have successfully
made it through the ten developmental leaps...so what
now? Is it going to be smooth sailing from now on?
Unfortunately, no! Your toddler will still have periods of

rapid mental and physical development. The good news is
that now that they can understand more and
communicate their needs more easily. The bad news is
that they are still an irrational toddler who struggles to
regulate their emotions, so you can probably expect a
few tantrums here and there!
With each developmental milestone your toddler

reaches though, you will be able to have more fun with
them and see their personality coming out!
In summary...
Developmental leaps can be tough on babies and
parents, however, they are a very normal part of your
child's development. Leaps can affect your child in
various ways but rest assured, these changes are usually
temporary! The best thing you can do to help your baby
or toddler through a leap is to try to stay as consistent as
possible with your routine and settling until it passes.
If you find that your baby’s settling or sleep hasn't

returned to normal after a leap, our Little Ones App has
all the information and tools you need to get things back
on track.
---------------
Bibliography
Age-Related Developmental Milestones (2022, March 3).

The Observant Mom. https://theobservantmom.com/
Developmental milestones: What they are. (2022). Plunket

New Zealand. https://www.plunket.org.nz/child-
development/child-development-
milestones/developmental-milestones-what-they-are/
The Wonder Weeks | A smart start for a happy

beginning! (2022, March 30). The Wonder Weeks.
https://www.thewonderweeks.com/
The Wonder Weeks - Marco Plas, TEDxGlasgow
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Brand new low price for ALL Sleep Programs

After my eldest was born, I kept hearing other mums

After a brief internet search, I came across The Wonder

If you've been in the dark about your baby's

What are developmental leaps?

Signs your baby is in a leap

How do leaps affect your baby's settling and sleep?

How long do developmental leaps last?

How you can help your baby during a leap

Toddler developmental leaps

Feeling confused about your baby's sleep

What are developmental

Quite simply, a developmental leap is a period of intense

According to The Wonder Weeks, babies will experience

Signs your baby is in a leap

Here are some signs that your baby might be in a leap:

Increase in the ‘three C’s’: crying, clinginess and

Change in sleeping patterns

Their mood is more unpredictable

Existing skills improving

Learning new skills

Change in their health

Fussiness when feeding

Let's break some of these signs down a bit further and

Change in mood or behaviour

If you notice a big shift in your baby’s temperament then

Imagine if tomorrow you discovered that aliens lived

This is what your baby does during each developmental

Although you might understand why your baby is crying

Consider inviting a friend or family member over to

And remember - this won’t last forever.

Your might notice that your baby:

Wants to feed more frequently than before

Isn't interested in feeds at their usual feeding times

Comes on and off the breast or bottle, or is easily

Takes smaller quantities of milk, preferring to snack

Is fussy with solid food, even with foods they

Wants to snack more if they are on solids and eat

Stay consistent with offering your baby their feeds at

Try feeding them in a quiet space if they are easily

Make sure your little one is still having plenty of wet

If your baby is on solids, try eating with them so that

Ensure they have a favourite food on their plate or try

Remain calm if they are being fussy - your baby will

If your baby is always fussy during their feeds, regardless

My baby has started fussing duri…

If you notice a change in your baby’s health, contact your

Learning new skills

Here are some of the highlights you can expect:

Holding their head upright

Looking for main caregiver

Babbling and ‘chatting’ with you

It is a joy to witness this growth and change your baby's

How does a leap affect my

Your baby’s brain is developing rapidly during their leap,

Resisting naps or bedtime. Your baby can find it

Difficulties settling to sleep. Your baby may find it

Waking more during the night. Your baby may wake

Waking early in the morning. Try to ensure your