The Strange Situation test: Is your child securely attached?
Researchers use the Strange Situation procedure to measure attachment in young children. How does it work, and how can we raise secure kids?
Babies
Baby sign language: A guide for the science-minded parent
What is baby sign language? Should we teach babies to sign? There’s no clear evidence that formal training programs yield long-term benefits. But signing may help parents “tune in” to their babies, and certain gestures may make it easier for babies to learn.
When do babies start walking, and how does it develop? (An illustrated guide)
When do babies start walking? Some begin before 9 months, others take much longer. How does walking develop, and why do some babies walk earlier than others?
Dream feeding: An evidence-based guide to helping babies sleep longer
Dream feeding is designed to reduce sleep disruption. But for maximum effect, parents should combine it with other sleep-friendly practices.
Infant sleep training: Gentle alternatives to “cry it out”
When parents hear about infant sleep training, they often think of babies left alone in their cribs to cry themselves to sleep. But there are alternatives to such an approach.
Postpartum stress: A guide for the science-minded parent
A parent’s guide to the physical and psychological triggers of postpartum stress. Includes sleep deprivation, fussy babies, stress hormones and tips for coping.
How to support language development in babies
Babies possess amazing learning abilities. But to master language, they need our help. Studies suggest we can support language development by engaging babies in conversation, and by providing them with a variety of special cues and communicative experiences.
Can musical training help babies learn language?
Research suggests that playful, age-appropriate musical training can help babies learn language-related skills.
When do babies say their first word?
Babies make lots of communicative noises, but coos, gurgles, and cries aren’t true speech. When do babies say their first words? Most babies can say at least one or two words by the end of their first year, but the timing may vary considerably from individual to individual.
Prenatal learning: Do “pregnancy foods” affect babies’ eating habits?
Babies learn about flavors even before they are born. Can prenatal learning give rise to food preferences? Can it make some individuals more prone to consume alcohol?
Can babies tell when parents are fighting?
Research suggests that babies can tell when parents are fighting, and chronic conflict may affect the brain. What can we do about it?
Can babies sense stress in others? Yes they can!
Stressed-out parents often wonder: Can babies sense tension and anger? Can babies sense stress in their caregivers? Experimental research confirms that stress is contagious.