From the moment of birth, babies are primed and ready for social input, and our loving care has a profound impact on their development. But what is it like to be a baby? How do they see the world, and what can we do to help them learn and thrive?
These are big questions — too big, too fascinating, too important to be answered from any single perspective. Evolution. Culture. Developmental biology. Neuroscience. Pediatrics. Psychology. We need the contributions from many scientific disciplines, with a lot of critical thinking and analysis thrown in.
In these pages, I share many of the big ideas (fully-referenced!) that researchers are trying to answer about little people and their caregivers. I also provide lots of practical, evidence-based information about infant sleep, feeding, communication, social development, cognition, motor skills, emotions, stress management, and more.
Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.
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.
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?
Research suggests that babies can tell when parents are fighting, and chronic conflict may affect the brain. What can we do about it?
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.
Flavors in breast milk? From the food that mothers ingest? Yes, it really happens, and babies can taste the difference. Read what studies tell us about how early exposure to flavors — in breast milk and baby formula — can influence a baby’s willingness to eat solid foods.
An evidence-based guide to common potty training problems, including child anxieties, resistance, refusals to defecate, accidents, and more.
Research suggests that sensitive, responsive parenting can protect children from chronic disease and toxic stress.
What scientific studies reveal about the timing of toilet training. Safe, early training may lower the risk of bladder and bowel dysfunction.
In the last trimester, fetuses can hear music in the womb. And if they hear the same tune many times, they may learn to recognize it.
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved A mother’s voice has special power. It can provide comfort — and improve outcomes — for babies hospitalized in the NICU. It can shape the way infants process language in the brain. And it can help children cope with pain and stress. What happens when a baby … Continue reading
Yes, newborns spend most of their time sleeping and eating. But babies are more than mere survival machines. At birth, they are primed and ready for social input, and our loving care has profound effects on their development.
What is colic? Colicky babies cry excessively and inconsolably. Most cases improve by 4-6 months, but crying can be a sign of illness. So it’s important to consult with your doctor.