The first few weeks of your newborn's life are spent feeding, sleeping, and adjusting to life outside the comfort of the womb. However, you might be unaware that your baby will go through a major transformation around 4½ to 5½ weeks old after your baby's due date (not 5 weeks from the day they were born). This is the start of Mental Leap 1, the first developmental leap in your baby's brain, which marks the beginning of a more conscious awareness of their surroundings.
What is Mental Leap 1?
Mental Leap 1 occurs when your baby starts to perceive changes in their surroundings more clearly. Up until now, your baby's senses- sight, sound, touch, and smell- were present but underdeveloped. As soon as they experience their first leap, they are most likely to:
- Observe when a light turns on or a shadow moves across the wall.
- Become more conscious of different tones in your voice.
- React more when touched or moved.
- Display signs of recognising familiar smells or voices.
Since Leap 1 is a cognitive leap, it means that the changes occur in their brain before showing in behaviour.
What are some signs of a Leap?
During a Leap, every baby has a different reaction and displays different behaviours, but many parents notice one or more behaviours when their little one is going through a Leap:
- Increased fussiness or crying.
- Sleep difficulties, with shorter naps.
- Increased need for physical closeness, aka cuddle time.
- Increased alertness while awake, looking around, and maintaining eye contact.
- Become more responsive to your voice and facial expressions.
- May become suddenly more shy than they were before.
- May want to be kept busy, and stimulated.
- Prefer a specific sense, for example your baby might want to look around and observe more, whereas another baby could prefer to listen to sounds and familiar voices.
- You may also notice a sudden increase in your little one’s head circumference
Why are these Leaps intense?
For many parents, this is the first time their baby appears more difficult to soothe or "needy." Rest assured that there is nothing wrong with your baby or your parenting style; this is a sign of cognitive development.
Your baby is experiencing sensory overload. Think of it this way: You’re hearing and seeing things clearly for the first time, but not knowing what they mean or how to interpret them. This can be unsettling. As a result, your baby resorts to coping mechanisms such as crying, clinging to you, and feeding more frequently.
How can I comfort my baby?
- Hold them
Your baby needs to feel safe while experiencing new sensations. Try holding them close, like swaddling them or placing them inside a carrier, can simulate the comfort of the womb and provide your little one a safe space to process stimulation.
- Keep them calm
During this time, avoid loud noises and bright lights. Try to be with your baby in a quiet, dimly lit room with soothing sounds and gentle conversations (even if your little one can not answer you, they can still understand and recognise your voice and feel calm).
- Feed them
Feeding is more than just nutrition; it also provides your baby comfort. During this time, try to feed your baby when they demand it, whether it is by breastfeeding or by bottle.
- Play with them
At this point your baby’s vision range has grown, initially they were only able to see objects 8 to 12 inches away, which is also how they can see the areola during breastfeeding. During this leap they can now see objects that are almost 30 inches away (an example would be an average adults forearm size, from fingertip to elbow). During this time your little one can easily focus on high contrast toys to play with. ShopGoud has a wide selection of these toys such as the High Contrast Baby Mat, perfect for your little ones tummy time.
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Mental Leap 1 is your baby's first significant step toward interacting with the world. While it may look like fussiness and clinginess, it also indicates that your baby is going through significant growth. Remember, your baby is not "difficult"; they are developing, and you are exactly what your baby requires.
