Wonder Weeks Leap 1

The world has sensations now.

Why your newborn suddenly seems unsettled (and what’s actually happening in their brain)

Around week 5 (based on your baby’s due date), your baby enters Leap 1 aka the leap of sensations.

If birth was the moment they entered the world, this leap is when they start to notice it.

Light, sound, touch, movement, temperature - everything feels dialled up.

They might cling more, cry more, or need extra help falling asleep too.

You're not doing anything wrong, it's simply that their brain is changing fast, and they're trying to keep up.

The science: What’s changing in your baby’s brain

Leap 1 marks the beginning of sensory awareness.

According to The Wonder Weeks, and supported by research from places like the Harvard Centre on the Developing Child, your baby’s brain is building its first understanding of the world through sensation.

Their visual cortex is sharpening. They're learning that sound has a source. That movement brings comfort. That when they cry, you come.

In brain terms, this is called serve and return; the back-and-forth interaction between baby and caregiver that wires the brain for attention, regulation, and connection.

So if they seem more clingy or sensitive lately? That’s connection, not clinginess.

What this means for your baby

You might notice:

• Startled responses to loud sounds or sudden movement

• Shorter naps and longer feeds (more comfort-seeking)

• More “witching hour” fussiness in the evenings

• Sudden need to be held or rocked for every sleep

• Shorter wake windows - they tire quickly from sensory input

• Increased eye contact or face-tracking

It might feel like they’ve “woken up” and in many ways, they have.

Why Leap 1 feels intense for parents

Because your newborn just got louder.

More crying. More feeding. More holding. More needing… you.

This leap can sneak up on you especially if those first few weeks felt sleepy and smooth.

Suddenly, your baby doesn’t nap in the bassinet. They cry when you put them down. They won’t fall asleep unless they’re on you, and everything feels harder than it did a week ago.

You’re not losing your touch.

They’re gaining awareness.

How to support them through Leap 1

This is not a leap that needs “fixing.” It needs soothing.

What helps:

• Skin-to-skin contact

• Movement (rocking, walking, gentle bouncing)

• Feeding more often (for comfort as well as nutrition)

• Dimming lights and reducing stimulation in the evenings

• Predictable wind-down before sleep, even if short

You can’t overstimulate with love, but you can help them filter the world by slowing it down.

Sleep during Leap 1: What changes (and what helps)

You might see:

• More catnaps

• Baby sleeping best on you

• Less tolerance for being swaddled or laid flat

• Longer evening fuss sessions before bed

What helps:

• Holding them upright longer after feeds

• Safe baby-wearing for contact naps

• Using movement and white noise

• Creating a flexible rhythm, not a strict schedule

Sleep is still immature at this age so expect short stretches and lots of support. That’s normal.

What NOT to worry about

✅ Needing to hold or feed to sleep

✅ Only napping in arms

✅ Evening crying

✅ Extra wake-ups overnight

✅ Preferring motion (pram, carrier, car)

All of this is typical for a baby whose brain is just beginning to make sense of the world.

Common myths during Leap 1

Myth: “You’ll spoil them if you hold them too much.”

Truth: You’re wiring their brain for safety and trust. Hold them. They need it.

Myth: “They should self-settle by now.”

Truth: Self-settling is a skill that comes later. Right now, co-regulation is the goal.

If you could ask an expert one thing…

“How do I know what’s a normal cry and what’s not?”

👉 Ask Yawn.

It takes your baby’s age, temperament, and patterns into account to help you respond with confidence not confusion.