Wordless Wednesday

Two 2-inch triangles point to point, yes, this looks like a bowtie and is a featured design on a Babysmartees t-shirt. This is a preferred shape to offer your infant at 5 to 6 months for visual stimulation - to learn to focus and concentrate. It may seem like a simple shape to you, but it is complex for your infant. Think about an infant looking at the widest parts of the shape, then continuing to focus and concentrate on the way the shape begins to narrow. THAT is infant visual stimulation - offering your baby a visual that promotes focus and concentration.

Infant Stimulation Activity: sounds of speech

Do not be surprised when around 4 months your baby begins mumbling. He is starting to interact with you! He wants to be sociable; he wants to be a part of your world! This is the time to start reinforcing the sounds of speech. You can say and repeat different sounds - especially if you find yourself saying a silly word. Or sing! How about the ABC's! Or the Banana Boat song (you know, "Daaay-O"). How about Baa Baa Black Sheep or Old MacDonald (with all those animal sounds!)

Smile, sing, teach your baby the sounds of his language!

Wordless Wednesday

Infant Stimulation and the Face

Within her second month of life your baby begins to focus on the center of objects. Faces in particular hold her attention. Naturally mom and dad’s faces are the most interesting, but I doubt you have the time to allow your baby to stare at your face all day. So make a face for her! It is as simple as getting a white paper plate and with black ink make a simple but accurate drawing of your face (eg, if you have bangs draw them on the plate). Hang the paper plate on the crib rail or prop it up on a box! Allow your baby to enjoy the stimulation, but don’t leave her too long. She need s you more! Pick her up with a big smile.

Infant Stimulation & the Extended Family

How wonderful that other members of the family want to enjoy the activities that you are doing with your infant. What a great stimulator to hear other voices, see other faces, and smell other scents.

The most important part of having others enjoy the infant stimulation program is having them understand that babies enjoy extended periods of interaction. This is not a fleeting moment of play, but a focused period of stimulation.

So perhaps Grandma and Grandpa, and Aunt and Uncle, and cousins, should observe what you have been doing, understand it, perhaps read this blog, or get the book How to Have a Smarter Baby, and they will have a great education in how to get directly involved in their new family member's health, happiness, and brain development!

Infant Stimulaton: the magic of black on white

Two 2-inch triangles point to point, yes, this looks like a bowtie and is a featured design on a Babysmartees t-shirt. This is a preferred shape to offer your infant for visual stimulation - to learn to focus and concentrate. It may seem like a simple shape to you, but it is complex for your infant.