Poof! By 9 months old, our youngest daughter had developed a Houdini-esque disappearing act involving her socks. We lost some of the snuggliest pairs in grocery stores, at the library, and in parking lots all around town. Eventually, I figured there was no point in putting socks on her. So, I stopped. Instead, I let her scoot, then stand, and eventually walk around barefoot.
Going sockless seemed like a practical choice to make. Surprisingly, thanks to a parent-child music class, I learned that going barefoot actually helped my daughter gain better balance and body awareness due to the 200,000 nerve endings on the bottom of her feet! I had no idea that forgoing socks would support my baby girl’s development. You’re probably unexpectedly supporting your child’s development, too. If you’ve ever wondered how to raise a smart baby, here are 6 everyday ways you already are!
1. When You Use “Baby Talk”
“Whoooo is the cutest little baby in the whooooole wiiiiide wooooorld? Youuuuu are! Yes, youuuuu are. Maammmaaa looooves youuuuuu.” Raise your hand if you’ve said those words to your baby before. You probably didn’t speak with your normal voice to make such a bold—and obviously true—statement either. Instead, you used a higher-pitched, sing-songy voice while elongating those vowels.
There’s actually a name for that type of speaking—motherese or parentese. Research shows speaking with your baby in that way actually boosts language development. Dr. Patricia Kuhl, a neuroscientist at the University of Washington, summarizes the research by saying that “parentese makes language learning easier because of its simpler linguistic structure and exaggerated sounds…It’s a social hook for the baby brain — its high pitch and slower tempo are socially engaging and invite the baby to respond.”
2. When You Sway or Rock Your Baby
You can’t help yourself. You pick up your baby, and you start swaying back and forth. Maybe you don’t do it right away, but as soon as she starts to fuss, your body automatically does the Mom Sway. You’ve learned the gentle rocking movement usually calms your baby down.
You might not know that all that swaying stimulates your baby’s vestibular system, the part of her brain that controls her balance. The system first develops in the womb. Now, all of your swaying together strengthens it, which will eventually help her coordinate eye and head movements as well as both sides of her body. This will help her walk wobble-free. So, you want to know how to raise a smart baby? Keep swaying and rocking your sweet nugget!
3. When You Sing Out Loud to Your Baby
You don’t need to score a Grammy to win your child’s vote. To him, your singing voice is hands-down his favorite one to hear. The two of you might even already have your special song. Singing creates a secure and comforting environment and strengthens your bond. But that’s not all!
All that singing you do with your baby supports his pre-reading and language development, too. The musical sounds, natural pauses, and lyric repetition help him grasp the basic elements of language, such as rhythm, pitch, and tone. Through the songs you sing, your baby hears the cadence and structure of language and becomes exposed to more words and the nuances of linguistic patterns.
4. When You Babble Back and Forth With Your Baby
We all do it. As moms, we talk to our babies and ask questions. Then we pause, gaze at them expectantly, and gleefully respond to them when they babble back. And what about when our babies “goo-goo-ga-ga” first and initiate a conversation with us? Well, obviously, we talk back. Every single one of us clearly has a smart baby!
In this back-and-forth interaction, you’re teaching your baby the art of conversation. You’re making and maintaining eye contact, pausing to allow space for the other person to respond. And you’re also using facial expressions to convey emotions in the process, too.
5. When You Stick to a Routine
Wake up. Let Mommy know I’m awake. Smile at Mommy when she changes my diaper. Gobble up breakfast. Get dressed. Look adorable in my baby swing. Poop. Smile at Mommy when she changes my diaper again. Play. Scrunch up my face so Mommy knows I’m hungry again. Eat. Naptime!
Sound familiar? You and your baby probably follow your own routine each morning (and each evening). You might not know that familiar routines offer your baby comfort and a sense of stability, safety, and security. This leads her to confidently explore and learn about the world around her. Routines can grow and evolve as your baby moves into toddlerhood.
6. When You Change Her Diaper
You know those thousands of times you change your baby’s diaper? Well, every time your baby lets you know she needs a fresh nappy and you respond to her need, you strengthen your bond. Your baby learns she can trust you to take care of her.
Building a healthy attachment and a sense of trust not only lays a solid foundation for all future relationships, but it also primes your baby’s brain for learning. It’s one of the ways your baby knows he is safe and also one of the ways you’ve already mastered how to raise a smart baby.
What’s your and your child’s special song that you sing together?
