The Wonder Weeks.

For those of you not in the know, 'The Wonder Weeks' is a book which outlines 10 major mental developmental leaps a baby takes within their first twenty months on earth. It is based on a scientific study conducted by a husband and wife team, who discovered these leaps and solved every parents problems by writing a book about it, and making lots of money.

I was quickly alerted to this books existence within weeks of Baby being born. "I'm SAVED!" I thought, non too quietly to all who would listen. "Finally, I will know what is going on. I will know why Little Bean is so cranky. I will have the answers as to how to make it easier to cope with."

Alas, I was mistaken.

Because, you see dear reader, those weeks of 'wonder' occur during the following weeks after baby's 'due date':

4.5 - 5.5 weeks.
7.5 - 9.5 weeks
11.5 - 12.5 weeks
14.5 - 19.5 weeks
22.5 - 26.5 weeks
Then you have a lovely 'calm spell', although be warned, there could be a rough patch at weeks 26.5 - 30.5, but lucky for you, this isn't associated with anything wonderful.

Then we are straight back into the wonder at...

33.5 - 37.5 weeks
41.5 - 48.5
50.5 - 54.5
59.5 - 64.5
and finally,
70.5 - 75.5

Of course, these are all approximate and given to taking or giving a week here and there. So it's not a very exact science.

I do appreciate that they have tried to make it easy on us Newbie Parents though, outlining the 3 C's of what to look out for. The signals that a change is imminent. The 3 C's being, crying, cranky and clingy. Not cuddly, cute and calm as you may have hoped for such a wonderful week.

I am baffled.
I feel it would have been a lot more helpful to have concluded from the study, the following facts.

1. Your baby will go through developmental changes in roughly this order.
2. They will happen over a period of roughly two years.
3. No baby will achieve all the changes at once, or at the same time as other babies.
4. Your baby will be cranky, crying and clingy for the majority of those two years.

I particularly liked the part in the book where they let you know that if you are feeling 'stressed and frustrated', it's just a sign that a wonder week is occurring.

As far as I'm concerned, a 'wonder week' by their definition is constantly occurring around here. The book is badly titled, and very misleading. I believe it should be titled, '2 Years Of Hell'. Or perhaps even, 'Why You Are Living With The Spawn Of Satan: But never fear, some weeks they'll be angels." 

The true wonder weeks, which are actually wonderful, are few and far between, as you can see by the 'gaps' between the above wonder weeks. I think it would have been much better use of their precious study time to let us know when THOSE weeks will occur. Give or take a few of course. Because every baby is different. And really, who knows what's going on.