New Series: Communicating with Words

It's hard to believe it's been nearly 5 years since our first blog post! As we approach our anniversary, we've been looking through old posts, brainstorming ideas for new topics, and planning some exciting changes to our site (more on that later...). We've noticed that we've had only a few sporadic posts on language development, so starting soon we'll have a series of posts all about how babies learn to communicate using words. We have some ideas already, but we want to hear from you. What questions do you have about language development? Send us a comment with your questions or topic ideas and we'll work to put together a series that best meets our readers' needs! And, in the meantime,  you can use the following links to access previous posts on the subject!

• From Cues to Conversation: How Babies Learn to Talk (Part 1) (September 2009)
• From Cues to Conversation: How Babies Learn to Talk (Part 2) (September 2009)
• Baby Talk and the Adult Brain (August 2010)
• A Baby, A Book, A Lifetime of Benefits (January 2011)
• Learning to Talk Takes a Team Effort (October 2013)

Baby Language Quiz - Answers!

Here are the answer's to this week's quiz:

Typically, how old are babies/toddlers when they:
1. Consistently respond to their own names?

Around 6 months. At the same age, babies will look longer at people who are named, showing that they have linked names with people like "mommy," "daddy," and other close relatives.

2. Start to use a few words consistently with meaning (not just understanding but saying the words themselves with obvious meaning)?

Around 12 months. You'll notice that your baby understands words much earlier than he says them. He will first understand then use new words (often mispronounced) at an amazing rate as his first birthday passes. Remember to pay attention to what words your baby hears from you or any other source. Babies are sponges, soaking everything up including words you wouldn't want shouted out at a family gathering.

3. Use cooing and other noises specifically to attract your attention?

As early as 3 months, your baby will be using sounds that she knows will attract your attention. Remember, your baby loves looking at your whole face and listening to your voice. She is trying to learn as much as she can from you. If you respond to her softer sounds, she'll have less reason to resort to shrieking.

4. Start to combine words into short noun-verb sentences?

Around 20 to 24 months, your baby will start to use sentences and combinations of words. Even though your baby might still shorten or mispronounce words, you'll notice that he seems to follow basic grammar  rules in that he is using words in a specific order, like "I go."

5. First recognize friendly or angry tones in others' voices.

Around 6 months, your baby will respond more positively to friendly voices and negatively to angry ones. She's been watching and learning from you and has learned to prefer nicer tones of voice. Keep in mind that your baby might become upset if she is nearby when people are arguing even if she doesn't understand what is being said.

Resources:
Infant Development 2nd Edition, Volume 1: Basic Research. Bremner and Wachs (Eds). Wiley-Blackwell. 2010.

Stamm, J. Bright from the Start. Gotham Books, 2007.

Baby Language Quiz!

We realized that we haven't had a quiz in a long time, so here we go. Our topic is children's language development.

Typically, how old are babies/toddlers when they:
1. Consistently respond to their own names?
2. Start to use a few words consistently with meaning (not just understanding but saying the words themselves with obvious meaning)?
3. Use cooing and other noises specifically to attract your attention?
4. Start to combine words into short noun-verb sentences?
5. First recognize friendly or angry tones in others' voices.

We'll post the answers on Friday!

Learning to Talk Takes a Team Effort

It is amazing how quickly babies change. They grow so fast, learn so much, and gain some control over their bodies so quickly during those first few months. Before you know it, your baby is using words!  Learning to talk becomes one of your baby’s most important jobs as he becomes a toddler.  We’ve shared how babies develop their ability to communicate starting with basic cues and words during the first year that lead to a vocabulary explosion in the second year.

But did you know that you play an important role in your baby’s progress in learning how to talk? Babies don’t learn language on their own, they rely on the people who care for them to help them know what words mean and how and when to use them. Here are some language experts' “lessons learned” from the research on how babies learn to understand and use language.

1. Repetition, repetition, repetition.

Developmental scientists have found that the most important factor influencing a child’s vocabulary is the “language environment.” Babies learn the words that they hear around them (keep that in mind when you stub your toe). Babies first learn the words they hear most often – such as their own names, and words used for clothing items and household objects.  When your baby is able to point to objects, you’ll find that your baby seems to want to play the “name game “all day long. This is a very important process. Not only will your baby point at things for you to name but your baby will look at your face to see how you “feel” about the object.  Your baby is learning a lot more than words; your baby is learning about safety and context and where things and people fit in the world.

2. Babies understand language before they can use it.

For a long time, researchers thought that understanding language occurred much later than it actually does for most babies. That’s because scientists had to rely on tests that required that babies demonstrate some use of language (like naming objects or following directions). But, many babies didn’t do well on the tests because they were still learning to make consistent sounds with their mouths and to control their bodies. Newer tests show that babies can understand many words and even the structure of language far before they can use words to communicate. That means that for a while, you’ll have to play “translator” for your baby, figuring out what she needs and communicating those needs back to her and to others.

3. Learning and using language relies on multiple skills and different parts of babies’ brains.

The use of language (not just words) takes a lot of brain power. Babies need to use their sensory, memory, analytical, motor, and social skills all at once to communicate with the world. That means that many parts of their brains are used when they are learning and using words.  You play a very special role in this process.  Your baby needs you to be on “his team” to make it all happen.  Let your baby explore, hear you talk, see your face, and watch your emotional responses to objects and experiences. Make sure that your baby has plenty of chances to see how you interact with other people in positive ways. Support your baby’s efforts as he tries to communicate with you and others. Take the time to see how your baby uses his whole body and brain to interact with his world. It’s an exciting and fast paced process as your baby will double his usable vocabulary between 18 and 21 months and again from 21 to 24 months.   Go team!

Source:

Hollich G. Early Language. In: Infant Development. 2^nd Edition. Volume 1. Basic Research. JG Bremner and TD Wachs (Eds.). Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.

Baby Behavior in the News: AAP Releases A New Policy Statement on Media Use and Babies

By Jennifer Goldbronn, MAS, RD

In today's world, screens are everywhere. Entertainment and games, once restricted to television sets, are carried with us in our pockets, backpacks, and handbags. It is easy to turn to TV, games, and mobile devices when we want to be distracted or entertained. What about our babies? Is media exposure a good idea for babies?

In a previous post, we talked about media targeted to babies and how the Disney Corporation pulled Baby Einstein videos off the shelves because the advertising claims that the videos would enhance development were not supported by research. Almost 2 years later, a new statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) shows that media viewing by kids under 2 years of age, even educational media, not only has no benefits but can be harmful.

The new policy statement, released just last month, replaces the 1999 statement on media use in which the AAP first strongly discouraged screen time for children under age 2. However, recent data show most children under 2 watch 1-2 hours of media per day.

While your little one may stare at the TV in wonder at the colorful characters and catchy songs, a key finding of this report is that usually only children over 2 have the understanding needed to gain any benefits from “educational” programs. New information also shows adverse effects of media use. TV viewing near bedtime can negatively affect your child’s sleep and heavy media use delays language development.

The AAP also reported that parental media use in the same room where a child is playing has adverse effects on the child. While your child may not be watching your program, the TV distracts you from interacting with your child. The background noise also interferes with his own learning from whatever activity he is engaging in.

Wow, with televisions, games, and media everywhere - what are parents supposed to do?

What your child’s developing brain does need

In order to learn and grow, your child needs healthy interactions with three dimensional humans, not two dimensional TV or computer screens. Interacting with others, especially with you, allows your child to learn communication skills, develop healthy emotional connections and figure out how the world works. As parents, we use our facial expressions to communicate our own emotions to our babies. We also connect with our babies by reflecting their emotions of excitement, sadness, etc. as they show them to us. That’s how babies learn about the important connection between facial expressions and emotions. If we then talk to our babies about what they saw or felt, we help them connect feelings and words together. These vital connections must be learned from other human beings, not from watching people on TV. For more about how babies learn about their world by watching their caregivers, click here and here.

It’s also essential to provide your child with unstructured playtime with limited distractions so that he can learn creativity, problem solving, and reasoning. Bonus: he will also learn how to entertain himself!

Limiting Media in the Real World
While the AAP recommends no media use for kids under 2, this group also understands that real life interferes with the best intentions at times. In those cases, they gave the following tips to keep in mind:

• If you choose to have your children view media, set limits as to how much and stick to them. (Remember, screen time includes computer, TV, Iphone, gaming devices, laptops, etc.)
• If you are going to have TV on during the day for yourself or other children, try not to keep it on in the background all day. Set limits for viewing certain programs and then turn the TV off.
• If you need time to take care of a household chore child-free, set up a safe, independent activity for your child where you can see him that will engage him for a short time. You can still interact with your child and talk about how you’re measuring ingredients or engage him in talk about what toy he is playing with as you unload the dishwasher, for example.

While limiting media in your home may be challenging, look for creative ways to make it happen. Most importantly, remember that your baby's brain is hardwired to learn best from his interactions with you in full color, 3D! There's no greater teacher for your baby than the real-world you!

For more information:

Need more ideas for entertaining your baby? Read a past post here.
For a video of the AAP press release of the policy statement, Media Use by Children Younger than Two Years, click here.

Reference

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement: Media Use by Children Younger Than 2 Years. AAP Council on Communications and Media. Pediatrics 2011;128;1040.

Your Baby’s Senses: Hearing

Imagine what it must have been like during those first moments when your baby came into the world blinking against the light, his muscles tensing as a flood of new sensations washed over him. Suddenly, he was hearing the sounds of excited voices, seeing the contours of your face, feeling your fingers stroke his back, smelling the air around him, and tasting your salty skin as he nuzzled in as close to you as he could. Because babies can’t use words to communicate with us, many parents wonder how well babies can use and learn from their senses. In this new series, we’ll share what we’ve learned about the amazing process of sensory development in babies. We’ll start with your baby’s sense of hearing.

The Sounds Inside

The physical structures needed for hearing (babies' ears and all the structures inside) develop entirely before babies are born. During the third trimester, the auditory nerve is developed well enough that the babies can hear (and remember) many of the sounds they hear daily from the world outside the womb. Researchers have shown that newborns are familiar with the voices of their mothers and fathers and that they are particularly interested in hearing human voices as compared to other sounds. Brain development involved in the discrimination and isolation of sounds continues well into the baby’s first year of life.

Newborn Hearing

By the time they are born, babies’ sense of hearing is one of their most developed sensory systems. While newborns can hear many of the sounds around them, they may not hear the quieter ambient sounds right after birth. If you speak to your newborn while he’s alert and not distracted, he will become more focused, quieter, and slow down his movements. He may attempt to turn toward the sound of your voice but some babies take a little time to do so easily. Babies do much better in responding to sounds when they are held in a relatively upright position and calm and alert. If you have any concerns about your baby's hearing, you should speak with your doctor.

Making Sounds “Fit” Babies' Needs

Mothers automatically use a higher pitched, lilting voice when speaking to their babies – this is called “Motherese” and we’ve talked about the importance of using this kind of communication in earlier posts. You’ll find that babies prefer “Motherese” when they are alert and lower softer tones when they are drowsy. Of course, dads can use their own type of "Fatherese." When dads raise the pitch of their voices and use longer tones as they speak, they will find that they can keep their infants’ attention a little longer. Researchers also have found that babies seem to prefer “happy voices” versus those that sound more neutral or negative. Both parents can match the tone and pace of their voices with babies’ readiness and interest by watching for cues. By 4 to 6 weeks of age, your baby will try to vocalize back to you, first making noises simultaneously as you speak and then by taking turns with you. By 5 months, babies have learned to identify the peculiarities of their own language and between 6 and 8 months they are able to tune out sounds that are not used in their own language. These early steps are important for babies' development of language.

Next time: More about your baby’s senses

References

1. Berger KS. The Developing Person. New York, Worth Publishers, 2003.
2. Nugent JK et. al. Understanding Newborn Behavior and Early Relationships. Baltimore, Paul H. Brookes Publishing, 2007.
3. Lester BM and Sparrow JD (Eds). Nurturing Children and Families. Malden, MA, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.

A Baby, A Book, A Lifetime of Benefits

By Taryn Barrette, RD

How important is reading to your baby? Does it really make a difference? After all babies can’t understand what you read, right? Wrong. Research shows us that the sheer number of words spoken to babies (by people, not computers, phones, or TVs) between birth and 3 years of age improves babies' brain function, vocabularies, as well as their abilities to speak and relate to others. This advantage begins early and extends into preschool, grade school and beyond. Reading to your baby is an easy and fun way to create some wonderful memories while increasing the number of words your baby hears.

Books Benefit Brains
Babies are born to learn. When babies are introduced to books, they gain a broader exposure to words they wouldn’t hear during typical day-to-day activities. For example, a baby may hear the words “dad, diaper, table, door, and potato” on a regular basis, but words like “zebra, princess, Saturn or cactus” are not part of daily conversations. Additionally, books can help children learn about human emotions, numbers, colors, and word-picture associations. Researchers are still unsure about the best age to start reading to children but we do know that children who are read to as babies have higher scores on oral language, reading comprehension, and general intelligence tests than children who were not read to as infants.

Books Benefit Babies’ Relationships
Reading to your baby creates a warm positive atmosphere around books so that your baby will enjoy exploring books later in life. Reading may also provide special one-on-one bonding time with your baby as he snuggles in your lap, pointing to the pictures or words on the page. Reading can also create opportunities to bring the whole family together. Your baby will love to hear your voice as you read more complex stories to your older children. Just be ready with a distracting toy in case your baby loses interest too quickly.

How Do Babies Experience Reading?
Though they aren’t actually reading the words, babies are observing you as you turn the pages, point to pictures, and make facial expressions to show emotions. Reading is an interactive experience. Reading will help you develop a comforting routine, especially at bedtime. Babies will enjoy reading the same book many times. Though The Very Hungry Caterpillar or another baby-classic may not be intellectually stimulating for you, your baby will enjoy the familiarity of the words and pictures and love being able to predict what will happen next.

Picking a Baby Book
It seems like there are an infinite number of options for baby books these days. While you should pick stories you like (you’ll be reading them over and over!), some important attributes of good baby books are:

• Sturdiness – babies like to explore with their mouths. Enough said.
• Colors – bright, contrasting colors and patterns are best for babies.
• Length – pick short books with few words, an infant’s ability to focus is relatively short.
• Texture – as babies get older, they will enjoy flipping and opening doors and labels on books. Having scratchy, fuzzy and smooth surfaces is interesting and engaging.

We hope these tips will help inspire you to get your baby off to the right start by exposing him to the joys of reading.

Next time: Our Favorite Baby and Toddler Books!

References:
1. Jack, Kate. ‘Why Babies Need Books’ http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1513. Accessed Jan.13, 2011.
2. Debaryshe, B. (1993). Joint picture-book reading correlates of early oral language skill. Journal of Child Language, 20, pp 455-461.
3. Karrass, J. (2004). Effects of shared parent-infant book reading on early language acquisition. Applied Devel Psych, 26, pp 133-148.
4. Tomasello, M. (1992), The social bases of language acquisition. Social Development, 1: 67–87.

Back to Basics Part 3: Understanding Baby "Language"

Welcome back! Today is part 3 in a series that takes us back to the basics of Baby Behavior. Part 1 explained the Reasons Why Babies Don’t Sleep through Night and part 2 explored The Many Moods of Babies. In today’s segment, we’ll discuss infant cues as we look back at Learning and Creating Your Baby’s Special Language.

In Learning and Creating Your Baby’s Special Language, we introduced infant cues and talked about how caregivers can learn to recognize their babies' unique cues. We talked about the two main types of cues that babies use: engagement (meaning they are ready to interact and play) and disengagement (when they need something changed in their environment) and included “what you’ll see” and “what you can do” for each type of cue. Then, in a post entitled: Happiness is No surprise: Why babies love repetition, we shared some tips for interacting with your baby when he shows you cues that he wants to interact and play.

Later, we followed up by sharing how communication with your baby changes as he gets older during a 2-part series on how babies learn to talk. Guest blogger, Taryn Barrette, shared a new study that showed how mothers’ brains change in response to “baby talk” and how the repetitive, higher-pitched “motherese” draws babies’ attention and helps with infant speech and emotional development.

Even newborns can give engagement and disengagement cues, but remember, a newborn’s cues can be misleading or confusing during the first 6 weeks. The good news: with practice, babies get better and better at giving cues when caregivers respond appropriately. Learn more about how newborns use reflexes to communicate their needs here.

Next Time: The final post in the Back to Basics Series: Crying: Your Baby’s Super Power

And Baby Makes Three - Part 4: The Realities of Becoming a Dad

In the first 3 installments of this series, we talked about the joys and challenges of couples’ transition to parenthood. We’ll finish this series with two posts about how this transition differs for men versus women. While most of the studies of early parenthood are focused on moms, recent studies have explored parenting from the dads' perspective. We realize that each father enters parenthood in his own way, but there do seem to be some generalities that come up again and again. In this post, we’ll share a few these findings with you.

Lost in the Shuffle

Many fathers reported feeling left out of the picture during their partners’ pregnancies. Visits to the doctor or midwife were centered on the mother’s condition and feelings and many dads felt there wasn’t time to get their own questions answered. Prenatal and childbirth classes weren’t much help either because very little time was spent on topics directly related to being a father. Support from friends and family tended to be focused on the mom's needs as if she would be the only one affected by the birth of the baby. While dads wanted to support their partners, they felt that little useful information or advice was offered to them.

Dealing with Reality

Just as many mothers anticipate what their babies will be like, fathers spend much of pregnancy imagining their new lives with a newborn. The babies in parents' dreams are often nothing like the real thing. Many men have little experience caring for babies and some new fathers know almost nothing about newborns or how to care for them. Fathers in the studies reported feeling frustrated because they wanted their babies and partners to be happy yet they didn't have the skills to be much help. Dads were overwhelmed by the work needed to take care of babies and the sudden radical changes in their relationships with their partners. They relied on trial and error, friends, and their partners to help them build their confidence as new dads. Over time, they learned how to recognize and address their babies' needs. Despite their new abilities, many of the dads found that their efforts weren't recognized by friends, family, or professionals. They were still seen as the "second string" when it came to parenting and the lack of recognition of their importance in their babies' lives was a big source of frustration.

Building a Bond

In the 1960s (of Mad Men fame), the stereotypical man went back to work the day after his baby was born and accordingly, he had very little to do with his child until he bought him/her a basketball as an 8th birthday present. Those days are long gone. Most of today’s fathers want to play an active role in their children’s lives. Dads in the studies enjoyed spending time with their newborns and feeling that they were providing the care their babies needed, especially when their babies were able to respond by calming down or smiling back at them. Dads sometimes thought that feeding was the only way to bond with babies and some fathers of breastfeeding babies reported being disappointed that they had to “wait” to bond with their babies until breastfeeding was over. Of course, Secrets readers know that feeding is only part of parents’ connections with babies. Dads who understand baby behavior can play a powerful role (no matter how their babies are fed) as the “translator” of their babies' “language” (especially for sleepy and sore new moms) while providing a consistent source of love and comfort to their babies.

Building baby care skills helped fathers in the studies feel more confident, connected, and in control. They learned how to support and protect their new families through trial and error, from other dads, and reading. We know we have dad-readers out there and we hope that you’ll share your questions with us. Let us know what’s confusing you; we’re here to help.

Next time: And Baby Makes Three - Part 5: The Rocky Road to Becoming a Mother

References
Goodman JH. Becoming an involved father of an infant. JOGNN 2005; 34: 190-200.
Deave T, et al. Transition to parenthood: the needs of parents in pregnancy and early childhood. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2008; 8:30.

“Baby Talk” and the Adult Brain

By Taryn Barrette, RD

The following is a "guest post" from our ever-energetic Taryn Barrette. Though not yet a parent herself, Taryn is a registered dietitian (and proud cat-owner) on our staff who is rapidly becoming a baby behavior specialist.

I always laugh when I hear my boyfriend talk to babies. He’ll say things like “Hello, George. How are you doing today?” in his most grown-up, monotone voice.

Then I chime in, without even thinking about the way my voice changes, with something closer to “Oh heh-woe wittle Georgie-Worgie!” I talk to our cat like that too. How is it that we can flawlessly switch from mature grown-up conversation to cooing, baby-talk gibberish without batting an eye? Well, it could be that our brains react differently in the presence of preverbal infants. In a new study, neurologists showed how mothers’ brains change in response to “baby talk.”

In an earlier post, we talked about how babies respond to “baby talk” and that the repetitive, articulate, higher-pitched “motherese” draws babies’ attention and helps with infant speech and emotional development during their first year of life. We talked about how younger infants make sounds to communicate, and then starting at around 6-10 months of age, babies begin to use signs along with sounds. Eventually, towards the end of the first year, babies start to use words. So we know that “baby talk” is vital for infant development, but how is it beneficial for parents and how does it help parents’ relationships with babies?

In a study conducted in Tokyo, Japan, researchers investigated differences between Infant-Directed Speech (IDS - aka “baby talk”) and Adult-Directed Speech (ADS - aka the monotonous voice my boyfriend uses with baby George). IDS shares similar characteristics with emotional speech, which is used when adults communicate emotions to other adults. Think of cooing, “I love you” to your significant other or using a higher-pitched, animated “Congratulations!” when your sister got promoted. Personality traits (i.e. extroverted vs. introverted) and gender can both affect the way and amount that adults use emotional speech; therefore, these differences may affect how adults utilize “baby talk” with their infants as well!

The researchers used voice recordings of 256 words that were either spoken in IDS or ADS. Study participants were first time moms and dads of preverbal infants, mothers of toddlers and mothers of school-aged children or adults without any children. The participants’ brain activity was measured while they listened to the voice recordings.

The researchers found that the mothers of preverbal babies were the only group who showed activity in the language center of the brain when exposed to “baby talk.” So, moms with preverbal infants who were speaking “motherese” were more likely to be processing “baby talk” as a form of language than mothers whose children were older or fathers of those same children. That could explain why my boyfriend has no interest in “baby-talk.”

The scientists also found that extroverted mothers (women who are naturally more outgoing) were more likely to use “baby talk” with their infants. The more a mother uses IDS, the more her language centers of the brain are activated and the better she gets at using and processing “baby talk.” So, moms: keep talking to your babies! Even if other people give you a hard time, you are helping to improve your baby’s speech and at the same time molding your own brain to become more in tune with baby talk.

Next time: Let’s Talk about Dads!

April Baby Quiz - Answers

Last Friday, we posted a new Baby Quiz. Here are the answers:

1. What percentage of total time sleeping do newborns spend in active sleep (dreaming)? ANSWER: 70-75%. Active sleep is the time when dreaming occurs. Newborn babies spend so much time in active sleep because the brain activity related to dreaming is important for babies' development. For more information about newborn sleep, read Part 1 of our recent series The Science of Infant Sleep.

2. Around 18 months, babies tend to have a vocabulary "spurt." About how many words does the average 18-month-old learn per day?

ANSWER: 3. It is amazing how quickly babies learn! For more information about language development during the second year of life, refer to Part 2 of the From Cues to Conversation series.

3. On average, how old are babies when they cut their first tooth?

ANSWER: 4 to 7 months. Teething is one part of life that is uncomfortable for everyone. It is physically painful for babies and emotionally painful for parents. Unfortunately, there is wide variation not only in the age at which the first tooth appears, but also in the amount of time it takes for teeth to cut through. In one of our upcoming posts, we will explain how babies' behaviors may change during teething and provide tips for making the experience a little easier on everyone.

4. Babies are born with all 5 senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell). Which of the 5 senses seems to be the least developed at birth?

ANSWER: Sight. When babies are born, they can only see objects that are 8-12 inches away. The other senses are much more developed. For example, a baby learns the sound of his mother's voice before he is born and can distinguish the smell of his mother within days after birth. For more information about newborn development, refer to the post Newborn Development: Reflexes Rule!

5. On average, how old is a baby who can sit all by himself and move a toy from one hand to the other?

ANSWER: 6 months. Babies usually begin learning to sit with support around 4 or 5 months of age. At this age, they also start trying to transfer objects from one hand to the other. After just a few months of practice, typically around 6 months of age, these skills become routine! Remember that all babies develop at their own pace and these ages are just averages. More information about infant development is available in the Infant Development series we posted last September and October.

So, how'd you do? We'd love to hear from you, so send us your comments. We'd also love to use one of your questions in our next quiz, so send those too!



Next time: Back to your questions!

Barriers to Building Relationships with Babies: Marketing and the Perfect Parent

More than 4 million babies are born each year in the United States, millions more are born in other countries around the world. For companies selling goods and services to new parents, these babies represent a perpetual marketing opportunity for an enormous array of products that seem to make it possible to be a “perfect, confident, and carefree” parent. Unfortunately, such marketing may result in desperate parents spending money on things that they don’t need and don’t work. Even worse, some of these products may interfere directly with parents’ relationships with their babies.

Lot’s of Choices, Lot’s of Money

A quick look at baby products listed on a popular discount store website revealed 234 different products intended to help you keep your baby occupied including more than 50 baby gyms, 23 baby swings, and 54 bouncers and “entertainers.” These products ranged in price from about $20 to more than $200 each. The time and costs involved in finding and buying the "best" bouncer or the "perfect" swing must seem staggering to new parents. In addition to the expense, there is another downfall to having so many gizmos available for today’s baby. Much of this baby “gear” (as it is called on the websites) is meant to keep babies quiet and distracted and away from their parents. As you know by now, we emphasize the need to look at your baby, to watch for cues, and to respond. All of these actions build trust and give your baby the best start for future relationships. We’ve also told you how talking to your baby helps your baby build language skills. All the “gear” in the world cannot replace your vital role in your baby’s life. Now, we’re not saying that you shouldn’t have or use any of these products but their overuse can be harmful and you certainly don’t need to have any of them to help your baby grow and develop.

The Case Against Baby Einstein (and other videos targeted to infants)

Over the last few years, videos targeted for infants have also grown in popularity. Many of the manufacturers imply that watching the images and listening to the music on these videos results in enhanced development, increased intelligence, and early school readiness. One of the most well-known of these products in the US is sold under the brand name of “Baby Einstein.” Last October, the Disney Company, the current owner the brand, offered purchasers refunds on the DVDs because of a growing concern that the advertising claims for the videos were not supported by research. In fact, some of the research had indicated that viewing videos at very young ages (6 to 16 months) had actually been associated with temporary delays in language development. Other researchers have found that having a television on in the room mesmerizes babies and reduces their interactions with their caregivers. For young babies, it may not be possible to pay attention to both the images and the sound on videos, limiting their ability learn words associated with the pictures that they see. Babies’ brains are not hardwired to watch and learn from video images, they are hardwired to watch and learn from you! We don’t want you to panic if you’ve been using baby videos to keep your baby occupied during the day. The researchers report that these potential negative effects of video exposure disappear as babies get older. But, you should realize that TV is not a reliable or trustworthy babysitter and lots of TV isn’t good for anyone. The American Academy of Pediatrics has solid evidence behind their recommendation that babies under 2 should not watch TV or videos.

The Good News and the Bad News

The good news is that you really don’t need any of the baby entertainment products to be a wonderful parent. The most valuable entertainer, teacher, and soother for your baby is you. Nothing extra needs to be purchased. The bad news is that your baby really needs your time and energy, just when you might think you don’t have any left to give. Human babies need human beings to comfort, teach, hold, and talk to them.

A large number of you probably just said (maybe out loud) “Get real! How am I supposed to cook dinner, pay the bills, get ready for work, or even take a shower without the swing/cradle/bouncer/baby gym/video products?” You probably think I’ve forgotten about how hard it is to be a parent AND live a life with moments and responsibilities that don’t involve wipees. You might be partially right; it is amazing how the rough parts of parenting fade away with time. Fortunately, I am surrounded by women in the "trenches" ready to share their tips about how they managed to get things done and get through the day without $1400 worth of products or baby videos.

Next time: Some tips for entertaining your busy baby without breaking the bank.

Polishing the Mirror: Simple Ways to Reflect the Best of Yourself for Your Baby

Last time, we talked about how babies watch their parents in order to learn more about the world around them. Babies use careful observation to learn as much as they can long before they are capable of asking questions or sitting in a schoolroom. Whenever babies are awake and alert, they are watching, learning, and experiencing everything that their senses can discover. That old cliche, that says "you are your child's first teacher" is true! Here are a few things to keep in mind as you guide your baby's early learning.

1. For most of the first year of your baby's life, you are completely in charge of his environment. You choose where he goes, what he sees, what he eats, where he sleeps, and who he is with. Choose wisely! Do your very best to make sure that your baby's environment is safe and interesting but not overwhelming. Don't worry about spending tons of money on fancy toys. Your baby would rather play with you than with anything you can buy.

2. Watch for signs that your baby is in a quiet alert mood and when he is ready, show your baby the things you most want to share with him. Let him use as many senses as possible while you tell him about his world. For example, if you love the out of doors, use this time to take your baby outside to see, hear, and smell all the things you love about nature.

3. When your baby is in the room, don't let other people behave as if he is not there. Don't let anyone do or say things in front of your baby that you wouldn't want an older child to see or hear. It is easy to think that it doesn't matter what adults do around babies, but it does matter. Babies are "recording" others' words and actions long before they can talk or fully understand what is going on around them.

4. Learn your baby's cues and respond consistently to them. Babies learn quickly about "cause and effect" from the responses they get to their cues. By promptly responding to your baby's cues, you are teaching your baby that he can trust and communicate with you. Also, babies are most ready to learn when they are relaxed and comfortable.

5. Use routines to direct your baby's attention. Remember, babies feel safe and happy when they can predict what will happen to them. When you develop routines for bathtime, meal time, and naps, babies more readily learn your rules. We're not talking about "schedules" rigidly ruled by the clock, but routines - when you use the same series of words and actions. You can develop routines for learning time too! For example, if you notice that your baby is relaxed and alert, you can bring out a special blanket, smile, and ask "Are you ready to see something new?" before you get down on the floor and play with him. When your baby is old enough, this routine will bring squeals of glee.

6. Let your baby explore! Safe exploration is a powerful learning tool. Babies are driven to look, touch, taste, smell, and listen to everything in their environment. Make sure that your baby has an opportunity to move and experience (safe) things each day. Don't forget to watch for signs that your baby needs a break from all the activity. Remember, too much fun can be overwhelming!

Next time: More Holiday Wishes from UC Davis!

Quiz Answers

Earlier this week, we posted a quiz to see how much you know about babies. Here are the answers:

1. The answer is True - Babies are born with 2 types of cries, a basic cry and a pain cry. A basic cry is a generic cry newborns use when they aren't getting what they need, but a pain cry is different. When babies are in pain, they start by holding their breath before letting out an intense scream. As babies get older, their vocal cords mature and they develop different kinds of cries. For more information about crying, read Baby Behavior Basics Part 4: Crying: Your Baby's Super Power.

2. The answer is False - Babies all over the world develop behaviors and achieve milestones at the same pace! For example, babies in the United States, China, and France all develop social smiling around 6 weeks of age. For more information read Newborn Development: Reflexes Rule and Two to Four Weeks: A Whole New World. Next week we'll continue our series on infant development.

3. The answer is 3000 - The average baby goes through about 3000 diapers in the first year of life. That is a lot of diapers (and even more wipes)!

4. The answer is True - Babies can copy facial movements within the first hour of life. When a newborn is in the quiet alert state, she is ready to interact, so it's a great time to try this out. Hold the baby close to you (remember, newborns can only see about 12 inches away) and pucker your lips. It may take a little while, but she will try to pucker hers too!

5. The answer is 4 days old - Babies can identify their native language from a foreign language by the time they are 4 days old! This is just further proof that babies develop very quickly! More information about language development is available in the From Cues to Conversation: How Babies Learn To Talk.

We hope you enjoyed this little quiz! Do you have questions about baby behavior? We would love to give you the answers, just send us a comment or an email!

Next Time: We'll continue our series on infant development with 6-8 weeks of age.

From Cues to Conversation: How Babies Learn to Talk (Part 2)

In this post we will continue our discussion about the stages of language development* focusing on the stages that tend to occur in the second year (for stages that occur in year 1, see Part 1). Don't forget that the ages we list are averages and that there is a wide range of "normal." If your baby's development seems different than described here, it is not necessarily cause for concern. If you do have concerns, discuss them with your pediatrician.

13-18 months
As babies enter their second year, their vocabulary grows with them. Many babies this age will use about 50 words. Practice makes perfect and this stage is all about practice. Pay attention to your baby's speech and acknowledge him when he is trying out new words. Olivia is in this stage now. She gets very excited when we know what she is saying and repeat it back to her.

18 months
Around 18 months, babies have a vocabulary "spurt" because they start to learn 3 or more words per day! Even though they are learning words at a rapid pace, they may be using some words incorrectly. For example, Olivia calls everything that is round "ball." When she calls something, like an orange or a balloon, "ball" we just say, "that is round like a ball, you're right, but it is balloon. Can you say balloon?" and most of the time she tries to say balloon. Babies at this age may also be testing their own knowledge by asking the same question over and over. For example, your baby may bring you every round toy he can find, each time saying "ball?"

21 months
Between 15 and 24 months, many babies start to use 2-word sentences. This stage is hard because the order of the words is important. Despite the difficulty, babies usually get the order right. By this age, you will really be able to see the benefit of all the talking you did when he was younger!

24 months
By 2 years of age, babies begin using multi-word sentences, though most are only 2 or 3 words long. All of their hard work has paid off and they are finally able to understand what language is for. Most importantly, they are able to express themselves just like you!

Simple ways you can help your baby learn to talk

• Start talking to your baby right away! You may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but with practice, it will feel more and more natural.


• Responding to your baby will build his confidence in his abilities to communicate.


• Reading books, singing, and listening to music is a good way to expose your baby to your language


• Use Baby Signs with your baby before he is able to speak. Knowing just a few of the most common signs, like "please," "more," "all done," and "milk," can reduce frustration and help your baby communicate with you.


• Provide positive feedback when your baby tries new words and use an encouraging tone when correcting him.


• Keep in mind that not all babies learn at the same pace. Even if your 2-year-old only knows half as many words as your sister's 18-month-old, that's OK. If you do have concerns, talk to your baby's doctor.


• Enjoy! It is amazing how much babies learn in the first 2 years of their lives.
  

*Bloom and Lenneberg (Bloom (1993) The transition from infancy to language: Acquiring the power of expression and Lenneberg (1967) Biological Foundations of Language.


Next time: The votes are in! We'll start a series of posts on babies' developmental stages.

From Cues to Conversation: How Babies Learn to Talk

By Jennifer Banuelos

In past posts, we've explained how newborns communicate with their caregivers to get what they need (See Baby Behavior Basic Part 3), but we haven't discussed how communication with your baby changes as he gets older. Until now!

First we must remind you that all babies are different! Despite these differences, babies all over the world share a similar pattern of language development. In this post, we'll go over the steps of language development during the first year described by the experts (year 2 will come next time). It is fun to watch your baby's communication skills expand. When you respond to your baby's cues, motions, and words, you encourage and enhance his learning. Remember, the ages listed here are just averages. There is a wide range of "normal." If your baby's development seems different than described here, it is not necessarily cause for concern. If you do have concerns, discuss them with your pediatrician.

Newborns
Newborns use body movements, facial expressions, and crying to express their needs. At this stage, your baby's 'language' is based on reflexes, but young babies do enjoy the sound of human voices more than any other sound. Newborns prefer high-pitched, simple, repetitive speech, which is often referred to as baby-talk or motherese.

2 months
By 2 months, babies make a range of meaningful noises, like cooing, fussing, crying, and laughing. When your baby is at this stage, responding to his needs quickly and consistently will provide him with a sense of security and the desire to continue learning new communication skills.

3-6 months
Babies at this stage like making new sounds, like squeals, growls, croons, trills, and vowel sounds. They still love the sound of your voice and at this stage, they may be able to respond with sounds of their own! My husband and I have been talking to Olivia since the day she was born. We didn't even realize how often we talked to her until someone pointed it out to us. It may seem strange to say "Let's go in your room and change your diaper" or "it's time to eat" to a tiny baby, but before long, it becomes routine. You can start by reading to your baby or singing songs to him. Once you see how happy he is when he hears your voice, you may find yourself talking to him more often.

6-10 months
This stage is when the real fun begins - when babies begin babbling and using consonants and vowels together. This is a great time to start using "Baby Signs," or hand gestures similar to those used by people who are hearing impaired. The baby in the picture above is giving the sign for "please." Baby Signs were popularized by researchers here at UC Davis, who have found benefits to teaching babies to use signs (see http://www.blogger.com/www.babysigns.com for more information about the benefits). It is best to use the signs while saying the words out loud. We started out using only 2 signs with Olivia - "more" (tapping finger tips together) and "all done" (moving hand, palm down and fingers straight, from side to side). There are numerous books and web sites about baby signs and some communities even have classes available for parents, but you don't really need to buy anything to get started. You can develop your own signs or even watch for signs that your baby develops himself. By starting to use signs between 6 and 10 months, you will be helping your baby get to the next stage!

10-12 months
Around this age, babies start to make specific, meaningful sounds. They begin using the same gestures to communicate, which is why the previous stage is a good time for you to start using Baby Signs! Studies have shown that infants whose mothers' are highly responsive develop language more quickly.

12 months
Baby's first word is usually spoken at the end of the first year, although many babies reach this stage earlier or later. Motor and language development tend to compete, so a baby who is learning to walk may not be concentrating on learning to talk and vice versa. Also, the first word (or the first few words) may not be very clear and may only be recognizable to the parents. That is just fine. It is important to remember that language development is not a race and it will not help to push your baby to say things correctly.

*Bloom and Lenneberg (Bloom (1993) The transition from infancy to language: Acquiring the power of expression and Lenneberg (1967) Biological Foundations of Language).

Next time: We'll talk about babies' language development in his second year.

Baby Behavior Basics Part 3 – Learning and Creating Your Baby’s Special Language

One of the most astonishing things about newborns is their ability to communicate almost from the moment they are born. Without words, they manage to let their parents know when they want to eat, learn, play, or rest. They also can use their bodies and some awful noises to send unmistakable signals when they need a break (or a diaper change!). In the past, experienced friends and family members were there to help moms “decode” baby messages. These days, many new parents are on their own in trying to understand their babies’ signals, called “cues.” In this post, we’ll help you translate the seemingly random movements and sounds that your baby makes into comprehensible messages. We’re going to tell you about “engagement cues,” “disengagement cues,” and “clustered cues.”

Engagement cues – When babies want to interact with the people who love them (or anyone nearby), they will instinctively look, move, and make noise in specific ways. Collectively, these movements and noises are called “engagement cues.”
What you’ll see – Your baby will have wide open eyes and look at you or a toy as if they are trying to memorize what they see. Their faces and their bodies will be relaxed and they will use smooth body movements. Older babies may smile and try to touch or taste whatever interests them. When they are very excited, babies will kick their legs and squirm with glee.
What you can do – Using engagement cues, your baby is asking you to help her learn more about you and her new world. At first, your baby will be content just looking at your face and listening to your voice. Later, she’ll want to play more complicated games. Enjoy this time together but be prepared to watch for signs that your baby might be tiring. Engaging with you is hard work!

Disengagement cues – When babies need a break, either for a moment or a nap, they’ll use a different set of movements and noises to make sure you know it. These signs are called “disengagement cues.”
What you’ll see – Your baby may close his eyes, turn his face or body away from you or he may arch or twist his body away. His muscles will be tense and he may frown or look like he is about to cry. If he’s not allowed to take a break, he will start crying to make sure you know what to do. Older babies will stiffen their hands and bring them up towards their faces; they may try to change position, have you pick them up or put them down.
What you can do – Let your baby take a break! Stop whatever you were doing; reduce stimulation in the environment (noises, lights, toys, or interactions) that might have been too much for your baby. Pay close attention and see if your baby is happy with a short break or if he may need a longer one or a big change of scene. Babies who are over stimulated by what is going on around them will use disengagement cues but babies have a very limited ability to communicate. While they can tell you when they need a break, they can’t tell you why they need the break. If you pick up your fussy baby and he arches away from you, he might be trying to tell you that the TV is too loud or that the dog smells bad. Sometimes the problem will be obvious; other times you’ll need to be a detective to figure out what has upset your baby.

The Ultimate Baby Body Language: Clustered Cues
It wouldn’t make sense that it could be hard to tell when a baby is hungry. If people needed a PhD to tell when babies needed to eat, babies wouldn’t survive. Babies will give parents lots of cues, called “clustered cues,” when they need them to do important things. A hungry newborn will move her head looking for something to suck on. She will pull her hands and her knees upward toward her face. She will make sucking noises and try to suck on anything she can find. If no one feeds her right away (babies don’t like to wait), she will start crying while still using all the other cues. Older babies will try to get into a breastfeeding position, or excitedly reach for the bottle or spoon. Babies use clustered cues to show they are full too. They relax their muscles, slow down in their eating, let their hands fall away from their face, and sometimes fall asleep. Making sure you know when to stop feeding is just as important to your baby as letting you know she needs to eat. It is important when parents hear their babies cry that they check for clustered hunger cues before they assume they are hungry.

Creating Your Own Special Language
Now that I’ve made it all sound so simple, I do have to warn you that some babies are not born able to give clear cues. Some babies have to develop their skills over the first few days and weeks. Fortunately, nature makes sure that things turn out well; when parents respond to babies’ signals, babies get better at using cues and parents get better at reading them. After a relatively short time, parents and babies develop their own special language and this continues as children get older and learn other ways to communicate, including using words. We’d love to hear about your baby’s special ways of communicating with you.

Next time: Crying: Your Baby’s Super Power