From the moment of birth, babies are primed and ready for social input, and our loving care has a profound impact on their development. But what is it like to be a baby? How do they see the world, and what can we do to help them learn and thrive?
These are big questions — too big, too fascinating, too important to be answered from any single perspective. Evolution. Culture. Developmental biology. Neuroscience. Pediatrics. Psychology. We need the contributions from many scientific disciplines, with a lot of critical thinking and analysis thrown in.
In these pages, I share many of the big ideas (fully-referenced!) that researchers are trying to answer about little people and their caregivers. I also provide lots of practical, evidence-based information about infant sleep, feeding, communication, social development, cognition, motor skills, emotions, stress management, and more.
Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.
These evidence-based baby sleep tips can make bedtime easier, and help speed up the development of mature sleep patterns. From blue light filters to white noise, from dream feeding to bedtime routines, learn what works — and what pitfalls to avoid.
Babies possess amazing learning abilities. But to master language, they need our help. Studies suggest we can support language development by engaging babies in conversation, and by providing them with a variety of special cues and communicative experiences.
The science of infant toilet training. Potty training techniques, baby bladders, and the potential benefits of early toilet training.
Research suggests that babies can tell when parents are fighting, and chronic conflict may affect the brain. What can we do about it?
Researchers use the Strange Situation procedure to measure attachment in young children. How does it work, and how can we raise secure kids?
Babies make lots of communicative noises, but coos, gurgles, and cries aren’t true speech. When do babies say their first words? Most babies can say at least one or two words by the end of their first year, but the timing may vary considerably from individual to individual.
Flavors in breast milk? From the food that mothers ingest? Yes, it really happens, and babies can taste the difference. Read what studies tell us about how early exposure to flavors — in breast milk and baby formula — can influence a baby’s willingness to eat solid foods.
How do newborns perceive the world? Can they see in color? Can they recognize you by scent? Learn more about the newborn senses.
Many babies begin to “sleep through the night” (at least 5-6 hours) by 3-6 months of age. But some take longer, and night-to-night variability is common.
An evidence-based guide to common potty training problems, including child anxieties, resistance, refusals to defecate, accidents, and more.
Most experts recommend against adopting a strict infant feeding schedule, and with good reason. Babies are better off when they are fed on cue.
Can babies sign before they can speak? Signing is stimulating and fun, but there’s little evidence that it’s easier to master than speech.