Just about all the important things that modern science suggests when it comes to helping your baby's brain develop have been practiced by parents for millennia. Now as ever, these steps are important:
Sing to your baby. Babies and toddlers love rhyme almost as much as they love the soothing sound of your voice.
Talk to your baby. Even when your baby is tiny, talk to her as if she already understands what you're saying. Use gestures, body language and tone of voice to keep her attention and dramatize your message.
Imitate your baby. When she makes those first experimental sounds, make them back to her. Your baby will feel how important she is to you, and get excited by the effort of language.
When Your Baby ArrivesWelcoming a newborn baby into the family is always a joyful occasion especially for first-time parents. The nine months of waiting has finally come to an end. How heart-warming it is to hear that first cry. Your baby has arrived! When its time to bring your newborn baby home, the excitement continues from the hospital to your home. Relatives and friends come over to adore your newborn. What an exciting time! Soon the initial excitement subsides and reality strikes! Its time to think about providing the best baby care you can for your newborn. There are so many things that need to be done. And, ..
Play "where's the?" games. Ask your baby, "Where's your toes?" "Find" her toes and touch them, then switch the playing field to her fingers or nose.
Touch your baby. Whenever possible, hold your baby in your lap and cuddle her while you talk or sing to her. Even when she's much older, she'll still associate the warmth and coziness of this early experience with language.
Start out with books. Even as early as six weeks of age, you can start introducing books to your baby. Pick bright, tactile books with clear pictures of things your baby might recognize, like puppies or cribs. Sturdy books they can touch or pet are ideal; look for classic "touch-and-feel" titles like Baby Animal Kisses or Pat the Bunny. The classic fabric "Quiet Book," with its embroideries, braids, buckles and buttons, is an unbeatable way to interest a slightly older baby. Cuddle your baby in your lap and read for short periods of time, so it never becomes arduous for either you or her.
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Baby Food: Healthy Choices You Make That Matter To Baby
Once your baby is past 6 months old, milk alone is just not enough. Your baby needs solid food. In fact, between the ages of 4 to 6 months, babies should start getting used to eating solid foods.
Start with a taste of baby food. Just 1 teaspoon in the beginning. Some babies might love these new tastes while other babies may hate it.
Don t fret if your baby refuses these new foods. You could coax baby by adding a little milk to the baby food, so that baby is assured by the familiar taste. For a breastfed baby, add a little breast milk. For a formula fed baby, add a little formula mil ..
Blake Kritzberg is owner of BebeBleu. Stop by http://www.bebebleu.com for baby bedding, cribs and apparel.Blake KritzbergBaby Your Baby -- And Give Birth To A Big Reader
