{"id":4214,"date":"2021-05-28T17:25:59","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T14:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog?p=4214"},"modified":"2022-10-20T15:02:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T12:02:03","slug":"intelligence-in-children-and-babies-is-my-baby-a-genius","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/intelligence-in-children-and-babies-is-my-baby-a-genius","title":{"rendered":"Intelligence in Children and Babies &#8211; Is My Baby a Genius?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Wondering if you have an Einstein on your hands, this article about intelligence in children and babies is for you!&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n<h1 id=\"what-is-intelligence\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is intelligence?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intelligence. What exactly is it?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might be surprised to know that this is one of the least <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/intelligence.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">understood phenomena<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the universe. We all have an inkling as to what it is, and can certainly recognise it when we see it, but it is very difficult to provide a widely accepted definition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That being said, some have tried.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/intelligence\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merriam-Webster dictionary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, intelligence can be defined as:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(1): the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(2): the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one&#8217;s environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (such as tests).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/intelligence.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">psychologists <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have their own definitions too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on who you ask, you will get different answers about what intelligence really is. For example, some experts will argue that it is a general ability, while others may point out that intelligence is actually a specific set of skills or talents.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also highly contentious as to whether intelligence is primarily inherited (i.e. coded in your DNA), or is largely the consequence of your experiences from birth. However, in truth, it is likely a generous combination of both &#8212; but we really don\u2019t know for sure.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This really is something of a rabbit hole.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, what is clear, is that whatever intelligence is, all human beings have it to a great or lesser extent. And, it all begins from our time in the womb.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-3-types-of-intelligence\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the 3 types of intelligence?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you probably have your own view on the different types of intelligence, it is interesting to know that there is no widely agreed upon definition of it, let alone classification of types of intelligence.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This has been an ongoing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-fmcc-intropsych\/chapter\/what-are-intelligence-and-creativity\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">debate for many decades<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, of not centuries.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, one of the most popular classifications of intelligence comes from Robert Sternberg.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He divided intelligence into three main types:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practical<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Analytical<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creative<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first, <\/span><b>practical intelligence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, sometimes referred to as \u201cstreet smarts\u201d, is the ability of a person to find solutions to everyday problems by applying their own experience of past events and solutions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interestingly, this form of intelligence appears to be distinct from the commonly understood phenomenon of IQ.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children, and adults for that matter, can score very high in this area, but may, or may not, have comparable scores in the other two forms of intelligence.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second, <\/span><b>analytical intelligence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, has a close correlation with academic prowess and computational abilities. It is the form of intelligence used to analyze, evaluate, judge, compare, and contrast.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The third and final type, <\/span><b>creative intelligence,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the ability of someone to iinvent or imagine solutions to a problem or situation. This can include novel solutions to problems, or creating beautiful works of art, or engaging stories.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seems compelling, but it is important to note that this is just one suggestion for the different forms of intelligence. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/multiple-intelligences.html#:~:text=To%20broaden%20this%20notion%20of,Interpersonal%2C%20Intrapersonal%2C%20and%20Naturalist.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many others<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Does Baby&#8217;s Intelligence Development Begin?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on your definition, you can argue that a baby\u2019s intelligence development starts in the womb. Around <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ehp.niehs.nih.gov\/doi\/full\/10.1289\/EHP2268#:~:text=Human%20brain%20development%20starts%20soon,basis%20of%20the%20nervous%20system.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2-3 weeks after fertilization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the baby\u2019s neural plate forms which eventually develops into an actual brain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the period of time when their brains grow the most. So much so, in fact, that at the time of birth, the vast majority of the baby&#8217;s brain is around 25% of its adult size &#8212; all in 9, or so, months.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cerebral cortex (the part of the brain associated with voluntary actions) grows last, and is relatively underdeveloped at birth. However, it rapidly matures within the first fews years of a baby\u2019s life.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the age of 3, a child\u2019s brain will be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/weillcornellbrainandspine.org\/sites\/default\/files\/resources\/210-235pm-Greenfield-SECURED.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">around 80% <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of its final adult size. From birth, and throughout their childhood, the neurons of the brain grow the fastest, until they peak at around the beginning of adolescence.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is for this reason, that babies (and toddlers) appear to be able to pick up new skills (like walking or talking) so rapidly &#8212; when compared to adults. These connections get stronger over time as new experiences, and repeated experiences, first build and then reinforce these neural connections.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Synapse connections form at a faster rate during this period than in any other time in your child\u2019s life. Any unused synapses will disappear over time. With their brains literally swimming in new synaptic connections, your baby is set up to learn many new things, very quickly.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During these first few years, your baby has all the hardware it needs. Now all they need is some data &#8212; experiences.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where you, as the parent, come into play (literally and figuratively). We\u2019ll go into that in more detail later.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can read more about this topic in detail at \u201cWhen Does Baby&#8217;s Intelligence Development Begin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"intelligence-development-in-babies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intelligence Development in Babies<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first few years of a baby\u2019s life are a period of seemingly superhuman physical growth. But, it is also a time when their brains, and by extension their character and intelligence, also undergo massive development.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every single day, interactions with their parents and the environment create new pathways and connections in their brains, and their brain and their body. Unfortunately, unlike physical growth which can be readily recorded, cognitive development in infants is notoriously difficult to assess and track.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this reason, most of the literature on this subject is based on the careful observation of developmental theorists and their theories, such as Jean Piaget\u2019s theory of cognitive development and Erickson&#8217;s psychosocial stages. Other hypotheses also exist, like Bronfenbrenner&#8217;s ecological model, which could also help explain infant mental growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, by far the most popular is that of Piaget. He postulated that infants interact with the environment entirely reflexively. They are not \u201cthinking\u201d as such, but rather instinctively experiencing and testing their surroundings to get what they need like food, air, and protection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As time goes by, infants then begin to learn about their environment using their senses, and start to intentionally interact with certain goals in mind &#8212; they are, in other words, starting to think.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is thought that, at this time, infants develop something called \u201cobject permanence\u201d. This is the ability to understand that objects exist in the world, even if they cannot be seen. These accomplishments, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gracepointwellness.org\/461-child-development-parenting-infants-0-2\/article\/10112-infancy-cognitive-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Piaget<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, are the most important intellectual milestones in their early development.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He then goes onto to subdivide infancy into more subcategories (which have been refined over the years), but we\u2019ll let you explore those in your own time (if you are interested, of course).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"what-does-gifted-child-mean\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does \u201cgifted child\u201d mean?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to some sources, like the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/gifted-child\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encyclopedia Britannica<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, being \u201cgifted\u201d means \u201cany child who is naturally endowed with a high degree of general mental ability or extraordinary ability in a specific sphere of activity or knowledge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, some official organizations, like the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nagc.org\/resources-publications\/resources\/what-giftedness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, tend to define children being gifted as those \u201cstudents with gifts and talents perform\u2014or have the capability to perform\u2014at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize their potential.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the NAGC, gifted children can come from any racial, ethnic, economic background or culture. Once identified, they will generally need to be given access to appropriate learning opportunities to fully develop their talents and realize their potential.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some circumstances, gifted children can even have learning processing disorders that may require specialized intervention and support too. They may also need support and guidance to develop socially and emotionally and nurture their special talents.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most countries tend to apply the term to children with IQs of 130 or above. However, most schools are increasingly using various different measures to determine \u201cgiftedness\u201d in different talents. This could include, but is not limited to, verbal skills, mathematical skills, spatial-visual abilities, musical and artist talent, or even interpersonal abilities.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you child does have a relatively high IQ, for admission to institutions like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mensa.org\/join-mensa\/become-member\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MENSA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the general entry requirements are a score on the Stanford\u2013Binet IQ scale of 132, or 148 on the Cattell test. In all cases, prospective entrants must be within the two 2% of the population.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it is important to note that having a high IQ may not mean your child is also \u201cgifted\u201d. Being \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/1997-08230-023\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gifted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d and also being classified as a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/genius-psychology\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genius <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a hotly debated subject.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also important to note that the very use of the term \u201c<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/giftedissues.davidsongifted.org\/BB\/ubbthreads.php\/topics\/239323\/Re_There_s_no_such_thing_as_a_.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gifted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d, is also hotly contested.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-do-i-know-if-my-child-is-gifted\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do I know if my child is gifted?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, and not to sound intentionally flippant, it really does depend. It depends on your particular child, where you live, and who you ask.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your child may show some signs of being gifted that one expert would recognize, and another not. Your child may also have a very high IQ, but may have no actual \u201cspecial talents\u201d.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, very generally speaking, most experts on the subject will tend to agree that some signs of your child being \u201cgifted\u201d include (courtesy of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greatschools.org\/gk\/articles\/gifted-and-talented-children\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">greatschools.org)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exhibiting unusual curiosity and asking questions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being good at solving problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reasoning well and understanding and adapting ideas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having many interests<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reading avidly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning quickly and remembering what\u2019s learned<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communicating well<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoying intellectual challenges<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All well and good, but for younger children (especially those who haven\u2019t learned to read yet), some of these signs may be difficult to pick up on.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For younger children, some early signs of potential \u201cgiftedness\u201d, include, but are not limited to: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They enjoy listening to a longer book, and often ask for it to be read again<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your child may show an early interest in things like the alphabet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may be able to remember complex events<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your child might be able to organize and arrange objects easily<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it is important to note that these are just general potential signs. They do not necessarily mean your child is \u201cgifted\u201d.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can read more about the topic at \u201cHow do I know if my child is gifted?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"what-is-cognitive-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is cognitive development?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/helpmegrowmn.org\/HMG\/HelpfulRes\/Articles\/WhatCognitiveDev\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cognitive development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as the term implies, is the method in which children think, explore, and generally figure things out. This includes the development of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">knowledge, skills, problem solving, etc that enable a child to think about and understand the world around them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a parent, it is one of your primary objectives to foster your child\u2019s cognitive development from the moment they are born.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By doing this, you are, in part, setting them to be the very best they can be before they head off to school and become well rounded adults.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this might sound like an insurmountable task, remember some of the most critical elements of this are usually hard-wired into you. Trust your instincts as much as you can.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That being said, there are some things you can do on an almost daily basis to help out.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"boosting-cognitive-development-in-babies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boosting Cognitive development in babies<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to help promote your little one\u2019s cognitive development, you will need to get actively involved in spending quality time with them daily. Since babies are generally experts at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnbeh.2018.00300\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">catching, and keeping, adult\u2019s attention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the attention part should be a breeze.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help you little one\u2019s development, some great tips include, but are not limited to:-<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constantly talk with your baby, point out and name commonly used things. It doesn\u2019t really matter what they are, it is the interaction that is important.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let your baby move around freely, as much as they are able, and explore things like toys under their own steam. Obviously intervene if things are getting a little dangerous.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sing and read to your baby daily.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expose young infants to puzzles and other problem-solving toys.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pay attention to things they start to show greater than normal interest in. Nurture their curiosity. For example, they may be fascinated with trains, or dinosaurs &#8212; embrace it. Maybe supplement their interest with trips to museums, etc.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When they are able to talk, always attempt to answer any and all of those dreaded \u201cwhy questions\u201d.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When they get older, try to practice something called \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/raisingchildren.net.au\/toddlers\/connecting-communicating\/connecting\/positive-attention\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">positive attention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d. Essentially, this means you should seek to always interact and respond to your child with warmth and genuine interest. This will not only help them feel secure, and valued, but will also help them build their self-esteem and mental abilities.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should also, where feasible, allow your child to make choices and prompt them to arrive at thoughtful decisions. Let them explore different ways to solve problems too. Providing guidance is, of course, encouraged, but try to let them come to their own conclusions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If they give a wrong answer, or reach a wrong conclusion, you can warmly enquire how, and why, they reached the answer they gave. Sometimes, in fact quite often, the logic path will be very interesting indeed.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This generally will require some patience on your part, but it will ultimately help him\/her to learn. Plus it will genuinely strengthen the bond between you.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-cognitive-development-milestones-for-babies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the cognitive development milestones for babies?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It goes without saying that every baby is different. However, there are generally some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pathways.org\/all-ages\/milestones\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">milestones <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you should expect to observe as your baby grows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We will include them below, but please note, these are very general and should not be taken as definitive development for all children.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the age of between 3-6 months, babies will generally be able to: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">talk to you in simple sounds like \u2018coos\u2019&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">make different noises depending on need (hunger, etc)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">listen to you as you speak. They may even try to reply<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smile when they see their own reflection in mirrors, or their own images in photos, etc<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start to explore things with their mouths, and grab things (be mindful of what you leave within their reach during this period)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between 6 and 9 months, there is a good change they will: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">randomly say \u2018mama\u2019 or \u2018dada\u2019, or similar words<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attempt to imitate basic sounds like \u2018ma\u2019, \u2018ba\u2019 and \u2018da\u2019<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">respond to their own names<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">be able to hold their own bottle, and perhaps feed themselves with their fingers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From around 8 months on, they may be able to look at things when named too<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around 9 to 12 months, babies will generally:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">use the words \u2018mama\u2019 and \u2019dada\u2019 at the right time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">be able to understand simple commands like \u2018give it to me\u2019<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">make silly faces or sounds in an attempt to make you laugh<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enjoy repetitive games and familiar stories.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between 8 and 12 months, babies can also start to experiment while playing. They may, for example, be able to: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy throwing, and watching, an object<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">push things over, like bins<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">throw stuff at walls, like toys (or their food)&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally test the things in their local vicinity, like toys, household objects, and, if present, pets<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through activities like this, your baby is effectively testing the world. They are also learning the fundamentals of \u201cif I do this, this will likely happen\u201d. Be patient, and encourage them whenever you can.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can read more about this topic in detail at \u201cWhat are the cognitive development milestones for babies?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"are-babies-born-with-intelligence\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are babies born with intelligence?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The inheritance of intelligence at birth is a very controversial and not very well understood phenomenon. While studies have been conducted for and against the premise that intelligence is, indeed, genetic (and so present at birth), we are not entirely sure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there is compelling evidence that a large component of intelligence is likely inherited. Studies of i<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/SB10001424052702304898704577478482432277706#:~:text=By%20then%20they%20had%20measured,pairs%20of%20individuals%2C%20even%20siblings.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dentical twins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (twins who are genetically identical) have shown that their IQ levels tend to be the same.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is even the case if the twins are raised in different households.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These kinds of studies appear to indicate that intelligence is heavily influenced by genetics, rather than the environment in which they are raised. Fraternal twins, or twins who are not genetically identical, will show more variance in intelligence &#8212; just like regular siblings born years apart.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is more, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/mg23931870-500-the-truth-about-intelligence-what-makes-someone-smarter-than-others\/#:~:text=However%2C%20there%20is%20no%20escaping,that%20of%20their%20biological%20parents.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adopted children<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showed a stronger correlation of IQ with their genetic parents than their adopted parents.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Logically this makes sense, as genetics code for all the basic \u201ccomponents\u201d of your baby\u2019s physical body as they develop in the womb and after birth. What\u2019s more, when it comes to the brain, we know that genetics are a good determiner for the size and shape of your child\u2019s brain when born.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/does-brain-size-matter1\/#:~:text=It%20is%20hard%20to%20pin,and%20intelligence%2C%20especially%20across%20species.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">larger brain sizes do<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> not necessarily indicate higher intelligence. The physical structure of the brain is also only part of the story. The experiences we make in life also have their part to play in molding our individual intellects too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists in the field, like molecular biologist Robert Plomin, believe that the heritability of intelligence accounts for around 50 percent, rising to 75 percent by late adolescence, of your child\u2019s innate intelligence.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, a child\u2019s intelligence is a mixture of genetics (nature) and nurture (the environment in which they were brought up), with the latter becoming more important over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can think of it as a child having the potential, genetically, to be intelligent, but if they are not educated or exposed to intelligence-building activities, your child may see little benefit. It just gives them a little head start.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take, for example, the story of a <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mustangps.org\/Downloads\/Worksheet-Ethics-Genie%20article%20with%20questions-Galucci2.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genie<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This girl was kept isolated in her room for the entirety of the first 13 years of her life.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neglected and left alone for years, she became \u201cferal\u201d and never learned how to speak. Even after she was rescued, she never really adjusted to regular society and never mastered the first language &#8212; despite likely being quite intelligent.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So are babies born intelligent? If you and your partner are intelligent then yes, but you must nurture and develop their intelligence over time. It is not a given but is a good start.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, studies emerge all the time on this subject for and against the inheritance of intelligence.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a parent, the most important thing to do is give your child all the learning support, enrichment, and love you can (and will) provide. Life is a marathon, not a race, as the saying goes.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"do-intelligent-babies-sleep-less\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do Intelligent babies sleep less?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does your child struggle to sleep through the night? Good news, your child may be highly intelligent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While scientists are not entirely in agreement, anecdotal evidence, and some scientific studies, do seem to correlate with more intelligent children needing less sleep. Or, at the very least, are able to function as well as their peers despite needing less sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While, as an infant, you might not notice that your child is especially intelligent, you\u2019ll definitely notice that they don&#8217;t really sleep that much.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually to your great detriment &#8211; especially hard-working parents.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is especially true if you have great difficulty getting your little bundle of joy to sleep at night. They just can\u2019t seem to shut off their brains.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is known, is that a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5440010\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">good night\u2019s sleep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is vitally important for your child\u2019s development and wellbeing. Sleep is critical for growth (both physically and mentally).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But is there any scientific evidence for or against sleeping less and higher intelligence in children?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the \u201cfor\u201d camp is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bristolpost.co.uk\/news\/health\/good-thing-your-baby-not-2417239\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professor Peter Fleming<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (of Bristol University), who has conducted research in just this field. A specialist in infant development and health, his research seems to indicate that babies who wake up more often show higher levels of intelligence and good mental health.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, Flemming\u2019s research shows that babies tend to want to be awake between 6 pm and midnight and rather sleep during the day (rather than at night). However, like anything in science, such claims are hotly debated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Against the motion is a large body of evidence in support of the complete opposite. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">For example, studies in <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21077861\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">2010<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> and <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/j.1479-8425.2011.00525.x\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">2017<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> showed a strong correlation between a good night&#8217;s sleep and cognitive development in infants too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The jury is still out.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But, just like adults, children probably need as much sleep as they need. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Everyone is different.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">However, it is important to note that a regular sleeping routine is critically important for both adults and children. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Children need routine, and, as any parent will tell you, a bedtime routine is critically important to getting your children to sleep (and stay asleep).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Any distractions, like using a tablet, or eating sugar-laden foods, likely mean you are in for a long night ahead. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Set limits on eating and exposure to stimulus every day and make sure your child is ready, and prepared for bed at the same time every night.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Try to educate them about the importance of sleep, and tackle any challenges (or indeed fears) they may have. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You could find that your child is afraid of monsters under the bed, doesn&#8217;t like being alone, or is afraid of the dark.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Experiment with solutions and strategies to make them feel safe in their own bed, ideally to want to be there.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Try, as best you can, to never use the bedroom (or their bed) as a punishment. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">They may associate bedtime with something to avoid rather than desire.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This will be difficult at the beginning, especially if your child is used to a more relaxed bedtime routine, but it will pay dividends in the long run. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">For all concerned.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Of course, if you are really worried (or just exhausted), consult a pediatrician for professional medical advice.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"using-invidyo-to-monitor-babys-sleep\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Using Invidyo To Monitor Baby&#8217;s Sleep<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Invidyo Baby Cam<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> helps parents keep an eye on their baby&#8217;s sleeping patterns and habits. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You can watch your child sleep using HD night vision feature. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Every movement and noise disruption is recorded for parents to check videos of what interrupted the baby&#8217;s sleep. <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Invidyo<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> helps parents observe their baby&#8217;s sleep habits closely so they can eradicate sources of noise and disturbance. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It also helps parents ensure their baby sleeps well.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium fasc-style-bold\" style=\"background-color: #00acc3; color: #ffffff;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Get A FREE Invidyo Baby Cam For $20\/mo<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"how-to-make-your-baby-smarter-before-birth\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How to make your baby smarter before birth?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you have ever wondered what you can do to help make your baby more intelligent during pregnancy, then here are some handy hints and tips. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">While genetics will play a crucial role, there are, according to experts, a few things you can do to help out with your baby&#8217;s development.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And here they are&#8230;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-eat-well-and-healthy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">1. Eat well and healthy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The first is to <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/13-foods-to-eat-when-pregnant#fish-liver-oil\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">eat well and healthy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Avoid fast food as much as possible, and try to get a well-balanced diet. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This is generally good advice if you are not pregnant anyway.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You&#8217;ll need plenty of protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and fluids. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Eat plenty of dairy (for calcium and protein), legumes, sweet potatoes, dark green leafy things and broccoli, lean meats and other proteins, berries, whole grains, avocados, and dried fruits.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Also, ensure you remain well hydrated.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-make-sure-you-take-crucial-brain-foods-vitamins-etc\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">2. Make sure you take crucial brain foods (vitamins etc)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u201cYou are what you eat,\u201d as the saying goes, as this is true for your baby as it is for you. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">While you will have cravings, you should try to focus on eating protein-rich foods like eggs and fish.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Egg yolks, in particular, are full of something called <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6722688\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">choline<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> too, which is a vitamin that comes highly recommended for pregnant women.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Some studies have also shown that this vitamin helps with brain cell development as well. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Salmon, and sardines, are also packed with <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marchofdimes.org\/pregnancy\/vitamins-and-other-nutrients-during-pregnancy.aspx#:~:text=Docosahexaenoic%20acid%20(DHA)%20is%20a,to%20take%20a%20DHA%20supplement.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">DHA<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> . <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">These fish are also pretty low in mercury too. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">DHA is a common ingredient in prenatal supplements, which is also vital for brain development too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-do-not-use-alcohol-and-cigarettes\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">3. Do not use alcohol and cigarettes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This one is self-explanatory really. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You should cut out as many bad habits, and toxins, from your body as much as possible. <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.plannedparenthood.org\/learn\/teens\/ask-experts\/what-if-you-didnt-know-you-pregnant-and-drank-and-smoked-the-first-month-could-that-harm-or-affect-the-growth-and-development-of-the-unborn-fetus#:~:text=It%20is%20unlikely%20that%20moderate,and%20drinks%20moderately%20or%20heavily.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Cutting out these drugs<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> will also help you remain healthier generally, give you more energy, and reduce the potential for damaging your precious little cargo.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The same goes for passive smoking, so avoid smokers for the time being.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"4-do-not-use-medicine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">4. Do not use medicine&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you ever read any information leaflets that come with medicines, most, if not all, will have some form of <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthlinkbc.ca\/health-topics\/uf9707#:~:text=Doctors%20usually%20tell%20women%20to,high%20blood%20pressure%20or%20asthma.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">disclaimer about pregnant women<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> . <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This is for a good reason.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It is not necessarily because the medicine can cross the placenta and damage your baby ( <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birthinjuryhelpcenter.org\/medication-birth-defects.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">though some can<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> ), it is that most scientists do not know how medicines may affect pregnant women (and their babies). <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">For this reason, it is best to not risk it &#8212; especially in the first trimester.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If ever in doubt, always consult a medical professional about which medicines, if needed, can be used while pregnant.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"5-stay-away-from-chemicals\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">5. Stay away from chemicals&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Whenever possible, you should also avoid contact, inhalation, or ingestion of <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au\/toxic-household-products-to-avoid-during-pregnancy#:~:text=However%2C%20a%20small%20amount%20of,as%20fly%20screens%20and%20long\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">chemicals during pregnancy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaning products, paints, insect repellents, mercury, nail polish, flame retardants, mothballs, etc, are all common household chemicals that should be avoided.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many others, so do some research.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"6-stay-away-from-stress\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Stay away from stress<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, we know, reducing stress is commonly thrown around as medical advice, whether you are pregnant or not. But, it is very important for the health of your baby!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it is likely inevitable that you get <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marchofdimes.org\/complications\/stress-and-pregnancy.aspx#:~:text=High%20levels%20of%20stress%20that,5%20pounds%2C%208%20ounces).\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stressed at times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially as your pregnancy progresses into the second and third trimester, you should learn some coping exercises if things do get on top of you.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meditate, learn some breathing techniques, or simply avoid things that tend to trigger stress. Luckily, there are plenty of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marchofdimes.org\/complications\/stress-and-pregnancy.aspx#:~:text=Eat%20healthy%20foods%2C%20get%20plenty,with%20chores%20around%20the%20house.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resources on stress management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out there if you need some inspiration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"7-move-as-much-as-you-can\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Move as much as you can<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this isn\u2019t likely to be an issue in your first and second trimester, moving around freely may become tricky in your final trimester. However, try your best to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/womens-health\/faqs\/exercise-during-pregnancy#:~:text=Experts%20agree%20these%20exercises%20are,avoid%20injury%20and%20muscle%20strain.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> move around and exercise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as much as you can throughout your pregnancy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are not talking about training for a marathon here, simply trying to go for walks daily, take part in swimming workouts, etc. These activities will strengthen your muscles, and will generally be very rewarding for your personal physical and mental health anyway.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/healthy-lifestyle\/pregnancy-week-by-week\/in-depth\/prenatal-yoga\/art-20047193\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prenatal yoga<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is also very popular with pregnant women.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"8-play-music\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;8. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Play music<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/parenting\/child-development\/how-music-affects-your-babys-brain-class#:~:text=It%20is%20proven%20that%20music,hears%20its%20very%20first%20sound.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listening to music <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is always a good way to regulate your mood at the best of times. When you are pregnant, it can also be beneficial for your baby too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some studies have shown that certain forms of music could, possibly, help with the cognitive development of your baby inside the womb. Whatever the case, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.northshore.org\/healthy-you\/9-health-benefits-of-music\/#:~:text=It%20can%20also%20reduce%20heart,feelings%20of%20anxiety%20and%20depression.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">listening to your favorite tunes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will improve your mood levels, and relieve stress, so crack out your favorite playlist.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"9-thyroid-levels-check\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Thyroid levels check<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another thing to consider during your pregnancy is to regularly check your<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/endocrine-center\/normal-thyroid-hormone-levels#:~:text=TSH%20normal%20values%20are%200.5,0.7%20to%201.9ng%2FdL.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> thyroid levels<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Thyroid is a hormone that is released by the thyroid gland at the lower front of your neck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This hormone helps regulate energy levels, help you stay warm, and keeps organs (like the brain and heart) working at peak performance. It is, quite frankly, very important, and should be monitored throughout your pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low levels may indicate a problem, and you will likely be prescribed treatment. Consult your doctor for more information.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"10-get-plenty-of-sunshine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Get plenty of sunshine<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And finally, another word of advice from medical professionals is to get as much sunshine as you can. Exposure to sunlight (in moderation), is greatly beneficial for you anyway but is especially good advice for a healthy pregnancy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only will it greatly improve your mood, but, your body actually needs sunshine to produce some vitamins, like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/vitamin-d-from-sun#:~:text=The%20Sun%20Is%20Your%20Best%20Source%20of%20Vitamin%20D&amp;text=When%20your%20skin%20is%20exposed,for%20optimal%20health%20(2).\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vitamin D<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. While you can take supplements for this vitamin, getting out regularly will do you the world of good too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, we are not talking about getting a nice tan, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tommys.org\/research\/research-topics\/premature-birth-research\/does-sunlight-reduce-risk#:~:text=In%20this%20study%2C%20we%20have,properly%2C%20premature%20birth%20and%20stillbirth.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but studies have shown<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that sunlight exposure can help lower the chances of developing problems with your placenta.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This helps, in turn, prevent health issues like pre-eclampsia, premature birth, and stillbirth.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can read more about this topic in detail at \u201cHow to make your baby smarter before birth?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"how-do-i-know-if-my-baby-is-intelligent\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do I know if my baby is intelligent?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Determining the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/7809387\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">relative intelligence of a very young infant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as a baby, is notoriously very difficult. Especially during their first few years.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you are likely to notice that your little one is developing certain skills faster than other babies of their age, it is important to note that children develop at different rates. Like adults, they are all unique.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some may learn to walk or talk, or both, very early, others not. This does not necessarily mean they are above normal intelligence or not.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With regards to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mensa.org\/iq\/what-iq\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IQ tests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, these are usually only reliable from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.familyeducation.com\/school\/gifted-education\/should-three-year-old-get-iq-test\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">age of 4 onwards<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, however, on the whole, it is best to wait until your child is in school before performing such tests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though it is important to know that, unless you have some concerns about your child\u2019s mental acuity, you avoid giving children IQ tests when they are too young.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever the case, there are some things you can do to nurture and cultivate your child\u2019s cognitive development. We\u2019ll discuss these a little later on.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-signs-of-intelligence-in-babies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the signs of intelligence in babies?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Official tests aside, there are some ways you can usually tell if your child is intelligent. Some common traits include, but are not limited to: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They seek constant stimulation&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They want to play with older children a lot<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are happy to play on their own and can remain focused on a task<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your baby can quickly mimic sounds when compared to other children<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They tend to reach <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uofmhealth.org\/health-library\/ue5755\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">milestones <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">early, like standing, speaking, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being in a bilingual family (this has been shown to increase IQ)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are extremely alert and always checking their surroundings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your baby may have hypersensitivity to sounds, smells, textures, tastes, and usually react strongly to unpleasant ones. This could be an indication of something called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sengifted.org\/post\/overexcitability-and-the-gifted\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dabrowski\u2019s Overexcitability<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; an indication of being \u201cgifted\u201d.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may need less sleep than other babies their own age<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it is important to note that exhibiting any of these signs may not necessarily indicate that your child is above average intelligence.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-use-invidyo-to-determine-baby-intelligence\">How To Use Invidyo to Determine Baby Intelligence<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\">Invidyo<\/a> helps parents determine if their baby is intelligent in several ways. For one, you can monitor your baby&#8217;s behavior from afar, when they are alone. Signs that are indicative of a generally higher level of intelligence are easier to spot with Invidyo. These include your baby playing on their own, focusing on a task, alertness levels, and sleep patterns.<\/p>\n<p>Simply add <a href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\">Invidyo<\/a> to your home today and find out more about how intelligent your baby is.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium\" style=\"background-color: #33809e; color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\">Click Here To Learn More About Invidyo!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"which-month-baby-is-more-intelligent\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which month baby is more intelligent?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claims that the most intelligent children tend to be born in a certain month are, you\u2019ll be shocked to find out, not supported by science.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, it is often claimed that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelandleisure.com\/travel-news\/smartest-month-study#:~:text=Those%20born%20in%20September%20are,out%20of%20the%20entire%20year.&amp;text=According%20to%20Marie%20Claire%2C%20a,and%20how%20smart%20you%20are.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">children born in <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">September are generally smarter.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the science to support this is pretty poor, to non-existent. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16953958\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that have been conducted on the subject, conclude that any variation in mean childhood intelligence by the season of birth is largely explained by age at school entry relative to their younger peers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially those towards the tail end of the school year, say in July. There is almost an entire year of physical and mental development between them and the oldest members of their class.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"how-can-i-improve-my-babys-intelligence\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can I improve my baby&#8217;s intelligence?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By far, the biggest thing you can do to help with your child\u2019s mental development is to be present, be attentive, keep them fed, and be loving. Neglect is, statistically speaking, the biggest impedance to a child\u2019s upbringing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.memory-key.com\/research\/news\/abused-neglected-children-have-lower-iq-teens?page=2#:~:text=An%20Australian%20study%20of%203796,of%20socioeconomic%20and%20other%20factors.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Australian study <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of almost 3800 14-year-olds, found that of the 7.9% who had either been abused or simply neglected, as children, their recorded IQ scores were around 3 points lower than their non-maltreated peers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, since you are reading this, we are pretty confident you have already got all those points covered. If you want to turbocharge your child\u2019s development, then here are some things you should get into the habit of doing with your little angel.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Read books to them<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; No child is too young to be read to. By reinforcing the act of reading with cuddling and spending quality time with mum or dad, will build a lifetime of a love of reading. \u201cLearning is earning\u201d, as they say.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cuddles, and plenty of them <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212; Babies, albeit wonderful little things, are, by their very nature fragile. For this reason, a baby that feels safe and warm will be a smarter one. If they feel unsafe their brains may go into \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/knowledge.insead.edu\/blog\/insead-blog\/what-to-do-when-stress-puts-you-in-survival-mode-15211\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">survival mode<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Talk and sing to them, as much as you can<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; Anything will do. Lullabies, your favorite pop songs, poems, or rhyming couplets, and just generally communicate to them. The more words they are exposed to at a younger age, the potential for<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2018\/02\/how-you-talk-to-your-child-changes-their-brain\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> developing a higher IQ<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is scientifically proven!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>When you do talk, trust your instincts <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212; Parents instinctively tend to talk to infants in a different tone of voice to adults. This is not a coincidence. According to studies, this tone helps make vowel sounds more distinct and easier to imitate for young children<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Point at stuff<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; Children will learn to associate words with everyday things if you point them out.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limit TV time <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212; This is an obvious one. Most experts recommend no screen time before for the first 18-months. More if you can.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Breastfeeding is best<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; While not completely agreed upon, there appears to be a positive correlation between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2939272\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">breastfeeding and a child\u2019s mental development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. For best results, breastfeed at least for the first 6 months, and longer if you can.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Make them choose<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; Amazingly, even very young children have opinions on things. Have them choose between books or toys, this will help build these circuits in their brain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Get them out and about <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212; Taking your little darlings outside regularly will expose them to many new interesting stimuli. This will help grow their experience of the world around them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Introduce a new language early on <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212; Babies and young children and built to learn languages as naturally as a duck takes to water. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/322133704_Bilingual_Education_Helps_to_Improve_the_Intelligence_of_Children\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By introducing a new language<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you will encourage something called \u201cparallel thinking\u201d that will massively boost your child\u2019s mental development.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encourage them (but not too much)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; Praise successes, never shame them for mistakes and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">instill a growth mindset<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you can nurture a focus on process rather than getting things right, you will set your child up for a very successful life.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can read more about this topic in detail at \u201cHow can I improve my baby&#8217;s intelligence?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"tips-for-babys-intelligence-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tips for Baby&#8217;s Intelligence Development<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further to the above, there are a few other things you can do to help improve your baby\u2019s development and wellbeing. These include, but are not limited to: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brighamhealthhub.org\/12-ways-to-stay-healthy-during-pregnancy\/\"><b>Take care of yourself during pregnancy<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; This is fairly self-explanatory. Eat healthily, exercise as much as you can, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and reduce your stress levels as much as possible. Take care of yourself, and your body will take care of your \u201cbun in the oven\u201d.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlechildrens.org\/conditions\/a-z\/crying-baby-before-3-months-old\/\"><b>Address your baby\u2019s needs <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212; When your little one finally enters the world, make sure you pay attention and respond to your baby\u2019s needs. While a lot of motherhood will feel like you&#8217;re making it up as you go along, trust your instincts. If in doubt, ask for help from other mothers in your circle of friends, or your own parents. Very young children will usually cry for one of a few main reasons; they are hungry, they are tired, they are scared, or need to be changed. Whatever it might be, make sure you respond in a timely manner &#8212; they need you for something.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Play together<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; The best kind of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/1934-00675-001\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">learning is through play<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It not only helps strengthen the bonds between you but also helps teach them new skills and master their existing ones. From hand to eye coordination, fine motor skills, and imagination, play is, frankly, an amazing way to boost a child\u2019s intelligence.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Good sleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/children-and-sleep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sleep is your superpower<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as they say. It can not be underestimated how important getting plenty of sleep is for general health and wellbeing. Not to mention your baby\u2019s. Provide a calm and welcoming environment, and use some of these strategies to help get them off to the land of nod. Sleep helps infants improve their memories, and prepares their minds for processing and exploring the environment when they are awake.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Proper nutrients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/familydoctor.org\/nutrition-tips-for-kids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are what you eat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d. This is as true for children as it is for adults. Give them plenty of the stuff they need to grow up into healthy and strong adults. There is plenty of research on this, but generally speaking, they\u2019ll need all the building blocks to build muscle, bone, and other body tissues, hormones, etc. Make sure you give them a nice balanced diet. It will pay dividends in the long run.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Read together<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; We have already covered this above, but to reinforce the point, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kidshealth.org\/en\/parents\/reading-babies.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reading helps improve a child\u2019s cognition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in many areas. Read together, and read as much as you can. Make a habit of it, you may even enjoy some of the stories.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Minimize screen time<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8212; TV and smart devices are amazing pieces of technology, but overuse can come at a cost. According to a 2018 study by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/healthmatters.nyp.org\/what-does-too-much-screen-time-do-to-childrens-brains\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Institutes of Health (NIH), <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">large amounts of screen time not only suppresses language and thinking abilities but can even lead to the thinning of the brain\u2019s cortex. Long periods of time in front of a screen will also result in your child having difficulty focussing on real tasks and will narrow their focus of interest. They are designed to be addictive &#8212; use with caution.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Choose smarter toys <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212; When it comes to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kidshealth.org\/en\/parents\/smart-toys.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">choosing toys<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for your child, try to focus on those toys that encourage problem-solving. Things like mirrors, ring stacks, push-pull toys etc, for babies, and mechanical toys, shape-sorting toys, role-play toys, etc for toddlers all help improve your child\u2019s mental development.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1 id=\"brain-foods-for-babies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brain Foods For Babies<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to sources like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/brain-food-children-nutrition-2018012313168\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harvard University,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> some of the most important foods that babies need are: &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protein<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Common sources are meat, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, eggs, soy products, nuts and seeds, as well as dairy, like Greek yogurt, and cheese.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Zinc<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Good sources include oysters, meats, fish, dairy products, and nuts or nut butter.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Iron<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Sources include meats, beans and lentils, fortified cereals and bread, dark leafy vegetables, and baked potatoes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Choline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You can find this in meat, dairy, and eggs, and some vegetables.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Folate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Especially important for pregnant mothers, you find this in&nbsp; liver, spinach, fortified cereals and bread, as well as other foods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Iodine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Good sources include seaweed is a great source of iodine, iodized salt, seafood, dairy products, and enriched grains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vitamin A<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Can be found in liver, carrots, sweet potato, and spinach.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vitamin D<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Get outside to get some for free, otherwise feed them the flesh of fatty fishes (like salmon), fish liver oil, and vitamin D enriched foods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vitamin B6.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Best sources include liver and other organ meats, fish, potatoes and other starchy vegetables, and fruit (not citrus).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vitamin B12<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Commonly found in many animal products, such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, like omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish and fish oils are the best source but can be found in some other oils and artificially enriched ones.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"what-games-can-boost-a-babys-brain-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What games can boost a baby&#8217;s brain development?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we have touched on briefly above, play is another very important task to help super boost your baby\u2019s mental facilities. But which, if any, games are best?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few suggestions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-back-and-forth-to-boost-babys-brain-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. \u201cBack-and-forth\u201d to boost baby&#8217;s brain development<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One game that is great for boosting your baby\u2019s brain development is called \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.mit.edu\/2018\/conversation-boost-childrens-brain-response-language-0214\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">back-and-forth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d. This game involves engaging young children in conversations, irrespective of their grasp of the language.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By taking turns this kind of game has been shown to aid brain development in an infant by building, and reinforcing, connections between neurons in the key regions of the brain associated with language. In fact, some studies have shown that this kind of game is far superior to simply \u201cdumping\u201d words on them at random.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you want to give your child a head start in life, just talk to them. Simple.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-where-is-the-cup-to-boost-babys-brain-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. \u201cWhere is the cup?\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to boost baby&#8217;s brain development<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another great game to play with your young children is \u201cwhere\u2019s the cup?\u201d. Children between 4 and 7 months old are beginning to develop an appreciation for something called \u201cobject permanence\u201d. This is simply the knowledge that somethings exist in the world even when they are out of sight.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any kind of mental exercises that help reinforce this skill, like hiding a cup and asking your baby where it is, will help their mental development greatly.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-bust-a-move-to-boost-babys-brain-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Bust a move <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to boost baby&#8217;s brain development<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ll touch on the impact of music on children a little later, but exposing young children to the concept of rhythm is another great way to speed up their mental development. An appreciation for it will help improve mathematical skills, and many other aspects of their cognition, later down the line.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can foster a love of music early on by having your child join you in mini dance sessions. For very young infants, you can simply spend 5 to 10 minutes bouncing, or swaying, them to your favorite song\u2019s beat and rhythm.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"4-rhyme-time\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Rhyme time<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another great game to help improve your child\u2019s brainpower is rhyme time. Either invent rhymes yourself, or make good use of rhyming books like the Dr. Seuss series, \u201cThe Cat in the Hat\u201d, or \u201cOne Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish\u201d, are particularly good.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These kinds of word games massively improve your young child\u2019s phonological awareness, which happens to be a major component of language and literacy in general. Books are usually the best source as we, as adults, very rarely tend to speak in rhymes very often.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These kinds of materials will usually also include words that you normally wouldn\u2019t use. They are also pretty enjoyable for adults too. Have some fun.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"5-face-it\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. \u201cFace it\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet another great game to help improve your child\u2019s mental abilities is \u201cFace it\u201d. This holds your own face fairly close to your babies. You then switch with another person, or even some stuffed toys, and wait for your baby to respond to the change.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This might sound a&nbsp; little strange, but research has shown that babies begin to develop facial recognition skills very early on &#8212; within hours of birth in fact. By 4 months old, babies&#8217; facial recognition skills are somewhat on par with adults.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This kind of game will help super boost this innate ability of babies.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"6-blocks\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Blocks<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are looking for some more tactile games, then building blocks are a great game to play with young children. Any kind of block will do, and those with different shapes and colors usually provide the most benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moving them around, sorting them, stacking them, etc, all help your baby develop their spatial awareness and mathematical skills. Babies will begin to explore the world and test the environment, using these simple little toys.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things like building blocks also help boost a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pulse.seattlechildrens.org\/infant-brains-more-engaged-when-playing-with-interactive-toys-study\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> child\u2019s cortisol <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">levels too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, let\u2019s face it, building blocks are also fun for adults to mess around with too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"7-use-your-hands-a-lot\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Use your hands, a lot<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another set of games to play with your little bundle of joy is to use your hands. Play games like patty-cake, peekaboo, this little piggy, or use hand puppets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These kinds of games will help grab your baby\u2019s attention and helps show baby\u2019s how they can physically interact with the world. Not only that, but these kinds of games are generally fun for all the family.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"does-music-affect-baby-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does music affect baby development?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve probably heard the term the \u201cMozart effect\u201d if you are expecting a mother or father.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By all accounts, exposing babies to classical music, like Mozart\u2019s, will boost their IQ and general cognitive development.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, most of this comes from the findings of an early-1990s study, and later studies have shown that a similar benefit can also be stimulated through listening to stories or listening to children\u2019s music.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That being said, and anecdotal reports aside, there is some evidence that either playing music or learning to play musical instruments, can boost a child\u2019s mental development.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is especially the case when it comes to math and logical skills.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some work of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.uga.edu\/publications\/detail.html?number=C1053-06&amp;title=The%20Role%20of%20Music\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">University of Georgia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, for example, suggests that having a child learn to play musical instruments, or listen to classical music, can help improve a child\u2019s cognitive development.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Classical music, for example, appears to help with the development of spatial awareness for a short time, and learning to play an instrument can have longer-lasting effects on certain thinking skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reason for this is still unclear, but researchers believe the music \u201cprimes\u201d the brain ready to explore certain kinds of thinking. Research on the brain shows that classical music seems to use similar pathways to those used by the brain for spatial awareness.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This makes things like solving puzzles a little bit easier, but the effects are short-lived &#8212; around an hour after stopping to listen.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.uga.edu\/publications\/detail.html?number=C1053-06&amp;title=The%20Role%20of%20Music\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">University of Georgia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">n several studies, children who took piano lessons for six months improved their ability to work puzzles and solve their other spatial tasks by as much as 30 percent. Why does playing an instrument make such a difference? Researchers believe that musical training creates new pathways in the brain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These kinds of studies seem to suggest that exposing a child to music at an early age can improve many other aspects of a child\u2019s development, and skills, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can include but is not limited to, improved language skills, motor skills, social skills, higher IQ, increased spatial intelligence, concentration, and basic memory recall.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/does_classical_music_make_babies_smarter#:~:text=At%20some%20point%20in%20their,aspects%20of%20their%20cognitive%20development.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other studies<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">seem to show that it is not music, per se, that is beneficial to mental development, but rather providing an enriching environment.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study, involving rats, showed marked improvement in the cellular density of rats kept in environments with lots of visual and audio stimuli &#8212; like toys or repeatedly playing music to baby rats.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was especially true when comparing these enriched-environment exposed rats to those that lived alone in small, boring, and frankly bleak cages.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet other studies have also shown that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/bedroom-environment\/music-and-sleep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">music seems to help improve sleep quality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> too. General happiness and wellbeing are also greatly improved by listening to music &#8212; depending on the genre. With regards to sleep inducement, for best results, play music around 30 minutes before shuteye.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More contemporary research on this field tends to focus on the actual studying of music &#8212; like learning to play an instrument. So far, the results of these kinds of studies seem to show a stronger correlation between the isolated task of learning music and boosting a child\u2019s IQ when compared to passively listening to music.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the jury is still out on whether listening to music alone is beneficial to the mental development of children, there is no harm in playing music to children in any case.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since you are searching for answers to helping improve your child\u2019s mental development, the main takeaway is to provide a rich and engaging environment as much as possible.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can read more about the topic at \u201cDoes music affect baby development?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"does-listening-to-music-when-youre-pregnant-affect-a-baby\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does Listening To Music When You&#8217;re Pregnant Affect A Baby?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we have previously mentioned, listening to music does appear to have a quantifiable benefit to a child\u2019s development. But does listening to music when you&#8217;re pregnant help?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/parenting\/child-development\/how-music-affects-your-babys-brain-class\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UNICEF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it has been shown that this might be the case.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cListening to music during pregnancy will not only have a soothing and uplifting effect on the pregnant woman, but also a positive influence on the unborn baby. Around 16\u250018 weeks of pregnancy, the little one hears its very first sound.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By 24 weeks, the little ears start to develop rapidly and babies have been shown to turn their heads in response to voices and noise in the last few months of pregnancy, an unborn baby can recognize her mother\u2019s voice, her native language, word patterns, and rhymes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you like to listen to music anyway, feel free to listen to music as often as you like.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All well and good, but what kinds of music should a pregnant mother consider listening to?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the beginning of the third trimester, around week 27 onwards, your baby should be able to hear any music you play with ease. Focus on playing soothing and calm, and as complex as possible, musical genres.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can include classical music (more on that later), lullabies, and any nice melody that inspires happiness or is calming. However, any music that is fairly complex, and has a strong rhythm is also a good idea.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"what-music-makes-babies-smarter\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What music makes babies smarter?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally speaking, there are a few genres of music that appear to be of greatest benefit to your child. These include, but are not limited to:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Classical music &#8211; Great for \u201cpriming the brain\u201d ready for problem-solving. It also helps keep children calm.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jazz music &#8211; Jazz is another complex form of music. For this reason, it can have similar effects to classical music in children.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pop music &#8211; Calmer, more rhythmic and soothing pop music can also do the trick too. Some have speculated that a calm, repetitive rhythm may simulate a mother\u2019s heartbeat from within the womb.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional music &#8211; Traditional music with a slow tempo and strong rhythm is a great choice too.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from music, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5784839\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ambient noises<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and believe it or not, white noise can also help with a child\u2019s development too. Nature sounds like running water, rain, frog croaks, etc, can also improve spatial awareness and keep children calm.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White noise, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1792397\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to a study in the 1990s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, appeared to help speed up getting children to sleep by as much as 80% &#8212; usually in 5 minutes. However, it should be used sparingly, and some children appear to react badly to it.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For toddlers, you can help boost their development by encouraging them to explore, experiment, or even formally learn to play musical instruments.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While an accordion or violin is probably out of their reach, more basic instruments like drums, rattles, glockenspiels, xylophones, and maracas are a good starter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also make use of household items, or even body parts too. Clapping, thigh patting, stomping, wooden spoons, and pots, or simply humming and singing can all be experimented with.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"does-classical-music-make-babies-smarter\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does classical music make babies smarter?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we have previously touched on, while it does affect the way the brain works, it doesn\u2019t necessarily make you smarter. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/novakdjokovicfoundation.org\/the-importance-of-classical-music-for-kids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listening to classical music<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> uses the same mental pathways used for other skills, like spatial awareness for example.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The brain is, in other words, put into a state of \u201creadiness\u201d allowing problem-solving skills, like puzzles, to be performed that little bit easier (and faster).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, as also previously mentioned, this effect is short-lived and any tangible benefits drop back to normal after not listening to music.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reason for this is not yet fully understood, but the deep complexity of many classical music pieces is probably a significant factor.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning to play instruments has similar benefits, but the skills developed, and reinforced, are much longer-lasting.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regardless of classical music\u2019s effects on the mental development of babies,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/parkersymphony.org\/badass-classical-music\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> classical music<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is generally a good way to instill a calming atmosphere around your child which is never a bad thing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, this does depend on the composer &#8212;&nbsp; don\u2019t go playing Holst\u2019s \u201cThe Planets, Mars\u201d or Carl Orff\u2019s \u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">O Fortuna<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d too often.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-loudly-should-you-play-music-for-your-baby\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Loudly Should You Play Music For Your Baby?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scopeblog.stanford.edu\/2014\/03\/03\/study-baby-sound-machines-may-be-too-loud-for-little-ears\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Young infants&#8217; ears<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are very sensitive to loud sounds. For this reason, you should avoid playing music so loud that it could startle or scare them or, heaven forbid, permanently damage their ears<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a rough rule of thumb, try to keep the volume below 50 decibels, or lower. To visualize that in the real world, that would be roughly the sound level of a quiet washing machine.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During pregnancy, you also do not need to place headphones on your bump, or any other kind of speaker too. The amniotic fluid in the womb is generally a very good conductor of sound on its own.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"are-tablets-and-mobile-phones-dangerous-for-intelligence-development-in-babies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are Tablets and Mobile Phones Dangerous for Intelligence Development in Babies?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is commonly believed that excessive <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cune.edu\/academics\/resource-articles\/examining-effect-smartphones-child-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cscreen time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d is harmful to children\u2019s wellbeing. In fact, many children under the age of 11 now own their own smart devices like phones and tablets, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2019\/10\/29\/774306250\/report-more-than-half-of-u-s-children-now-own-a-smartphone-by-age-11\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NPR<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the technology is relatively new, the long-term effects of long-term exposure are, as yet, not known, but any parent knows the trouble they can have trying to separate their young ones from their new favorite toys.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it is important to note that there are some benefits to children using this technology.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, the frequent daily use of technology is making our young ones more digitally literate. They are, in effect, being trained to engage and use technology at a far younger age than many generations before them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schools often augment their learning with smart devices, like tablets, and 2020 has seen massive growth in virtual online lessons that rely on this technology, among others.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access to the internet is also beneficial in the fact they can access the sum of human knowledge at their fingertips &#8212; at least in theory.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Theoretically, smart devices can also be used to help children grasp the importance of self-sufficiency and time management. Managed effectively, and early, \u201cscreen time\u201d can be used as a bargaining chip to teach children how to manage their time and earn rewards for good behavior.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All good, and important, transferable skills when they enter their teens and adulthood.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the case against excessive smart device use is mounting.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the key dangers of excessive smart device use is dependence and reduced concentration. Some studies, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6059409\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">like this one in Japan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, took a group of over 1,600 first-grade children and appeared to show a positive correlation between routine and frequent smartphone technology use and behavioral problems in childhood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/psychcentral.com\/lib\/how-do-smartphones-affect-childhood-psychology#5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> appears to indicate that increased screen time neglects the more traditional learning \u201ccircuits\u201d in the brain &#8212; such as for reading, writing, and long-term concentration. By constantly reinforcing this process, the brain can actually become \u201crewired\u201d.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These devices, and their connection to the internet, have also altered how we, including children, communicate, as well as, their emotional development.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reliance on electronics for communication will likely weaken interpersonal skill development and can isolate children from their peers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we are social animals by design, such effects will likely be very detrimental in adulthood.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other studies have looked into the physiological impacts of excessive smart technology use too. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/business\/2019\/04\/24\/who-infants-under-year-old-shouldnt-be-exposed-any-electronic-screens\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Health Organization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, for example, has recently advised that children under the age of four should not spend more than one hour a day staring at a screen.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, they also note that more research on the subject is needed as the \u201cLong-term consequences can be hard to measure, and ethical concerns prevent experiments\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until such research is conducted, we will likely not know the long-term effects for some time to come.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are concerned about this issue, make sure you \u201cwalk the walk, and not talk the talk\u201d on the subject. Be mindful of your own smartphone (and tablet) use in front of your children as you are the primary influence on their behavior.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By spending large amounts of time yourself on them, and telling children not to do the same, you will seriously undermine your message, despite your good intentions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"invidyo-can-help\">Invidyo Can Help<\/h2>\n<p>If you happen to be a busy working parent who absolutely needs to use their phone and tablet at all times, be sure to do that away from your child. But then how can you stay present with your child? <a href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\">Invidyo<\/a> can help.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">With Invidyo, you get to be a present parent without physically being around. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You can use the Invidyo Baby Cam to connect with your child using two-way communication and also watch them at all times. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Invidyo Baby Cam<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> also provides helpful analytics for crying, coughing, sleep, and other metrics which help you monitor your baby&#8217;s wellbeing and overall health.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Did you know you can get a FREE Invidyo Baby Cam?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium fasc-style-bold\" style=\"background-color: #00acc3; color: #ffffff;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/get.invidyo.com\/?utm_source=blogintelligence&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=blog-intelligence&amp;utm_id=intelligenceblog\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Get Your FREE Invidyo Baby Cam Today!<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wondering if you have an Einstein on your hands, this article about intelligence in children and babies is&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":4218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[154],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4214"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4214"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77735,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4214\/revisions\/77735"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4214"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/invidyo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=4214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}