The Wonder Weeks is the English translation of the Dutch book Oei, ik groei! (literal translation: Ai, I'm growing!) by former professor Frans X Plooij, originally published in 1992, based on a paper also published in 1992.[1] It has been republished several times, with an updated version published in 2017.[2] It describes the theory that the cognitive development of babies occurs in predictable jumps.[3] However, experts in child development have disputed the research as being methodologically flawed.[4] The publisher has produced a mobile app based on the book.[5]

Claims

According to the book, a baby should go through 10 predictable jumps or "leaps" in their cognitive development during the two years, with 8 in just the first year, counted from the due date if the child was premature.[6] These jumps consist of two phases; A phase where the baby is generally unhappy, followed by a period where the baby is generally happy, due to discovering new things with the newly gained cognitive skills. The "leaps" are predicted to occur at 5, 8, 12, 19, 26, 37, 46, 55, 64 and 75 weeks old.[2]

Plooij's initial study was based on a survey of the mothers of 15 babies showing periods of greater and lesser fussiness.[1][4] However, a follow up study by his former graduate student, with 28 infants and biological measure of stress rather than survey data, failed to find any predictable pattern of stress.[7][4] A third study, with 18 babies, also found an effect on fussiness, but again based on maternal report.[8][9][4] None of the studies show evidence that the periods of fussiness are related to changes in cognitive development, a key component of the theory.[4]

Controversy

A follow-up study by Plooij's PhD student, Carolina de Weerth, examined the claims of the book. She tested both behaviour and cortisol levels and failed to find any evidence of greater fussiness or higher cortisol levels corresponding to the leaps,[7][3] though this might be due to inadequate sample size.[4] According de Weerth, Frans X Plooij tried to pressure her into not publishing the study.[3][10][4] Plooij disputes this account.[4] The controversy that ensued led to Plooij's departure from academia.[3][11][12]

References

  1. 1 2 Van De Rijt-Plooij, Hedwig H.C.; Plooij, Frans X. (July 1992). "Infantile regressions: Disorganization and the onset of transition periods". Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 10 (3): 129–149. doi:10.1080/02646839208403946. ISSN 0264-6838.
  2. 1 2 Plooij, Frans X.; Rijt, Hetty van de (September 2017). The Wonder Weeks: How to Stimulate Your Baby's Mental Development and Help Him Turn His 10 Predictable, Great, Fussy Phases Into Magical Leaps Forward. Kiddy World Publishing. ISBN 9789491882166.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kok, Annemarie (1997-11-19). "'Oei, ik groei!' leidt tot bittere ruzie van wetenschappers". Trouw. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wapner, Jessica (2020-04-16). "Are Sleep Regressions Real?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  5. ↑ "The Wonder Weeks App". The Wonder Weeks. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  6. ↑ Plooij, Frans. "Groeisprongen". oeiikgroei. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  7. 1 2 de Weerth, C.; van Geert, P. (1998-03-01). "Emotional instability as an indicator of strictly timed infantile developmental transitions". British Journal of Developmental Psychology. 16 (1): 15–44. doi:10.1111/j.2044-835X.1998.tb00748.x. ISSN 2044-835X.
  8. ↑ Sadurní, M.; Rostan, C. (2002). "Regression periods in infancy: A case study from Catalonia". Spanish Journal of Psychology. 5 (1): 36–44. doi:10.1017/s1138741600005813. hdl:10256/1720. PMID 12025364.
  9. ↑ Sadurní, M.; Rostan, C. (2003). "Reflections on regression periods in the development of Catalan infants". In Heimann, Mikael (ed.). Regression periods in human infancy. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. pp. 7–22. ISBN 0-8058-4098-2.
  10. ↑ "'Oei, ik groei!' leidt tot bittere ruzie van wetenschappers". Trouw (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2017-08-27. Retrieved 2017-08-27. zeer onfatsoenlijk
  11. ↑ Dirks, Bart (January 13, 1997). "Hoogleraar woedend over weerlegging theorie". Algemeen Dagblad (AD). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Dirks, Bart (1998-01-14). "Positie Plooij onhoudbaar na openlijke kritiek op oud-promovenda; Auteur 'Oei, ik groei' ontslagen als hoogleraar". Volkskrant. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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