What Is The Leap 6 In Babies?

Your baby is growing, learning new tricks, but suddenly you see some developmental regression? Your baby who could do certain things for you is now not willing to let you go, even for a few minutes. Should this be a matter of concern? The science does not think so!

This is called Mental Leap 6. What exactly is this? Let's figure it out:

This starts around the 37th week, when the cognitive and emotional abilities develop and is progressing rapidly. This is the time when your baby is around 9 to 10 months old and is learning more skills, and the attitudes resemble those of toddler.

However, during this time, your kids emotions also come to play, and they really have no limit. There might be mood swings, jealousy, or your baby reveling against things which were otherwise smooth.

Here is what can you expect during the sixth leap

Your baby here goes through intensive cognitive and emotional development and to your baby, suddenly, a lot of things start to make sense. At this age, they will be able to categories, for instance, they would be able to tell that dogs, horses, and birds are different, but they all belong to the category of animals. Same goes for fruits, vegetables, and breads, that they are edible, when though they look different.

This is also the phase when your baby could feel jealous, when he or she sees your playing with another child, or giving attention to another baby.

What are the signs of Leap 6?

This period, since the baby is experiencing a lot of things for the first time, may increase the crying and clinging tendency of your baby. Which is why your baby needs you more than ever. The signs of leap 6 are:

Nightmares

Your baby might scream during the night or whimper in their sleep.

Developmental Regression

Some babies also experience development regression, like not being able to stay put for a few minutes without their caregivers. However, there is nothing to get worried, it only happens because they are feeling overwhelmed by these changes.

Jealousy

At this phase, emotions are easily triggered. This is because your baby is also learning about this new expressions, and does not know how to balance them.

How long does it last?

The leap 6 lasts between 3 to 6 weeks and thus makes it one of the longer leaps. This happens to all babies, though the signs and symptoms may vary. This could be a challenging period for the parents, however, it is important to deal with this phase with patience.

However, this is also the phase when you see your little one is able to stack rings and other items, explore different shapes and material, how they feel. So, even if some of it is rough, it will pass!

Does it affect sleep?

Yes, it does. This is when your baby sleeps less than before. They might have trouble sleeping, or take longer time to fall asleep. They could also experience night walking, and wake earlier in the morning. They could also either take shorter naps or boycott naps altogether.

Here are some tips to help you get through Leap 6:

• Keep your baby on age-appropriate schedule with a flexible bedtime
• Transition your baby from 3 nap to 2 nap cycle, so your baby can sleep well at night
• Provide extra comfort, ask questions to your baby to ensure your baby can talk to things to you