You Really Can Help Your Baby Have a ‘Happy Baby’ Brain

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Neuroscience is definitely in fashion. Hardly a day goes by without a new finding about the amazing human brain being broadcast on TV or in the papers. There are some truly incredible facts that will delight and amaze you -

Your baby grows 250,000 brain cells for each minute of your pregnancy. Yes, that’s right, a quarter of a million specialist brain cells for every 60 seconds that passes!

With that hard to imagine brainpower, it is clear to see that for your baby, the sky’s the limit! He or she has the potential to do and achieve so much in their life. However, it is not the number of brain cells that will determine the person they will become – it is how those cells become connected that is so vital to their development and their future and to them being a happy baby. Brain cells connect as a result of their experiences. These are the experiences and opportunities that we, their parents and carers, will give to them.

That’s an exciting yet daunting thought – so much responsibility for us to have. But just little things you do, really will give your baby the best start in life.

The most important thing of all is to try to understand them! Understand what he or she is telling you when they cry. Learn what they need even before they are born, and at different stages of their development.

Did you know…

·    At birth, your baby behaves instinctively. He or she, knows how to feed, to cry, to sleep and less obviously, to focus on close up things like your face as you feed them.

·    But they also have an incredible instinct to copy your facial expressions. If not too dopey, within minutes of being born, many babies actually are able to copy their parents sticking out their tongue. They are not even aware they are imitating, it is just an inbuilt reflex – try it if you get the chance with your newborn.

·    Continue to play this game during your baby’s the first few weeks. It will help you to get to know each other, they will love it, and gradually they will learn to copy your smile.

·    The more you smile at your baby, the more they will smile at you! The more you and your baby smile, the more happy chemicals (endorphins) are produced in both of your brains. 

·    So you really can help your baby be a Happy Baby!

  

Neuroscience explains so much about why babies behave the way they do, and just as importantly about our own, adult behaviour.

Some people have very strong ideas about what is right or wrong.

They tend to fall into two camps:

·         Parent centred  - introducing strict routines and order day and night.

·         Baby centred - watching for and responding quickly to baby’s cues.

It can be very confusing, and at times overwhelming, as people give you well intentioned but often, conflicting advice. But if you learn to understand your baby, you will naturally develop an approach to parenting that really suits the person you are, your baby and your family.

Just a little knowledge in the right areas will have a huge influence on you and your baby’s lives. It helps you to cope and make confident choices about how you parent, that are right for you; for a happy baby and strong family life.

Find out more about yourself by doing the short quiz in the free taster session of Hand in Hand Learning’s ‘How Babies Learn’ course. Do share your thoughts with us. We’d love to read your comments.

  

Guest post by Sandra Nunes Vaz, a partner in Hand in Hand Learning. She has written and delivered courses to parents about how babies and children learn for over 10 years.  How Babies Learn is now available on-line as a 6 session downloadable course from their website, handinhandlearning.co.uk