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The Wonder Weeks

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The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behavior is a popular book "intended as a general information resource about how babies behave at various points during the normal development process, and why they behave that way"[1] by physical anthropologist Hetty van de Rijt and ethologist and developmental psychologist Frans Plooij. It is based on ethological studies of mothers and infants in many species.[2][3][4] After the death of the first author in 2003,[5] their daughter Xaviera Plas-Plooij joined her father in revising and updating recent editions with new research, including a chapter on sleep.[6] Supporting products from the publisher include a mobile app.[7]

Basis

The book is based primarily on ethological studies of mothers and infants in many species as well as humans,[8][3] correlated with evidence from developmental studies of the brain[9] and from Perceptual Control Theory, which includes a Hebbian mechanism for development and learning, called reorganization (also proposed by Ashby),[10] which predicts and accounts for this pattern of development.[11][12][13]

A technical report of the Plooijs' first controlled replication of these ethological findings in humans, involving 15 Dutch mothers and their infants with extrinsic sources of stress carefully controlled, was published in the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology in 1992,[14] the same year as the first publication of this book for the general public.[15]

Claims

On the basis of this research, and the observation of "predictable regression periods" in many species including humans, the book describes 10 predictable 'leaps' observed in a child's cognitive development during the first 20 months, with 8 in the first year, counting from the due date because development begins with conception.[16] This is a period of tremendous growth in the brain. The brain reaches half its adult size within the first three months after birth.[17] Brain volume is about 35% of adult volume 2–3 weeks after birth, doubles from term size in the first year of life and increases an additional 15% in the second to about 80% of adult size.[18]

These 'leaps' 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.[1]

Plooij's initial study was based on a survey of the mothers of 15 babies showing periods of greater and lesser fussiness.[14][19] 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.[20][19] A third study, with 18 babies, also found an effect on fussiness, but again based on maternal report.[21][22][19] None of the studies show evidence that the periods of fussiness are related to changes in cognitive development, a key component of the theory.[19]

Controversy

Publication of these new results entered into a scientific controversy of many decades as to whether the early childhood development process is gradual or punctuated by distinct advances.[23] The Plooijs brought new ethological evidence for intrinsically timed stages of development into this old controversy. A more specific controversy arose in scientific journals in 1998 from an unsuccessful attempt to replicate the Plooijs' first human study of 1992.[24][25][26]

Plooij obtained state funding for a year to oversee an independent replication. With this funding he obtained a one-year, one day a week position as a "Professor by special appointment" (Dutch: bijzonder hoogleraar) at his alma mater, the University of Groningen.[27] He engaged Carolina de Weerth, a PhD student of Paul van Geert.[28] At the conclusion of her research, when she presented her methods and results, he objected that three of the four mothers that she recruited did not meet the stated criteria for a replication because their circumstances and behavior introduced extrinsic sources of stress for the infant which made it difficult to discern distress specifically at times of new developments.[24][26][29][30]

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,[20][31] though this might be due to inadequate sample size.[19] According de Weerth, Frans X Plooij tried to pressure her into not publishing the study.[31][32][19] Plooij disputes this account.[19] The controversy that ensued led to Plooij's departure from academia.[31][33][34]

References

  1. ^ a b Rijt, Hetty van de; Plooij, Frans X.; Plas-Plooij, Xaviera (2019). The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behavior. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN 978-94-91882-16-6.
  2. ^ "Before our research, such regression phases had been found by others in 12 other primate species and two lower mammalian species, indicating that this appears to be an old phenomenon, perhaps emerging during the very evolution of life on earth" ("Introduction" (by F.X. Plooij), The Wonder Weeks p. 15).
  3. ^ a b Horwich, Robert H. (1974). ""Regressive Periods in Primate Behavioral Development with Reference to Other Mammals"". Primates. 15 (2–3): 141–149. doi:10.1007/BF01742277. S2CID 6922407. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  4. ^ Xaveira Plas-Plooij: Shilton, Emma (2014-05-15). "An interview with Xaviera Plas Plooij". Hello Mrs. Shilts. Retrieved 2024-02-26. The research was carried out by my parents and to be honest they weren't looking for it. It was open research based on observations of Mums and babies in their natural habitats. Over time we noticed that there were peaks where babies would change. We noticed that there were a lot of similarities in their development resulting in different behaviours than what parents were used to before. The research showed we could predict when parents could expect their babies to behave differently and go through a phase." […] The research stopped at 20 months as this is when we realised that by then parents are able to decipher when their children are going through leaps. As children grow older into teenagers and young adults, there [are] 3 or 4 much bigger leaps such as puberty and further on the 'mid-life crisis'. The research would be enormous if we studied all of those so it was best to concentrate on the first 20 months when parents need help making informed choices and information on how their children are developing.
  5. ^ Rojas-Rocha, Xochitl (2014-08-22). "Gombe chimpanzee calls available after 40-year wait". Science News. No. 22579. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  6. ^ Verhoeven, Eymeke (2018-03-07). "Je kind loopt nog niet? Maakt niet uit" [Your child isn't walking yet? It doesn't matter]. Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  7. ^ "The Wonder Weeks App". The Wonder Weeks. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  8. ^ "Before our research, such regression phases had been found by others in 12 other primate species and two lower mammalian species, indicating that this appears to be an old phenomenon, perhaps emerging during the very evolution of life on earth" ("Introduction" (by F.X. Plooij), ibid. p. 15).
  9. ^ Trevarthen, C.; Aitken, K. (2003). "Regulation of Brain Development and Age-Related Changes in Infants' Motives: The Developmental Function of Regressive Periods". In Heimann, Mikael (ed.). Regression periods in human infancy. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. pp. 107–184. ISBN 0-8058-4098-2.
  10. ^ Ashby, W. Ross (1960). Design for a Brain: The origin of adaptive behavior. New York: Wiley.
  11. ^ Plooij, F. X.; Rijt-Plooij, H. H. C. van de (1990). "Developmental transitions as successive reorganizations of a control hierarchy". American Behavioral Scientist. 34 (1): 67–80. doi:10.1177/0002764290034001007. S2CID 144183592.
  12. ^ Mansell, Warren (2020). "Ten vital elements of perceptual control theory, tracing the pathway from implicit influence to scientific advance". In Mansell, Warren (ed.). The Interdisciplinary Handbook of Perceptual Control Theory: Living Control Systems IV. London: Academic Press. p. 589. ISBN 978-0-12-818948-1.
  13. ^ Plooij, Frans X. (2020). "The phylogeny, ontogeny, causation and function of regression periods explained by reorganizations of the hierarchy of perceptual control systems". In Mansell, Warren (ed.). The Interdisciplinary Handbook of Perceptual Control Theory: Living Control Systems IV. London: Academic Press. pp. 199–225. ISBN 978-0-12-818948-1.
  14. ^ a b 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.
  15. ^ Oei, ik groei! (literal translation: Ai, I'm growing!) was published in 1992 by Zomer & Keuning Boeken BV, Ede and Antwerp.
  16. ^ The Wonder Weeks (2017 ed.) p. 23.
  17. ^ Holland, D.; Chang, L.; Ernst, T.M.; et al. (2024-10-01). "Structural Growth Trajectories and Rates of Change in the First 3 Months of Infant Brain Development". JAMA Neurol. 71 (10): 1266–1274. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.1638.
  18. ^ Gilmore, J.H.; Knickmeyer, R.C.; Gao, W. (2018-02-16). "Imaging structural and functional brain development in early childhood". Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 19 (3): 123–137. doi:10.1038/nrn.2018.1.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g 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.
  20. ^ a b 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Kalverboer, L. (1998). "Ontwikkelingssprongen in het duister: Over transities in de ontwikkeling" [Developmental leaps in the dark: On transitions in development]. Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 10 (3): 36–42. doi:10.1007/BF03070912. Verloopt het vroegkinderlijke ontwikkelingsproces geleidelijk of sprongsgewijs? Deze vraag houdt onderzoekers bezig sinds het begin van deze eeuw, toen de systematische studie van de ontwikkeling van het kind begon. [Is the early childhood development process gradual or in leaps? This question has preoccupied researchers since the beginning of this century, when the systematic study of child development began.]
  24. ^ a b Plooij, F. X. (1998). "Hersenveranderingen en 'sprongen' in de eerste 20 levensmaanden en de invloed van de context op gedragsmaten van regressieperioden" [Brain changes and 'leaps' in the first 20 months of life and the influence of context on behavioral measures of regression periods]. Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 10 (3): 63–66. doi:10.1017/S0924270800036590. PMID 26971739.;
  25. ^ Geert, P. v.; Weerth, C. d. (1998). "Empirische indicatoren voor regressies en sprongen bij baby's" [Empirical indicators of regressions and leaps in infants]. Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 10 (3): 67–73. doi:10.1017/S0924270800036607. PMID 26971740.
  26. ^ a b Plooij, F. X. (1998). "Repliek op 'Empirische indicatoren voor regressies en sprongen bij baby's'" [Reply to 'Empirical indicators of regressions and leaps in infants']. Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 10 (3): 74–77. doi:10.1017/S0924270800036619. PMID 26971741.
  27. ^ Kreulen, Edwin (2024-08-18). "En-plooij, hij springt verder" [And Plooij, he jumps further]. Trouw. Retrieved 2024-02-25. Plooij, appointed as a special professor at the University of Groningen for one day a week, hired a PhD student who should substantiate the theory.
  28. ^ Kok, Annemarie (1997-11-19). "'Oei, ik groei!' leidt tot bittere ruzie van wetenschappers" ['Ouch, I'm growing!' leads to bitter arguments among scientists]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-02-26. Volgens hoogleraar P. van Geert, die onderzoekster De Weerth de laatste jaren heeft begeleid, is het boek enerzijds gebaseerd op bestaande, betrouwbare ontwikkelingspsychologische kennis. [According to Professor P. van Geert, who has guided researcher De Weerth in recent years, the book is based on existing, reliable developmental psychological knowledge.]
  29. ^ Plooij, F. X.; Rijt-Plooij, H. H. C. van de (2003), "The effects of sources of "noise" on direct observation measures of regression periods: Case studies of four infants' adaptations to special parental conditions.", in Heimann, M. (ed.), Regression periods in human infancy, Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, pp. 57–80, ISBN 978-0-8058-4098-8
  30. ^ Woolmore, A.; Richer, J. (2003). "Detecting infant regression periods: weak signals in a noisy environment". In Heimann, M. (ed.). Regression periods in human infancy. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. pp. 23–39. ISBN 978-0-8058-4098-8.
  31. ^ a b c Kok, Annemarie (1997-11-19). "'Oei, ik groei!' leidt tot bittere ruzie van wetenschappers". Trouw. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  32. ^ "'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
  33. ^ Dirks, Bart (January 13, 1997). "Hoogleraar woedend over weerlegging theorie". Algemeen Dagblad (AD). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  34. ^ 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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