Are developmental leaps ahead of you? When can you expect them? How to recognize them and, above all, how to survive them? In this post, we discuss in detail the calendar of developmental leaps for newborns, infants, and 2- and 3-year-olds. Read it, and your child’s developmental stages won't seem so scary!
What are developmental stages in children?
These are phases of development during which a child acquires specific skills. The process of maturation of a child's brain happens in leaps, not linearly, and these stages culminate in so-called developmental leaps. The symptoms of these leaps often make for a few very difficult days, but afterwards, the little one suddenly does something new – focuses their gaze, points with a finger, babbles. It looks as if the child has undergone a "system update." Developmental stages occur in most infants around the same time. Knowing what developmental leaps in children are allows you to better support your little ones during these challenging periods. The most activity happens in the first year, but developmental leaps also await two- and three-year-olds.
How to recognize the individual developmental stages of children?
The spectacular appearance of new skills from one day to the next comes at a price — and you have likely already experienced this. Developmental stages are a time of intensive expansion of the nervous system, which can significantly disrupt a little one's well-being. Usually, it is precisely the symptoms of a developmental leap that are the signal that something is happening. Once you rule out colic, infection, or teething, you are left with exactly that: developmental leaps. Symptoms typically preceding a developmental leap include:
- bad mood;
- irritability and more crying than usual;
- inability to be put down, "clinginess";
- changed appetite (more or less);
- fussing at the breast or bottle;
- worse sleep and more frequent night wakings.
Developmental leaps vs. milestones
Before we move on to specific leaps, it is worth distinguishing them from milestones. These terms are sometimes confused, yet they mean something completely different.
Developmental leaps
Developmental leaps refer to changes in the brain mainly related to the child's neurological development. They primarily concern stimulus processing and the way of thinking. They are often difficult to capture and are only noticed through changes in the child's behavior, not necessarily through new motor skills.
Milestones
These are concrete, observable skills such as sitting up, crawling, saying the first words, or walking. A child reaches them within specific age ranges. Unlike developmental leaps, milestones are easy to notice, and pediatricians use them to assess whether a child's development is progressing correctly.
Developmental leaps in the first year of a child's life
The most intensive development occurs in the first year of a child's life. This is when the calendar of developmental leaps is the longest: you have as many as 7 developmental stages and as many as 60 – 80 skills to master. When should you expect developmental leaps in your child?
Newborn developmental leaps
A child goes through the first developmental stage while still a newborn, around the 4th week of life. It is after this that you will notice the long-awaited first smile. After the first developmental leap, the newborn will start to digest food better, will be active for longer between naps, and while lying on their tummy, will be able to lift their head slightly for a few seconds.
At this developmental stage, the newborn reacts more to their surroundings: they notice their parents' faces, focus their gaze on toys, and are intrigued by the objects and lights around them. However, the amount of stimuli can overwhelm the child and cause fussiness. This is a moment when it is worth introducing contrast boards into playtime. They will not only help interest the child but are also great exercise for little eyes.
Leap #1 (4-5 weeks/1 month) – "The senses awaken"
After the 1st leap, you will see:
- conscious reactions to light, sounds, and smells;
- less spitting up of food;
- more attentive gaze;
- greater activity between naps;
- lifting the head for a few seconds while lying on the tummy;
- greater fussiness.
Developmental leaps in infants (first year)
After the first developmental leap, the newborn becomes an infant, with 6 more developmental stages to come. After each one, parents will notice new skills in the child.
Leap #2 (8 weeks/2 months) – "I recognize patterns"
The little one starts to realize that the day has some kind of schedule. Their hands and feet move wildly, but they still lack coordination. The head is no longer as heavy – it can even be lifted and turned. Eyes follow people and toys like a radar, and hands finally try to grab something. Additionally, the fencer position (ATNR) appears: one of the child's arms is extended to the side, and the other lies close to their head. It is important for the infant to perform this position on both sides.
After the 2nd leap, you will see:
- noticing the rhythm of the day;
- more movement;
- lifting and turning the head while lying on the tummy;
- greater focus of the gaze on faces and objects;
- Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR, "fencer");
- grabbing objects.
Leap #3 (10-12 weeks/3 months) – "Look at those moves!"
The third developmental leap is the stage where the infant establishes better contact with their own body and the world – literally. Hands start to grab toys, and the little one can also focus their gaze on something specific and follow it with their eyes. When lying on their back, nice symmetry appears, and when lying on the tummy – mini push-ups on the forearms. And vocal training begins in infant style: cooing, babbling.
After the 3rd leap, you will see:
- greater interest in details;
- tracking with eyes while following a toy;
- more coordinated movements;
- grabbing toys;
- joining hands at the midline of the body;
- body symmetry when lying on the back;
- supporting on forearms;
- cooing/babbling.
Leap #4 (18-20 weeks/5 months) – "I predict events"
The fourth developmental leap is the one that keeps many parents awake at night. Literally. At this developmental stage, little ones often have sleep problems. The developmental leap and the so-called 4-month sleep regression overlap, caused by natural changes in the child's sleep cycle.
Added to this is progress in motor development – a cause of great frustration for the little one: they see that they can do something, but physically it still doesn't work out for them. Emotionally, the infant also reaches a higher level. They start to understand that something happens after something else, move toys from hand to hand, roll over, and do the "swimmer" on their tummy — a precursor to crawling. Babbling becomes more intense, and the child also starts to show their "no," e.g., by pushing the bottle away when full.
After the 4th leap, you will see:
- understanding simple sequences of events;
- development of babbling — simple strings of sounds;
- supporting on forearms while reaching for a toy;
- rolling from back to sides and onto the stomach;
- "swimming in the air";
- passing objects from hand to hand;
- expressing preferences;
- possible separation anxiety.
Leap #5 (22-26 weeks/approx. 6 months) – „I get where everything is!”
Next developmental stage: the infant crawls, rolls in both directions, makes rotations like clock hands, and may even be able to sit up independently. They also start to figure things out: they notice that things are closer or further away, that toys can be hidden in a box, and that their body also has a specific position in the world. Separation anxiety makes itself felt, so you can expect difficult emotions when you disappear from the little one's field of vision. This developmental stage is a good time for many children to start expanding their diet.
After the 5th leap, you will see:
- noticing the distance between objects;
- awareness of their own body's position in space;
- separation anxiety;
- rolling from back to stomach and vice versa;
- crawling, performing rotations around the axis (pivots);
- sitting up independently;
- manipulating toys, putting them into and taking them out of containers.
Leap #6 (36–40 weeks/approx. 8.5 months) – "Animals to the left, veggies to the right..."
At this developmental stage, the child begins to understand categories – they know that a teddy bear is a toy, a banana is food, and a sweater is clothing. They also practice the pincer grasp, so everything lands between their fingers – the index finger and thumb (a good time for a sorter!). When something disappears from the little one's field of vision, they are no longer fooled – they search! They react to their name, make faces at the mirror, get jealous of other children for your attention, and enthusiastically tear down everything you build. Stuffed animals gain the status of soft buddies, and initiative in play? Oh, now he/she is in charge!
After the 6th leap, you will see:
- knowledge of categories;
- pincer grasp;
- looking for objects;
- desire to tear down block constructions;
- reaction to their own name;
- gesturing, sense of humor, but also jealousy;
- play in front of the mirror;
- standing up by furniture;
- hugging stuffed animals;
- showing initiative in play.
Leap #7 (41-46 weeks/approx. 11 months) – "Repetitiveness – I like that!"
Further pursuit of independence and an increasing love for daily patterns – this is the seventh developmental leap. The infant better understands the sequence of events, e.g., that putting on shoes means leaving the house. They point more often to what interests them, they also start to repeat syllables, they try to imitate animal sounds, and even use simple words, e.g., "no," "mama," "yum-yum."
They develop motorically – walking sideways along furniture, climbing up, and coming down backward from the sofa. The need for independence and attempts at imitation also grow – from simple games to everyday activities. After the seventh developmental leap, the desire to tear down gives way to the need to create. Simple games slowly go out of style because the little one starts to get interested in more complex entertainment, such as stacking blocks or simple, two-piece puzzles.
After the 7th leap, you will see:
- awareness of the sequence of events;
- pointing with a finger;
- using simple words;
- walking sideways along furniture;
- climbing up and coming down backward from a raised surface;
- attempts to imitate your activities;
- a greater need for independence;
- building with blocks.
Developmental leaps in the first year are behind us — what next?
In the 2nd and 3rd year of life, the toddler goes through subsequent developmental stages. They still introduce important skills, but they are less spectacular, occur more slowly, and appear less frequently than developmental leaps in infants. However, the symptoms of a developmental leap can still be the same.
The developmental leap calendar is no longer as intense as in the first months of life. Developmental leaps after a year are also not as precisely defined as the first 7 stages of a toddler's development, and instead of entirely new skills, we can rather observe the development of what the child is already capable of. It is also worth noting that at this stage, skill development is also influenced by the parents' approach, contact with peers, screen time, and the child's own temperament.
Developmental leaps in the second year of life
The second year of life is a time of the great "I want!" – also known as the terrible twos. The toddler understands what you are saying better and better and communicates more boldly what they want. They willingly test boundaries, imitate adults, and enthusiastically "help" with household chores. We only have developmental leaps in the third year of life left.
Developmental leaps in the second year of life occur around the 15th, 18th, and 21st-24th month of life.
Most important changes:
- combining words (e.g., "mama yum");
- naming close people;
- imitating adults;
- better reactions to simple commands;
- intensive vocabulary growth;
- understanding cause and effect;
- communicating needs;
- a strong need for independence;
- performing activities in a simple sequence;
- a stronger sense of separateness;
- testing boundaries.
Developmental leaps in the third year of life
A three-year-old is no longer an infant – they use sentences much more often and have a comment for everything. "Pretend" play leads the way – cooking with blocks, talking to a teddy bear, scenes from life. They run smoothly, jump, can throw a ball, and even get dressed. It is no wonder they want to decide everything. And you? You can barely keep up with them.
We expect developmental leaps in the third year of life around the 24th-27th, 30th, and 33rd-36th month of life.
Most important changes:
- the child knows the rules but doesn't always follow them;
- recognizing basic emotions;
- understanding the concept of time (yesterday, tomorrow);
- using pronouns: "I," "you," "mine";
- telling simple stories;
- creating entire play scenarios;
Developmental leaps in children — how to survive them?
Developmental leaps can be exhausting, but remember – they pass. It is not a match of "parents vs. infant," but rather your entire family standing side by side facing a more difficult moment. But how to survive it? Grit your teeth and wait for it to end? Pretend nothing is happening? Developmental leaps in children are an emergency state in which it is best to act smartly: don't let yourself go crazy, but adjust to the situation as your resources allow. And that is why it is worth knowing when developmental leaps occur. The calendar of these changes will help you prepare better, catch your breath, and approach the topic with more calm – in SMART mode.
During this time, save your energy – not everything has to be perfect. Do as much as is necessary, and focus on the child. Contact naps or babywearing can save you. Also, involve anyone you can to help: a grandfather, aunt, friends, maybe a friendly neighbor?
Stick to daily rituals – they give children a sense of security. And practice new skills together with the little one – support, show, allow them to try. Even if some frustration appears along the way – that is also part of development.
Some children have a hard time going through developmental leaps. However, symptoms can be alleviated with a large dose of closeness. A contact nap or rocking will be just right. Especially rhythmic rocking very effectively reduces the level of tension in children and restores a sense of security. A hanging cradle or, for an older child, a swing can be helpful. Soothing nerves is not the only reason why it is worth investing in a swing. If you want to learn more, we recommend the post "Rocking as a tool for emotional regulation in young children" by pedagogue and psychologist Angelika Rudszewska.
To better survive a developmental leap in a child:
- use pre-made solutions;
- order groceries or shop close to home;
- maintain a routine;
- involve family to help;
- avoid crowds and strange places;
- practice new skills;
- take care of natural ways of regulation, such as rocking;
- rest whenever possible.
Developmental leaps in infants and children — a summary
A developmental leap calendar can be overwhelming, especially in a baby's first year. But let us reassure you right away: you don't need to diligently check off every new skill, and there’s no point in living from one leap to the next – truly. Watching for them with anxiety and counting down the days only increases your stress, and that’s not the point. Children develop at their own pace; some changes may come later, be less visible, or proceed more gently.
It is worth knowing about the existence of so-called developmental windows – these are broader time frames in which a child has the opportunity to master a given skill. These frames do not always coincide with the dates of developmental leaps. Therefore, instead of tracking every week with a calendar in hand, it is better to look at whether the child is reaching subsequent milestones. And if something causes you concern, talk to your pediatrician, your physiotherapist, or a speech therapist. It is always better to check than to guess.