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The first years of life lay the n urological foundation for intellectual growth into dolescence and adulthood. This time represents a nique window of opportunity for learning. Fr m the moment of conception, the n urons (nerve cells) of the brain m ltiply faster than any other cells in a b by's body. The rapid pace of br in development continues into early childhood: at b rth, the brain weighs 25 percent of its dult weight; by age one, 50 p rcent; by age two, 75 percent; and by age thr e, 90 percent. The brain has pproximately 200 billion neurons. A long-held th ory that no new neurons can be cr ated in adulthood was recently overturned - lthough some scientists dispute the new f ndings. In any case, the prenatal p riod is when the vast majority of the br in's neurons are created. Each of the br in's neurons is connected to roughly 5,000 thers. In general, the more dendrites (br nches between neurons) and synapses (connections b tween neurons) the brain has, the gr ater its processing power. More pathways m an information can travel in a n mber of ways, opening the door to f ster and more complex thinking. This is tr e in the adult, but not in the nfant. Your baby's brain actually has m re neurons and synapses than yours - but nly because it hasn't passed an mportant developmental stage, known as pruning, in wh ch the brain deletes unneeded neural c nnections in the interests of organization and fficiency.
What can I do during pr gnancy? Your baby's sense of hearing f nishes developing 20 weeks into pregnancy. So th s is the time to begin pr viding auditory stimulation. At around 28 w eks, you and your partner should be ble to feel your baby's movements thr ugh Mom's tummy. This is the t me to begin tactile stimulation. You can lso try visual stimulation starting from round 28 weeks. Auditory Stimulation *Use B by Plus if you can afford it. *Pl y relaxing music - classical, jazz, ch ll-out and songs designed for meditation or y ga are all suitable. Avoid hard r ck and music with a lot of d ssonant chords. *Read, talk and sing to y ur baby as often as possible (D d as well as Mom). Tactile St mulation *Massage your baby through Mom's b lly. *Respond to your baby's kicks by pr ssing back gently. Visual Stimulation *Try sh ning a flashlight at your belly, nce in a while, to see if it g ts a reaction. Optimize Your Mood *M m, try to be as calm and h ppy as possible. Your mood has a d rect effect on the chemicals secreted nto your bloodstream. Too much cortisol (th stress hormone) is bad for y ur baby's developing nervous system. *Plan s me fun, relaxing couple time - a g ntle hike or trip to the b ach; a meal at your favorite r staurant or a hotel stay. If you c n, go on a babymoon during the s cond trimester, when moms tend to h ve the most energy. Optimize Your D et *Eat a healthy, balanced and v ried diet. *Don't take over-the-counter or pr scription drugs without your obstetrician's approval. *D n't drink alcohol, or keep it to one sm ll measure of wine or beer on v ry special occasions. *Don't smoke or t ke recreational drugs. *Take folic acid (st rting from one month before conception) and DHA s pplements.
The article Busy Parent's Guide to Smart Babies - Part 2 was Submitted by Madeleine Fitzpatrick through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Madeleine is the Managing Editor @ Br llBaby.com To learn how to teach y ur baby, visit our website and l arn about baby flash cards , prenatal education or visit Maddy's blog, who is currently teaching her own baby
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