LOL! 🤣 Long before babies can speak conventionally, they... begin laughing - making laughter one of humankind’s earliest and most important forms of communication. For your baby, laughter (which typically begins at about 3 months of age) conveys much more than just “I find this funny.” According to Caspar Addyman - a British researcher who specializes in baby laughter (and whose job I will now envy until the end of time), laughter is not only a signal that your baby is feeling relaxed and comfortable - but also that they are finding real pleasure in the company of others. In fact, Addyman’s research suggests that - exposed to the same stimuli - babies are up to eight times more likely to laugh in the presence of another child or trusted adult. That’s because laughter is fundamentally social. Think of it as your baby’s way of saying, “I’m enjoying our connection.” This giggly little one was shared to TT by gemandroe.show more

It’s true: You and your baby share a diet.... Babies are exposed to the flavors of the foods their mothers eat during pregnancy - which find their way into the womb via amniotic fluid, which babies are constantly ingesting and expelling. So if you want your baby to eat healthy, you’re well advised to do the same during pregnancy - allowing your child’s developing “flavor palate” to include the taste of vegetables (for example) even before they enter the world. One study suggested that consistent exposure to carrots while in utero made babies more likely to embrace the taste of cereal mixed with carrot juice later in infancy. Speaking of carrots, there’s even evidence that babies begin expressing their preference for certain flavors in the womb. On 3D ultrasound, babies in one study exhibited more “laughing faces” when exposed to carrot than they did when exposed to the taste of kale (which elicited more “crying faces”). Still more evidence that learning begins in the womb. This video example was shared to IG by michaelanilaenko.show more

“I love you!” By the start of the third... trimester, your baby is beginning to absorb sound in the womb - with evidence suggesting they can both identify mom’s voice and the distinct rhythms and patterns of her native language at birth. Knowing that these are among our earliest learnings, don’t be surprised if your little one begins to mimic the musicality of certain words and phrases well before they explode into language near the end of the first year. In fact, this musicality or “prosody” is even displayed in your baby’s cries. That’s right: babies cry with an accent. With all this in mind, check out this little guy (shared to TT by bri_col44), who - at 3 months - sure appears to have said “I love you.” Developmentally, it’s probably a little early for the phrase to be associated with meaning (with our first communicative words typically emerging between 10-14 months), but amazing how well this little one matches mom’s phrasing, even as articulation and understanding are continuing to develop. It all a part of the amazing process of language development. And that’s not to even mention that smile! There’s truly nothing better.show more

Want your baby to embrace eating vegetables as part... of a healthy long-term diet? One key is eating them yourself - both early and often. That’s because science traces some of our earliest taste preferences back to the womb (where our taste buds begin developing as early as 8 weeks). As babies gestate they are exposed to the flavors of the foods their mothers eat, which transfer initially into the amniotic fluid - and, after birth, into breast milk. That’s right. Your baby is subtly tasting a wide variety of foods long before you ever introduce them by spoon. And this initial exposure can contribute mightily to future receptivity. Research suggests that babies whose mothers regularly consumed carrot juice, for example, during (and immediately following) pregnancy show a greater receptivity to carrot upon the initiation of solid foods. I love this video, shared to TT by lanazimet, of her 5 month old’s early experience with broccoli. Recognize that eating something directly is a far more intense experience - and one that activates the senses in different ways (think of smell and consistency) - but all told it appears that the verdict on broccoli was a positive one, likely undergirded by early exposure to the flavor. It’s another example of how our earliest experiences shape us in powerful ways.show more

Infant sleep can be such a tricky thing. Just... as soon as you get reaccustomed to resting through the night, all of a sudden your baby reverts to waking multiple times a night. Welcome to the 8 month sleep regression. Interruptions in sleep patterns often coincide with the development of new skills and somewhere around 8 months you’re due for the biggest of them all. That’s because your baby is becoming mobile - and putting all the skills together to roll, crawl, and even pull to a stand in their crib. For infants this is a HUGE breakthrough. Imagine having spent your entire life mostly stationary, with your ability to pursue your own interests - or even adjust your view - subject to the whims of a caregiver. Somewhere between 6-9 months most babies begin discovering a host of new abilities. And let’s face it, some of them are a lot more entertaining than sleep. The good news (at 3am) is that the novelty here is temporary…but there are some important ways you can help your baby to navigate this period safely. Perhaps the most important one is illustrated in this video. And that’s adjusting the height of your child’s crib mattress to its lowest level. With newborns and immobile infants, it’s often convenient to elevate their mattress so they can be placed into and retrieved from the crib more easily. But when your baby begins pulling to a stand it’s critical that you lower their mattress to prevent accidental falls. Babies are top heavy and can easily go tumbling out without such adjustments. You may also find that your baby masters pulling to a stand faster than they master sitting back down - which can create a crib dilemma and a need for assistance. You can navigate through this phase more quickly by providing lots of wakeful practice in both standing and sitting, which may involve gently guiding your little one to bend their legs at the knee - or even placing an appealing toy on the ground near their feet to incentivize sitting back down. As for the sleep regression, it’ll be over before you know it. And while it can be frustrating in the middle of the night, think of it as a breakthrough. Your baby is reaching new developmental milestones - and about to go fully mobile. This sweet little guy was shared to IG by fesgheliha_.show more

Don’t take it personally, Mom. Cross cultural research suggests... that “Dada” is often the first person that babies identify by name. And the reason may actually be beautiful. But first let’s explore the question of when a word is really a word. Language development begins with cooing and the babbling of repetitious syllables. “Dada” is very commonly one of these initial vocalizations, even before the child actually associates it with a particular meaning. (Sorry, Dad, but it’s probably not an expression of preference.) Around 9-12 months, however, babies do start associating meaning with sounds. And dad frequently IS first in line here. Why? One theory is that babies are so closely bonded to their mothers early in life that they actually view their mothers as an extension of themselves. This line of thinking suggests that Dad may be identified first because he’s the first person identifiable outside of this precious mother-baby unit. So not only is the identification of fathers likely not an expression of preference, it actually may say something very special about just how closely mother and baby are bonded. And that’s amazing. ❤️ Who did your child identify first? 🎥 alyssaberryxx TTshow more

Don’t take it personally, Mom. Cross cultural research suggests... that “Dada” is very commonly the first person that babies identify by name. And the reason may actually be beautiful. But first let’s explore the question of when a word is really a word. Language development begins with cooing and the babbling of repetitious syllables. “Dada” is very commonly one of these initial vocalizations, even before the child actually associates it with a particular meaning. (Sorry, Dad, but it’s probably not an expression of preference.) Around 9-12 months, however, babies do start associating meaning with sounds. And dad frequently IS first in line here. Why? One theory is that babies are so closely bonded to their mothers early in life that they actually view their mothers as an extension of themselves. This line of thinking suggests that Dad may be identified first because he’s the first person identifiable outside of this precious mother-baby unit. So not only is the identification of fathers likely not an expression of preference, it actually may say something very special about just how closely mother and baby are bonded. And that’s amazing. ❤️ Who did your child identify first? 🎥 alyssaberryxx TTshow more

Your baby is a natural born dancer. (And so... are you.) Music simultaneously activates multiple regions of the brain, not least of which the motor cortex which guides rhythm and movement. This is especially true of uptempo music, which matches or exceeds your baby’s heart rate. Here you’re likely to see your baby react, from even the earliest stages of development. Check out this little guy, shared to IG by ernhanatha24, who’s moved to dance in response to a song improvised by his mom. We can’t see her off screen, but my bet is that she is modeling some of these very same dance moves as she sings. Either way, little man’s got the beat!show more

Your baby needs a little tummy time daily. Yesterday... I wrote about crawling, noting that with sleep recommendations now (wisely) advising infants sleep only on their backs, babies are spending less and less time in a downward facing position - making it all the more important that parents build well supervised tummy time into their daily routines. Tummy time has many benefits. Primary among them, it strengthens the back, neck and arm muscles that help with holding up the head, rolling over, sitting and crawling. It also helps to decrease the incidence of flat spots on the back of your baby’s head. And it can help relieve gas and constipation, just to name a few. You can begin short, supervised periods of tummy time as soon as your child is born. These earliest sessions often begin on mom’s chest - but can be done on other safe surfaces as well. Begin with 2-3 minutes at a time and work your way up. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends increasing the frequency and duration of these sessions to the point your baby spends a total of 20-30 minutes a day by the time your baby is 7 weeks old. Be forewarned that, especially early on, tummy time is a workout (and therefore not always well liked by some children) - but with time and experience will help to develop the muscle strength your newborn lacks. This little one (shared to IG by enjoybabyss) has got tummy time down pat. Check out those strong neck muscles!show more

Daily reading is a gift to your baby. 📚... And this mom is giving an absolute master class in how to do it right. Note first that she’s reading face-to-face. At this age (10 weeks), there is literally nothing more thrilling - or instructional - to your newborn than your face. Check out how intently focused baby is on mom’s voice and facial expressions. Through careful study this little one will soon begin to mimic what they see and hear. Mom reads with expression and emotion, alternating between glances at the text and direct eye contact with her adoring audience of one. And there is so much going on in that developing brain. Did you know that during the earliest years of life babies form new neural connections at an estimated 1 million per SECOND? With these types of rich daily interactions, mom is setting her baby up for a lifetime of success. And you can do the same. Read, talk, sing and play with your baby. Kudos to KelseyPaumer (IG) on this fantastic and educational 🎥 clip.show more

Learning is something you and your baby do together.... You can think of the process as happening in three distinct stages, during which skills are transferred gradually from you to your little one: During the first stage, your baby is observing the behavior and skills of others. During the second, they begin to emulate these behaviors - and can find success with the support of a helpful adult (you) or more expert peer (often a sibling). And gradually they internalize these skills and perform them all by themselves. This video is a great example of the shared second phase. Infants explore the world with their mouths. But an important lesson of toddlerhood is that some things are for putting in our mouths, while others are not. This little one knows that we don’t eat the Play-Doh. But it sure is tempting! Watch as he breaks off a piece and brings it to his mouth. As he does his eyes lift and he realizes that Mom is watching - which alone prompts some introspection. He grins broadly, shakes his head and exclaims “No, no, no” - using Mom’s past words to affirm his decision to place the Play-Doh back on the table. Left to his own devices, who knows? But together, without exchanging a word, he managed to make the right choice. As a parent it’s important to remember the key role you play in the learning process. And that extends to your child’s behavior. Self-regulation begins as co-regulation. So be there. This sweet little guy was shared to IG by parentosa.show more

Just because your baby’s eyes are open doesn’t necessarily... mean they’re awake. And the same holds true in reverse. Weird, right? During active (or REM) sleep it’s not uncommon for your baby to open their eyes for brief periods, to make noises, and to move their body actively. The (open eyes) phenomenon, known as psychological lagophthalmos, is common in newborns and may be attributable in part to immaturity of their central nervous system. The important thing here is not to be too quick to assume your little one has finished sleeping just because their eyes open. This video is a great example. Baby’s eyes are partially open, but he is in the midst active sleep (which comprises half or more of each newborn sleep cycle). Likewise, there are situations where your child may appear to be asleep, but isn’t. Particularly in bright, noisy, or otherwise overstimulating environments your child may feign sleep (when they are feeling overwhelmed) as a sort of defense mechanism. This is called habituation. And while it may look like sleep it does not provide the same restorative benefits - and often concludes with prolonged periods of crying as a sort of stress relief. Long story short, you can’t always judge your baby’s level of alertness from their eyes alone - so be sensitive and observant in both circumstances. (And if you suspect your baby is habituating due to overstimulation, try to get them to an environment better suited to their needs.) This little one was shared to TT by laura.sunday.show more

Now here’s something you don’t see every day: natal... teeth. 🦷 As a general rule of thumb, babies begin teething between 3-7 months of age. But did you know that some babies are actually born with one or more teeth? Natal teeth occur in roughly one in every 6,000-8,000 births. They can be problematic in some cases - and not just for the obvious feeding challenges they can pose for breastfeeding mothers. Natal teeth are often underdeveloped and have weak roots. As a result they can be loose and a risk for swallowing or aspiration (inhalation). If this is the case, your dentist may choose to remove them. But this isn’t always the recommended course of action. Natal teeth aren’t usually extra, or separate from “baby teeth” - they’re typically baby teeth that have erupted early - which makes their preservation a good thing in cases when they are not considered a danger to baby’s health. Natal teeth with good support structures (remaining stable beyond the four month mark) have a generally good prognosis. Some cultures even consider natal teeth a sign of good luck! When did your child’s first teeth arrive? 🎥 This sweet little one was shared to TT by JordanBloss_show more

If ever there was a “look of love” this... has got to be it. 😍 I mean… book? What book? This little one ONLY has eyes for his mama. Eye contact is an important early developmental milestone and plays a number of roles for your baby. First and foremost, eye contact is critical to attachment and bonding. The stronger your emotional connection, the greater your baby’s sense of security - which contributes to optimal brain development. (Note, btw, that his little one appears to be in the hospital, making this emotionally secure - and almost enraptured - interaction all the more impressive, given what might otherwise be a stressful environment.) But there’s more than just safe and secure bonding happening here. There’s also serious learning. As your baby studies your face, they’re making connections between expressions and feelings - and, importantly, learning to speak. This little one may not be quite ready to replicate mom’s vocalizations quite yet, but he’s watching intently to see how his mother’s mouth moves and contorts to make all the wonderful sounds he’s taking in. With that gaze, he’s learning how to become just like mom. This beautiful video was shared to IG by mother_withchild.show more

Read to your newborn. 📚 With hearing developing during... the final months of gestation, it’s never too early to begin reading to your baby. And this mom is giving us an absolute master class in how to do it right. Note first that she’s reading face-to-face. At this age (10 weeks), there is literally nothing more thrilling - or instructional - to your newborn than your face. Check out how intently focused baby is on mom’s voice and facial expressions. Mom reads with expression and emotion, alternating between glances at the text and direct eye contact with her adoring audience of one. And there is so much going on in that developing brain. Did you know that during the earliest years of life babies form new neural connections at an estimated 1 million per SECOND? With these types of rich daily interactions, mom is setting her baby up for a lifetime of success. Kudos to KelseyPaumer (IG) on this fantastic and educational 🎥 clip.show more

There is nothing more valuable than your time. And... yet it is time that most goes to waste. Money can’t give you more time. But money can get you the time of others. And that time is worth much much more than most folks are being compensated in exchange for it. You can’t get that time back. The majority believing there is little value for their time is part of how those who do assign high value to their own time keep their control. Time is a real resource. Money is a social construct. One of the two is much more valuable. But what do I know, I’m just a silly girl with hand puppets.show more

Dad’s home! 🏠 Because it’s one of the most... frequent questions I receive, here’s your periodic reminder that your baby doesn’t forget you when you go to work. There’s a developmental milestone known as object permanence and sometimes parents overthink it. In a nutshell it’s the understanding that things continue to exist even when they’re out of sight - and it typically develops somewhere between 6-9 months. Does that mean you cease to exist (to your baby) when you go to work or the grocery store? It can be kind of a scary thought to new parents. The answer, even before the development of object permanence, is no. But it may mean that (even for your toddler) you’re misattributing adult forms of memory to your little one. Infants and toddlers both live very much in the moment and are still developing the type of robust narrative memory we possess as adults. So while you’re gone, it’s not that you cease to exist. It’s more a case of “out of sight, out of mind.” Will they recognize you when you return? Will they be excited to see you? I’ll let this beautiful video from beingritty on IG show you the answer.show more

Lifelong readers aren’t born, they’re made. I can’t get... enough of this little one, who finds the most exciting discovery at the grocery store: books. Watch his reaction. His excitement. And the way he plops right down on the floor to dig in. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that reading holds a special place of honor in this household - or that this family’s IG account is jam packed with book content. There’s more to learning to read than being read to, of course. But the desire and inclination to read… the association between books and pleasure…those are all things you can begin developing from Day One by making daily reading a part of your child’s life. Look at all the literacy knowledge this little guy has already developed. Just marvelous. Read, read, read with your baby. This literate little one was shared to IG by sambolivat.show more

Touch matters - for you and your baby. Of... all the senses, touch is the one with which your baby is most attuned at birth. And after 9 months developing in close quarters, it’s the one they crave for feelings of safety and comfort. When you hold your newborn, you may notice they almost melt into your arms - configuring themselves for maximum contact. This is especially true in instances of skin-to-skin contact. Notice how this little one has configured his sleep position to maximize contact between Mom’s face and his own. This mutual touch is beneficial for both mother and child, as nerve endings in the skin signal the brain to release endorphins, Oxytocin and Serotonin - often referred to as “love hormones.” Look for opportunities to be in direct contact with your baby throughout the day. You’ll both feel better for it. This loving pair was shared to TT by bmm993.show more

Why do babies “fake” cry? For the same reason... they really cry: to communicate their needs and seek the love and attention of their caregivers. Occasionally you’ll see such behaviors described to as manipulative, with some even going so far as to suggest children’s fake cries are to be ignored. You’ll find me on the opposite side of that debate. Fake cries are a communication tool common to infants and toddlers whose expressive language simply isn’t developed quite to the point that they can express their needs using words. For that reason you may find this behavior increase between, say, 10-18 months. Fake cries are just your maturing baby relying on the tool that’s always drawn your attention in the past. This sweet little guy, shared to IG by parentingessentials, doesn’t seem to be in too much distress… in fact he seems to be enjoying the interaction with mom, which may itself be the message his cry was intended to communicate: come play with/talk to me. But a fake cry is also a great opportunity to assess the state of other needs. Might a diaper need changing? Is it meal time? Time for a change of scenery? There’s a real message behind even the fakest of cries. So treat them like the real thing, only in a more advanced communicative form.show more