Newborn cognitive development: What are babies thinking and learning?
The newborn brain is busy processing information, searching for patterns, and learning. Here’s a fascinating look at newborn cognitive development.
The newborn brain is busy processing information, searching for patterns, and learning. Here’s a fascinating look at newborn cognitive development.
Talking to babies helps them learn speech. But nonverbal cues may teach something more — the ability to synchronize their thoughts and feelings with those of another person.
Baby communication operates on many channels, including sight and touch. But infant-directed speech plays a special role in language learning.
Naps help babies learn and remember. In fact, babies may require timely naps to transfer new information and skills into long-term memory. Does this mean we should be forcing our babies to take lots of naps? No. But we should treat naps with respect…and realize that the last hour (or so) before sleep is prime time for learning.
Colicky babies respond differently to stimulation. Could it be that their nervous systems are different? Research suggests this is possible.
If you learn about circadian rhythms and sleep cycles, you can make sense of your newborn sleep, and lay the groundwork for easier nights.
When do babies crawl? Most start between 6-11 months, but some infants skip crawling, and favor other ways of getting around.
How long do babies sleep at night? How many naps do babies take during the day? And what about night wakings? This evidence-based baby sleep chart explains the typical range of variation for babies up to 24 months old.
Like adults, babies cycle through a series of different sleep stages at night, and understanding these stages can help us cope.
Most infant sleep problems are caused by behavioral factors, but sometimes there are medical reasons why a baby won’t sleep.
Evidence-based potty training techniques. Review the most popular methods and what research reveals about their effectiveness.
Science suggests we can soothe a crying baby to sleep with a few minutes of walking…and waiting. How does it work, and why?