Sleep Consultant Course of Study

Course name: Growth Spurts and Developmental Leaps

Course code: IMS431

Course description

This course covers how growth spurts and developmental leaps affect a child’s sleep from birth to 24 months. Students will learn when growth spurts and mental leaps happen and how they differ from each other. The course also introduces the “Wonder Weeks” theory, a popular but controversial topic. Some studies support the theory, while others question its validity. Understanding these ideas will help students answer parents’ questions about these topics.

Course objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain what baby growth spurts are and when they happen.
• Describe mental leaps and how they affect sleep.
• Discuss the Wonder Weeks theory.
• Understand the difference between growth spurts and mental leaps.
• Know the timing of key developmental leaps from birth to 24 months.
• Help parents understand how growth spurts and mental leaps may disrupt sleep.

Course content:

In this course students have the opportunity to learn about growth spurts, developmental leaps and how they affect child sleep - from birth to 24 months.

• What Are Baby Growth Spurts?
• When Do Babies Have Growth Spurts?
• What Is a Mental Leap?
• When Do Babies Have Mental Leaps?
• What Is the Difference Between a Growth Spurt and a Mental Leap?
• 1st Leap: Week 5
• 2nd Leap: Week 8
• 3rd Leap: Week 12
• 4th Leap: Week 19
• 5th Leap: Week 26
• 6th Leap: Week 37
• 7th Leap: Week 46
• 8th Leap: Week 55
• 9th Leap: Week 64
• 10th Leap: Week 70

Assessment: 

• 1 final test

Grading System:

Pass/Fail based on performance in the final test.

Prerequisites:

No prior knowledge is mandatory, though a basic understanding of child development and family dynamics is recommended.

Plooij, X., Plooij, F. X., & Van De Rijt, H. (2019). The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-FRee Guide to Your Baby’s Behavior (6th Edition). The Countryman Press. [Book]

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de Weerth, C., & van Geert, P. (2011). Emotional instability as an indicator of strictly timed infantile developmental transitions. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 16(Pt 1), 15–44. [BJDP]

Van De Rijt-Plooij, H. H. C., & Plooij, F. X. (1992). Infantile regressions: Disorganization and the onset of transition periods. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 10(3), 129–149. [Taylor&Francis]

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Johnson CP, Blasco PA. Infant growth and development. Pediatr Rev. 1997 Jul;18(7):224-42. [AAP]

Lampl M, Johnson ML. Infant growth in length follows prolonged sleep and increased naps. Sleep. 2011 May 1;34(5):641-50. doi: 10.1093/sleep/34.5.641. PMID: 21532958; PMCID: PMC3079944. [PubMed]

Lejarraga, H. (2002). Growth in infancy and childhood: A pediatric approach. Human growth and development, 2.

Sears, W., Sears, M., Sears, R., & Sears, J. (2013). The baby book: Everything you need to know about your baby from birth to age two. Little, Brown.

La Leche League International. (2010). The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Ballantine Books.