Your Baby is Listening in the Womb

Babies are preparing to learn language even before they are born and are born aware of the rhythm of language. Your newborn can hear, even while sleeping.  This means your baby is always learning. Babies are most able to learn when they feel comfortable, in a quiet alert state. Nurturing environments lead to optimal learning.

This video is the third chapter of a series called “Born to Communicate” and it discusses research techniques and findings. Key messages appear on-screen)

Research on How Babies Learn Language

Research shows how the infant brain functions during the first days and weeks after birth, particularly with respect to the responses to sights and sounds that will lead to language development.

Featuring:

Dr. Janet Werker, Lilian May, Alison Greuel

Research Shows that it is Optimal to Place New Babies Skin-to-Skin with their Mother

Skin-to-skin babies are warmer and have higher blood sugar, they breathe better and are more awake and able to look at and connect with their mother.

A Newborn is Familiar with its Mother Before Birth and Feels Safest on Her Skin After Being Born

There are also other considerations for babies’ well-being. Babies need an attachment environment of people who will be constantly close to them for the first few years of their lives.  Compensating for a lack of a primary caregiver can be hard work, but does not doom the baby, as long as the right interventions take place, which might involve speech therapists or occupational therapists, depending on the need.

DISCLAIMER: Near the end, this video has a child sleeping on his father, on the couch and this is NOT safe. KidCareCanada does not advocate this practice.

Featuring:

Dr. Nils Bergman