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Brain Building

4 things every parent can do to build their baby’s brain:

  • Eye to Eye Contact: This establishes a line of communication with your baby. They feel fully seen when you look directly in their eyes, and more eye contact is associated with appropriate social behavior and development as they grow.

  • Infant Directed Speech: Your baby wants you to talk TO them, not just around them. They may not be able to respond until later, but their brain wants you to communicate now so they can succeed in the outside world. No, you’re not crazy if you’re narrating your every move in a sing-song voice - “Mama is putting away the dishes! Here are the plates. This is my favorite coffee cup. Mama needs more coffee!” Singing and reading aloud are also awesome :)

  • Tummy Time/Unrestricted movement: Your baby’s brain develops from bottom to top, and back to front. Input into the brainstem + base of the neck is crucial to developing the rest of the brain. One of the best ways to feed information into the brain stem is to engage the muscles at the bast of neck with tummy time. At 2 months, strive for 30 minutes of cumulative tummy time throughout the day (2-5 minutes at a time is ok). At 4 months, 1 hour of cumulative tummy time is the goal. At 6 months, strive for 2 hours of cumulative tummy time throughout the day. If your child doesn’t like tummy time, seems uncomfortable, or is unable to engage their muscles in that position — Please call us!

  • Tactile Input: Head to to intentional loving touch in infants is associated with lower rates of autism and sensory processing disorder. Baby massage is a great option. We also love using a sensory brush daily with your baby.

    • Sensory Brushing:

      • Use a soft silicone brush (ask us for one!)

      • Do not tickle or scratch baby, but use moderate pressure to rub across exposed skin.

      • This stimulates the touch receptors in a way that helps organize the central nervous system.

      • It calms overactive nerves that are misfiring, and regulates the fight or flight reaction in your child’s body.

      • You only need to go over each area of skin once per brushing session.