Wonder Weeks Leap 5

Welcome to the world of relationships

Why your baby suddenly wants you, and only you, and what’s really going on in their brain.

Around week 26, give or take a little (it's based on their due date not birth date...), your baby enters Leap 5 and things can feel a little intense. You might notice more clinginess, sleep disruptions, or crying when you leave the room. It’s not just separation anxiety, it’s a huge shift in how they understand the world.

So let’s break it down scientifically, but simply.

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

During Leap 5, your baby begins to perceive relationships between objects and people. In developmental science terms, this is the emergence of object permanence which is the idea that things exist even when they can’t see them. It also overlaps with what’s known as relational thinking: understanding that things relate to each other in space, time, and cause-and-effect.

This leap is a major milestone in cognitive development, and is linked to changes in neural connectivity between the parietal and frontal lobes of the brain, areas responsible for spatial awareness, memory, and planning.

According to the Harvard Centre on the Developing Child, early brain development is shaped by both biology and experience, and in Leap 5, your baby’s brain is wiring fast and furiously to make sense of complex experiences.

What this means for your baby

• They might cry when you leave the room, even if they were happy without you last week. They now understand you're gone.

• They could be fascinated by dropping things (and watching you pick them up).

• You may notice a new obsession with opening and closing - hands, doors, containers.

• They might want to be in your arms all the time - even if they were once fine with anyone.

• They could start struggling with sleep, especially if they’re suddenly more aware of your absence at bedtime.

These aren’t “bad habits”, they’re signs of growing awareness and complexity in your baby’s mind.

Why this leap feels so big (especially for parents)

With greater awareness comes greater vulnerability. Your baby is now aware of change, distance, and the idea that things - and people - can go away. That’s a lot to process. And because their emotional regulation system (the limbic system and prefrontal cortex) is still very immature, they feel things deeply but can’t yet calm themselves. Bless.

So they look to you. You're not just comfort - you're co-regulation.

How to support them through Leap 5

Here’s what helps - no sleep training (if you really want to do it, just wait till the Leap passes), rigid routines, or expert perfection required:

💛 Name what’s happening: “You miss me when I go away. I always come back.”

This builds emotional literacy and trust.

👀 Play peekaboo: It’s not just a game - it’s brain-building. It reinforces object permanence and emotional safety.

🏗️ Offer predictable rhythms: Familiar nap cues, consistent mealtimes, and loving routines help them feel secure.

💬 Talk through transitions: Narrating “We’re going to the car now” helps them build a mental map of the day.

🤱 Hold them more, not less: This is the time to lean in - they’re not manipulating you. They’re learning how relationships work.

Errr.... what’s NOT a problem this month

Needing to be held more ✔️

Catnapping again ✔️

Regressing in independent sleep ✔️

Waking after one sleep cycle ✔️

Refusing anyone but you ✔️

All totally normal. Not broken. Just human.

Sleep during Leap 5: What helps and what to watch for

Leap 5 often throws sleep off track - but not forever. Babies are more alert, more attached, and more likely to protest changes right now. It’s not a regression, it’s a recalibration.

Here’s how to support sleep without creating tricky sleep associations or overhauling everything mid-leap.

What to do

🕒 Stick to sweet spots

Watch your baby’s wake windows, around 2.5 to 3 hours at this age. Use this formula:

Last wake-up time + wake window = ideal next sleep time Set a timer to go off 15 minutes before that time so you can start winding them down before overtiredness hits.

Use simple wind-down cues

Dim lights, white noise, gentle rocking, nappy change, and a short phrase like “Time for sleep now” - consistent, short signals tell their brain what’s coming.

Make the environment do the work

Darken the room (especially for naps, aim for cave-dark), keep it quiet, and use familiar sleep aids like white noise or a comforter (if safe and age-appropriate).

Practice “pause, don’t pounce”

If they wake briefly or stir, give them a moment before responding. They’re learning how sleep cycles work - and sometimes they will resettle. Literally set a timer once you hear them stir. I used to wait up to 10mins and be outside the door, hand on the handle and bam - silence, they'd fallen asleep again. Think of it like if you stir overnight. If your partner started a conversation or turned on the lights, you'd wake up. If all stays dark and quiet, you'd drift back off.

Expect more contact, not less

This leap is about connection. It’s okay to support them more during this phase, just be mindful not to introduce sleep crutches you’ll want to change later (e.g., bouncing to sleep every time unless that’s your long-term plan).

What not to worry about

✖️ Feeding or rocking to sleep occasionally

✖️ Needing more contact naps

✖️ Waking more often at night

✖️ Resisting day naps even when tired

These are normal during big leaps, not permanent patterns. If it’s working for now and feels okay for you, there's nothing wrong.

If you're building independent sleep skills

• Choose one nap or bedtime to practice putting them down drowsy but awake.

• Use gentle verbal reassurance (“You’re safe, it’s sleepy time”) instead of picking up straight away.

• Repeat the same words and actions each time - predictability builds trust (it's also why bedtime routines work so well).

• If tears rise, respond - but you may try to pause first, then comfort with voice or gentle touch before picking up.

  
  

Leap 5 is temporary and the learning is lasting. Focus on connection and consistency where you can. You’re building sleep habits that serve you both, one bedtime at a time.

Common myths during Leap 5

Myth: “They’re just being clingy.”

Truth: Clinginess is communication - it’s how babies express emotional needs during cognitive leaps.

Myth: “You’ll create bad habits by picking them up.”

Truth: Responsive care teaches your baby how to trust - not just you, but the world. That’s never a bad habit. It's literally science.

Wonder Weeks meets real life

Developmental leaps don’t always follow the calendar, and not every baby reacts the same way. Leap 5 might hit hard for some, and feel like a blip for others. What matters most is meeting your baby where they are, not rushing them through it (can't be done, anyway as it's biological).

Their brain is doing incredible work right now - making sense of space, distance, and connection. And you? You’re their safe base while they explore it all.

If you could ask an expert one thing…

"How can I tell if my baby’s sleep changes are developmental or if we’ve gone backwards?"

👉 Ask Yawn. We’ll help you personalise the how, based on your baby’s age, temperament, and your parenting style.