Baby

Smart Start: 5 Ways to Help Your Baby's Early Cognitive Development

smccue — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:09:42 +0000

Smart Start: 5 Ways to Help Your Baby's Early Cognitive Development

smccue Tue, 03/05/2024 - 10:09

Early childhood, the period from birth through the age of 5, is one of the most formative times in a child’s life. The four main areas of development are motor (physical), language and communication, cognitive and social/emotional.

Cognitive development means how children think, explore and make sense of the world around them. What they learn during this time period, and the way they interact with others, will impact how they navigate the rest of their lives. Brain development is part of cognitive development.

Parents play a prominent role in fostering a baby's development provides a strong foundation for success in school and life. As an example, research shows that children who can identify sounds at six months of age are better at acquiring the skills for learning to read at four and five years of age.

Whether expectant parents are setting up their baby’s bedroom or parents of newborns are enjoying their precious little arrival, they aid in their child’s early cognitive development in these five ways.

Reading to babies, even in utero. Parents should fill their baby’s life with language and literature. They can do this by developing a print-rich environment where books, magazines and letters are all around the baby and easy for the baby to see and reach. This can be difficult in today’s tech-focused world, where so much literature is displayed on electronic devices, but it’s far from impossible. From children’s books to cookbooks to coffee-table books, there are many ways to incorporate literature into the home. Even if babies only chew on these items, parents can consider this tactile engagement with books a success. After all, babies grow fast, and they’ll be able to identify pictures and words in no time!

Become fluent in ‘parentese’. Speaking in “parentese” (sounds like “Portuguese”) is crucial to a baby’s cognitive development. Parentese involves speaking in an exaggerated and repetitive way. It’s all about having inflection in one’s voice, using an intonation at the end of a word or sentence and letting babies see the corresponding facial expressions. Speaking to your babies like this helps them learn receptive language, which, according to scientific research, makes children more responsive.

Lots of positive touch. Research has shown that positive human touch is critical for babies. Cuddling, kissing, hugging, rubbing—all of these things help babies develop neurons and hardware for the brain. Every hug and giggle and lullaby is creating a neural pathway to an emotionally stable life for your child….and you!

Plenty of normal talk. Children with chatty parents are more likely to have a better vocabulary. Babies should also be able to listen to their parents talk on the phone and to each other. Moms and dads can talk to their babies the way they would talk to an adult. They can tell their babies about their day, ask their babies about their days and even tell them jokes. Babies, after all, do love the sound of their parents’ voices. Plus, parents can enjoy the fact that their children still find them funny!

Use sequence talk. In addition to pointing out and naming things for babies, parents can also note the sequence in which tasks will get done: “Mommy is going to give you some food at the brown table”; “First, we will brush our teeth and then we’ll put our clothes on”; or “We’re going to pick out a book to read and go to bed.” Even if your baby can’t say or understand these things just yet, saying them out loud and using a positive tone will help show sequence, which is the beginning of learning math. The more specific and sequential parents can be, the better they prepare their child for cognitive growth.

Cognitive development may sound like a complicated, abstract topic, but the truth is that many parents are already engaging in the types of behaviors that encourage early cognitive development in their little ones. By making sure to frequently speak to their baby—not to mention giving their babies all of the loving cuddles and hugs and kisses possible—parents are setting their little ones up for both excellent cognitive development and long-term emotional stability.

Creating a Baby Registry: What You REALLY Need

lba-admin — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 14:06:31 +0000

Creating a Baby Registry: What You REALLY Need

lba-admin Fri, 01/31/2020 - 09:06

Don’t fall for all the hyped up items; stick with the tried and true to make your life easier

Well-meaning family, friends and colleagues often want to gift parents-to-be and new parents sentimental baby items that can be treasured for years and even passed on to the next generation. The truth, however, is that the people involved in a newborn’s first few weeks of life really just want one thing: sleep.

And diapers. But we’ll get to that in a moment.

A newborn baby doesn’t need books or toys just yet, nor does a newborn need formal outfits or even shoes. They can’t walk anywhere, for one, and the first month of life will be a repeating cycle of feedings, naps, diaper changes and, for the parents, laundry. For these reasons, new parents should consider sticking to the basics when creating a baby registry to ensure they get items they really need and will use.

Here are essential baby items that will help everyone persevere through those first few weeks.

The clothing basics

Onesies, particularly those with zippers, and bodysuits will be a new parent’s best friends, and the great news is that they often come in packs. Opt to include 10 newborn-sized bodysuits and five newborn-sized onesies on the registry, as well as at least 10 three-month-sized bodysuits and five three-month-sized onesies. There’s no telling how big your baby will be when he or she is born, or how fast they’ll grow, so this will help everyone be prepared for different possibilities.

The right furniture

Fact: babies need a lot of furniture. A crib (don’t forget to include a mattress pad and at least three fitted sheets!), a changing table and a dresser are all crucial. If there’s limited space in the baby’s room or area, there are plenty of useful changing table and dresser combinations. A rocking chair or glider, preferably one with a matching ottoman, will make feedings comfortable for you at all hours of the day and night.

Diaper-changing supplies

Newborns can go through a lot of diapers, which is why no baby registry is complete without three boxes of newborn-sized diapers and, in preparation for possible quick growth, two boxes of Size 1 diapers. Wipes, diaper cream and a changing station for that changing table are all a must. Remember: organization will make those middle-of-the-night diaper changes and feedings as efficient as they can be!

Baby on-the-go

A rocking swing will provide the little one with a soothing place to rest while parents do things around the house. (Like laundry.) Since parents will need to bring their baby to pediatrician appointments, registering for a diaper bag—and always keeping said diaper bag packed with the essentials—will come in handy when everyone needs to leave the house in a jiffy!

Baby hygiene

After a certain amount of time (and under a pediatrician’s guidance), parents will start bathing their baby. (But not every day!) Instead of worrying about separate items such as shampoo and soap, parents should opt for a large bottle of a shampoo and body wash combination. Also important are baby lotion, baby oil, baby laundry detergent, washcloths and hooded towels, plus a baby nail file to literally keep the edge off of those (surprisingly sharp!) nails.

On the hygiene note, babies will spit up and drool quite a bit, which is why there is no such thing as too many receiving blankets or bibs. There should be at least 20 on the registry, as this versatile item can double as a burp cloth and later serve as an actual blanket.

And don’t forget about mama!

A new mom needs all of the help she can get, which is why items aimed at maternal health and wellness should absolutely be included on a baby registry. From nursing bras to special creams and lotions to cooling pads to breast pumps and related accessories, there are many ways to make a mother’s life easier after delivery.

Remember: When planning their registry, new parents and parents-to-be should focus on items that will be most useful during their baby’s first few months. Family and friends and acquaintances will likely continue to bring gifts on a regular basis after the baby is born, which is why expectant parents should stick to the basics and not worry about fancy frills.

Thanksgiving Survival Guide for Working Parents

lba-admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 13:47:26 +0000

Thanksgiving Survival Guide for Working Parents

lba-admin Fri, 11/18/2016 - 08:47

The holidays are right around the corner, and for working parents that can mean an added level of stress to an already tight schedule. Cleaning the house, shopping for the food, and purchasing decorations can all seem very daunting, while still managing to care of the kids. Here are a few "Dos" and "Don'ts" to make your holiday run more smoothly and to help you keep your sanity.

1. Don’t "force" your child to eat new foods. Thanksgiving dinner usually involves food that many infants and toddlers are not used to eating. Rather than trying to force them to eat Grandma's spicy sweet potatoes and have a meltdown, allow them to eat a few simple things they like. It may just be a little turkey and a dinner roll, but it's worth every minute of peace.

2. Don't lose the nap. Holidays are usually longer days with many new experiences for a child. New foods. New environment. New people. These experiences can put a normally happy baby in sensory overload. Try to time your child's nap with the card ride to Aunt Janet's. Or if you are staying home, invite your guests after your child wakes up. This will make for a happier day for everyone.

3. Do praise good, appropriate behavior. Is your child doing well greeting guests? Setting the table? Cleaning up their toys? Make sure to let them know! Positive reinforcement not only works, but it also helps build a child's confidence.

4. Do a special craft. Children LOVE to be involved in everything. Why not let them make a keepsake for each place setting? A simple pinecone painted with glitter and a colorful fall ribbon will make a child proud of participating in the family celebration.

5. Do have quiet activities during clean-up. After a long day with family and friends, it's time to clean up. A new coloring book, play-doh or activity book can work wonders while mom and dad put the house back in order.

These simple ideas will hopefully make your Thanksgiving run a little more smoothly this year. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Lightbridge Academy!