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Babies are fascinating and mostly unpredictable creatures. One day they are babbling incoherent responses to your sentences, and the very next day, they are chanting “mama, dada”. It’s no wonder new parents are drowned in information about newborns everywhere they go. We can find comprehensive articles about everything, right from their eating habits to their sleep patterns. However, while scouring the internet, we often stumble upon content that may not be true. Dozens of myths swim in this vast ocean, and it’s our responsibility to separate them from the facts. Science may have revolutionized childcare, but most new parents still fall for baseless claims.
The internet is strewn with common misconceptions about babies, and to debunk them, we must start somewhere, and what better way to embark on this myth-busting journey than to begin with the brain? A baby’s brain and its development has always been a topic of discussion. Parents comb through the ends of the internet to look for balanced diets, memorize lullabies to sing to their babies, consult doctors to find interesting activities to engage in with their newborns– you name it! However, at the end of the day, if someone tells you, “Did you know that babies can never be born with teeth? It’s practically impossible!” you end up believing it. Fortunately, when it comes to brain development, you don’t need much– just a few simple steps to start the process and watch in awe as they build connections in your baby’s brain and have powerful, positive impacts on your kid’s life. So, let’s debunk some myths and get those neurons firing!
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Facts Or Myths? Let’s Find Out
What Parents Think
“What is the use of talking to my baby if they cannot understand me or respond to my questions? They are only a few weeks old, so this practice is of no use. Better to have no conversation than a one-sided one. I will just wait till they at least start cooing and babbling.”
What The Truth Is
Connections within the brain, commonly known as synapses, play a crucial role in shaping how your child thinks, learns, and grows, and this process starts right at birth. Your tiny bundle of joy may not be able to respond to you verbally just yet, but they are carefully listening to your words, which is helping their brain grow. So, we suggest you pour your hearts out to them! Talk about your day, sing a lullaby, read a book, or just chat with them about anything you want. When you touch your baby and talk to them, you create a social-emotional bond that helps their brain grow rapidly while they expand their curious mind. By listening to you and watching your expressions, they learn quickly.
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What Parents Think
“Brain development is genetic. How can I control how my baby’s brain grows? It’s not possible!”
What The Truth Is
External factors can also influence a baby’s brain development. Daily experiences and verbal and physical engagement can help a baby’s brain cells connect to one another. Not receiving common yet vital experiences like verbal communication in the form of speaking, reading, or even singing, may impact these connections negatively. Infants who experience frequent interactions possess diverse vocabularies as they grow up (1). They also do better in school and grow up to have a more successful future. The time you spend communicating with your little one also helps strengthen the bond between you two.
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What Parents Think
“My baby will grow up to be smart if I get them educational toys, videos, and flash cards.”
What The Truth Is
There is no research-based evidence that educational toys help in brain development. On the contrary, noisy playthings can overstimulate a child (2). While it seems exciting to have a plethora of colorful toys at home, the best way to help your child develop motor and cognitive skills is through traditional toys and your own voice (3). They do not cost thousands of dollars and work wonders to help your child learn things much more quickly.
In addition, we suggest you give your child hands-on experiences. Take your baby outside and point out trees, birds, and dogs along the way. Make shapes out of colorful paper and point out the colors of different objects. Croon lullabies while feeding them and make some music with your kitchen utensils. These little moments act as brain-building exercises. Billions of neurons in a baby’s brain connect within the first three months of life if they receive proper communication.
Conclusion
It is important to differentiate between myths and facts. If you read something online and think, “Hmm, that doesn’t sound right”, feel free to consult your doctor. Until then, give your baby a lot of love and help them grow through simple experiences. Make silly faces at them, talk to them, laugh with them, and wrap them in a bear hug whenever you can. Happy parenting!
