http://www.mamafeelsgood.com/blog/maternity-breastfeeding-tees/52-tips-to-boost-your-babys-brain-development/200911832/
52 Tips to boost your baby’s brain development
Found a pretty good blog article about how you can help your childs brain development, this is relevant to in the womb and outside of it 
Science hasn’t uncovered everything there is to know about gestational development, and the developing human brain is equally elusive. What we do know is that prenatal development and early childhood education are two of the most important stages in a human’s life. Indeed, there may not be any way for an adult to recover from the mental and emotional damaged caused by childhood neglect. So love your baby, and treat him like a little king by following these parenting tips and techniques to raise a smart, healthy child.
Prenatal Intelligence
One of the most crucial Essential Fatty Acids for fetal development is Omega 3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This Omega 3 (not to be confused with Omega 3 EPA or ALA) is the primary structural component of brain tissue. Here are some other important facts relating to you and your developing baby.
- DHA is a basic building block for your baby’s brain: The Omega-3 DHA is a critical component in the development of your baby’s brain, spinal cord, eyes, and nervous system. Adequate amounts of DHA help to prevent allergies in children who are at risk for them, and also increases birth size and weight. It also increases your baby’s coordination and motor skills.
- Your body naturally gives all its DHA to your fetus: It’s part of the miracle of birth – your body instinctively gives your fetus all the resources it needs for optimal fetal development, even if that means that it robs you of the nutrients you need. For most mothers who are deficient in DHA, this manifests itself as postpartum depression, or in brain shrinkage (also known as ‘mommy brain’.)
- Mothers who got more Omega 3s in their last trimester had smarter babies: A recent study of over 11,000 pregnant women in England showed that mothers who got more Omega 3s during pregnancy had babies with higher IQs and better social development, including fewer incidences of ADD. Infants who had insufficient supply had lower fine motor skills, less developed communication skills, and social behavior issues that could be measured for years after birth.
- Baby’s development continues through breastfeeding: If you choose to breastfeed, you are the only source of nutrition for your baby. Since your baby’s development is continuing rapidly at this time, it is critical that you are getting enough DHA to supply your baby with enough for optimal growth, without depleting your reserves to critical levels. If you are deficient, discuss using an Omega 3 enhanced baby formula with your physician.
- Prenatal vitamins generally do not contain Omega 3: It is a source of unending frustration to doctors, but prenatal vitamins rarely contain DHA. With more than 98% of women not getting enough Omega 3 in their diet to properly support themselves and their developing babies, it is very important that women are aware of this lack and are looking to make up for it through diet or supplementation.
Early Days
The interactive influences of genes and experience literally shape the architecture of the developing brain, and the active ingredient is the “serve and return” nature of children’s engagement in relationships with their parents and other caregivers in their family or community. Follow these techniques.
- Make eye contact: Take advantage of those brief moments when your newborn’s eyes are open, and look right into them. Infants recognize faces early on — and yours is the most important! Each time he stares at you, he’s building his memory.
- Stick out your tongue: Studies show that newborns as young as 2 days old can imitate simple facial movements — it’s a sign of very early problem solving.
- Blab away: All you may get is a blank look, but leave short pauses where your baby would speak. Soon she’ll catch on to the rhythm of conversation and start filling in the blanks.
- Sing a song: Play Bach, the Beatles, or Britney Spears. Some research suggests that learning the rhythms of music is linked to learning math.
- Make a funny face: Puff up your cheeks, and have your toddler touch your nose. When she does, poof! Have her pull your ear, and then stick out your tongue. Make a funny noise when she pats your head. Keep to the same routine three or four times, then change the rules to keep her guessing.
- Breast-feed, if possible: And do it for as long as you can. It’s a fact that schoolkids who were breast-fed as infants have higher IQs. Plus, nursing is a great time to bond with your infant by singing, talking, or simply stroking his hair.
- Make the most of diaper time: Use moments on the changing pad to teach body parts or pieces of clothing. Narrate to help your baby learn to anticipate routines.
- Turn off the tube: Your baby’s brain needs one-on-one interaction that no TV show, no matter how educational, can provide.
- Be a Playground: Lie down on the floor, and let your baby climb and crawl all over you. It’s cheaper than a jungle gym and lots more fun! You’ll help boost her coordination and problem-solving skills.
- Shake it up, baby: Teach her to twist and shout, do the funky chicken, or twirl like a ballerina.
- Share the view: Take your baby on walks in a front carrier, sling, or backpack, and narrate what you see — “That’s a little dog” or “Look at those big trees!” or “Did you hear that fire engine?” — to give your baby endless vocabulary-building opportunities.
- Go shopping: When you need a break from your song and dance, visit the supermarket. The faces, sounds, and colors there provide perfect baby entertainment.
- Change the scenery: Switch your toddler’s high chair to the other side of the table. You’ll challenge his memory of where things are placed at meals.
- Practice three-card monte: Grab a few empty plastic food containers, and hide one of your baby’s small toys under one. Shuffle the containers, and let him find the prize.
- Play peekaboo: Your hide-and-seek antics do more than bring on the giggles. Your baby learns that objects can disappear and then come back.
- Don’t forget to give it a rest: Spend a few minutes each day simply sitting on the floor with your baby — no music, bright lights, or playful tricks.
- Teach Texture: Let your child play with her food. When she’s ready, serve foods that vary in texture — including cooked peas, cereal, pasta, or chunks of cantaloupe. She’ll get to practice her pincer grasp and explore her senses.
Growing a Genius
These subtle moves won’t break the bank, and they won’t keep you up at all hours of the night, but they will prove your love for baby, so try them out today.
- Decorate with Smart Art: Help enhance your newborn and infants’ gross motor skill and eye sight development with the ophthalmologist and pediatrician approved three-step baby room art program.
- Songs and lullabies: This awesome blog provides a list of songs and lullabies for you to sing to your baby.
- Nurture nature: You can’t change your child’s genetic blueprint, but the care and interaction you provide can influence how it plays out.
- Be your baby’s favorite toy: Babies’ brains are wired to get information from people, so do your baby a favor and stay by his side during the most important years of his life!
- Lead by following: As you play with your child, you’ll want to show him things, give him new ideas and help him develop skills. That’s natural. But it’s also important to let your child, even a little baby, take the lead at times.
- Early literacy isn’t about books: One of the earliest forms of literacy development takes place when babies and toddlers look at the faces of people who talk to them, and they gradually start to make connections between the sounds they hear and the way people’s lips move.
- You don’t have to be an expert in brain science to give your baby what she needs: In many ways, the key to nurturing babies’ brain development is simply to allow ourselves to be captivated by our babies — to develop a feeling of connection with them and do our best to learn how to care for them.
- The five senses are the portals to your baby’s brain: What neuroscience tells us is that, at birth, your baby’s brain is wired to be especially receptive to sensory experiences.
Must-Have Baby Toys
Sure, at the end of the day, you’re your baby’s most important resource for love and development, but these toys will help you out when you need it most.
- Earth Brights Baby’s Keys: This addition to Sassy’s eco-friendly line combines bright colors, pleasurable textures, and fun noises in a familiar design that Baby will reach for immediately.
- Swap N’ Go Snail: Baby’s on the move (and grasping cause and effect concepts!) with this brightly colored, multi-use toy.
- Sensitive Baby Sammy Doll: It’s nice to know you don’t need to sacrifice quality and design to ensure your baby’s comfort. The Goldberger Company delivers with this affordable, attractive, and durable doll specifically made for the most sensitive babies.
- Shangrila Activity Mat with Toy Arches: This stylish activity mat is full of surprises: One side features stimulating, high-contrast black and white designs, while the reverse tickles the senses with colorful, lush fabrics.
- Moonlight Bear: A sweet nursery addition, this nightlight sheds a soft glow on middle-of-the-night feedings and is so safe that your little one can actually sleep with it once he’s older.
- Wooden Hedgehog rattle: Kudos to ImagiPLAY for its simple, beautiful organic wooden rattle. Constructed entirely of beechwood from managed forests, these are sanded smooth and have a beeswax finish that’s perfect for gnawing and chomping.
- Eddie the Elephant: Finally, a noisy toy parents can appreciate! Baby presses Eddie’s nose to hear—and record—different notes, and plays with his ears and tail to feel different textures.
- Sweet Island Dreams Mobile: The Sweet Island Dreams Mobile combines the unique angles of three friendly animals paired with 20 minutes of continuous (and pleasant!) music.
- ExerSaucer 1-2-3 Tea for Me Tea Party: Designed with the ultimate girl in mind, our little gals loved rocking, bouncing, and spinning in it.
- Take-a-Long Colors Collection: Taggies blankets have long been a favorite with babies, and these bright new colors and even softer fabrics combined with the patented Taggie edging continue to please.
Things to Avoid
Although some of these things might sound silly, if you’re pregnant or want to become pregnant, the following list could be the most important advice you’ve ever followed.
- Hot Dogs: Several studies have linked hot dogs to childhood cancers.
- Reptiles: Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any contact with lizards, iguanas, turtles, or snakes as the salmonella virus is transfered through their feces and can affect your pregnancy. Also, children under the age of 5 are also at risk for contracting salmonella if they are in contact with reptiles.
- Vitamin A Supplements: By consuming as little as 4 times the RDA of vitamin A, you greatly increase the risk of having a baby with birth defects or other problems.
- Microwaves: These waves can easily damage the delicately developing brain of your fetus.
- Tap Water: Recent studies have shown that drinking tap water during the early months of pregnancy can increase your risk of miscarriage.
- Fumes from Paint, Paint Thinner, and Household Cleaning Products: At least, try to limit your exposure to these (and any other) toxic fumes, so the toxins aren’t delivered to your growing baby.
- Raising Your Body Temperature: There is a potential danger to the developing fetus if your body temperature rises above 102 degrees. You can raise your body temperature to this level by getting a fever, by exercising too strenuously, working outside on hot summer days, and so on.
- Saunas, Hot Tubs, and Long, Hot Baths: Though these activities sound relaxing, hot tubs and hot baths have a tendency to raise your body temperature and therefore are to be avoided
- Cat Litter Boxes: Cat feces may expose you to toxoplasmosis, which can cause birth defects.
- Tick Bites: If you spend a lot of time hiking outdoors, make sure to check yourself thoroughly for ticks. Tick bites open you to the risk of Lyme disease, which can be deadly to your developing baby.
- Caffeine: Caffeine exposure during pregnancy is thought to increase the probability of a child contracting diabetes.
- Cigarette Smoke: Both first- and secondhand cigarette smoke can impair your baby’s ability to develop normally. Exposure to smoke can result in spontaneous abortion, pre-term births, low-weight full-term babies, and fetal and infant deaths.
