A number of scientific studies have shown the way a baby uses
her senses in the early months of life is crucial to future
development. A baby, whose senses are stimulated develop a
sharper memory, inquisitiveness and a better concentration.
Besides, babies who are stimulated attain developmental
milestones earlier have superior muscle coordination, and a
safer and sounder personality.
Here a few effective tips that you will find particularly useful
to stimulate your newborn's senses and development, right from
the beginning.
1. Make your baby touch fabrics of different textures, e.g.,
smooth, rough, cushiony. This would help develop her sense of
touch.
2. Hold up bright colored blocks or other colorful objects 10 to
12 inches away from your baby's eyes. When she focuses, try
moving it left and right, up and down and then in circles. Doing
so will improve her sight.
3. Provide your baby high-contrast toys such as mobiles with
black-and-white or primary color patterns, or hang them in the
crib. These would help stimulate the parts of the brain
controlling vision.
4. Play “Pat-a-Cake” while you hold your baby and gently move
her hands.
5. Sing to your baby. Change the pitch of your voice from high
to low. Doing so will help hold her attention. Babies generally
respond well to mom’s singing and will often help her to settle.
6. Talk to your baby whenever you are with her; describe her all
that you are doing to her: bathing, changing, feeding. “Are you
enjoying your bath? Do you like your new soap? Here comes a new
diaper for you.” This type of descriptive talking will not only
liked by your baby but is also the base of communication between
the two of you. The more you talk to your baby the more she is
able to learn.
7. Encourage your baby to imitate you. Try sticking out your
tongue. Most of the babies, when they are a couple of weeks old,
imitate sticking out the tongue after you did so 2-3 times
before them.
8. Get a crib mobile and hang it on your baby’s crib. When your
baby is quiet and awake, she will gaze at it. This will help
arouse her interest in the world outside the crib.
9. Get a wind chime and hang it where your baby can gaze at it,
move and hear the pleasant music it plays. Doing so will
stimulate her sense of seeing and hearing and she will learn to
correlate a pleasant sight with a pleasant sound.
10. Shake a rattle before your baby. Shake it first on left side
then on right. Allow your baby time to recognize that the rattle
is producing the sound. This activity will also help your baby
correlate sound with sight.
There are many important milestones that must be achieved in the
first month. Infants experience a wealth of developmental and
cognitive achievements in their first month of life. Stimulate
your newborn’s sense is also part of this important milestones.
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