| When is it that I should start teaching my baby? That | | | | daughter was born in the Philippines, where our usual |
| is a question that may come to mind for many first | | | | form of transport is a tricycle. I do not think it a |
| time parents; other parents may never consider the | | | | coincidence that, once she was born, she was |
| question at all, and just leave things to evolve | | | | contented with the noise of a tricycle; and they are |
| naturally.In a way, that is an unnecessary question as, | | | | noisy here, I assure you, especially outside the womb! |
| whether you like it or not and whether you mean to or | | | | However noisy the tricycle, she would always be |
| not, you begin teaching your baby while it is still in the | | | | asleep within a minute or two, and even now at 20 |
| womb, and then continue through its early years, | | | | months is particularly relaxed on a deafening tricycle.If |
| teenage years, and even into adulthood. So, perhaps it | | | | you want to insist on having a most important sound in |
| is better to rephrase that question slightly to "when | | | | the womb, then it must be the voices of the parents. |
| should I consciously start teaching my baby?"Even | | | | Getting to know the voice of mum and dad will come |
| with the rephrased question, the answer is the same: | | | | naturally, but dad especially can get up close and talk |
| while the baby is in the womb. How can that be?While | | | | to the baby in the womb. It will not talk back of course, |
| the baby is in the womb it starts to learn about its | | | | but you can rest assured, if she is awake, she will be |
| environment after about six months of pregnancy, | | | | intrigued by your up close and personal voice. It is |
| when it is capable of hearing external sounds. Of | | | | something I did every evening with Saffron. That also |
| course, it is aware of its internal environment earlier | | | | had the effect of keeping her awake as long as |
| than that, but there is little you can do to enhance that. | | | | possible during the evening, so she was less restless |
| But when it comes to the external environment, you | | | | at night. That can be very helpful for mum to get a |
| are in a position to have some influence even from | | | | good night's sleep.Another external stimulation which I |
| that early stage of development.What Can You | | | | never learnt about for my now grown up children, and |
| Teach Your Baby In The Womb?With the baby in the | | | | that is light. This can be even more useful for keeping |
| womb there is clearly a very limited scope for teaching | | | | baby awake in the evening. If you take a powerful |
| as such. However, you can provide additional | | | | flashlight, switch it on, and hold it close to mum's |
| stimulation that will form an important part of their | | | | tummy, the baby in the womb will respond to it. I must |
| learning at that stage. You can provide many hints as | | | | say I thought it a silly idea, until the then unborn Saffron |
| to what the outside environment is like, in a way that | | | | started moving every time the light was switched on. |
| sets a good foundation for their feeling of love and | | | | So, the flashlight became another tool in the "keep |
| security.The main external awareness of a baby in the | | | | baby awake in the evening" campaign to stop mum |
| womb is sound. If you can make the external sounds | | | | being kicked so much during the night.Maybe Saffron |
| comforting and welcoming then that will help the baby | | | | did not appreciate my "keep her awake" tactics. She |
| more than you may think. Music is a proven stimulation | | | | was probably wondering "who is this guy keeping me |
| to babies, especially classical music; a daily dose of | | | | awake all the time; doesn't he realise I want to get |
| Mozart will stimulate the baby's brain and senses. With | | | | some sleep?"However, she does seem to have done |
| any luck, they will become a musical talent, but that is | | | | well on it. She has slept like a log all night, every night |
| not an issue at this stage of their development.You do | | | | apart from one, since she was just a few months' old. |
| not, of course, have to restrict her to classical music. | | | | The odd night? Apparently, a bad dream at 11 pm. A |
| Whatever music you like, just turn the volume up a bit | | | | quick cuddle and words of reassurance, and she was |
| more than usual to ensure she hears it. The sound will | | | | back to sleep again.Whether that has any connection |
| be muffled, but by the time baby is born, she will be | | | | to her in-the-womb experiences, I cannot say for sure. |
| used to your musical tastes. | | | | But I will definitely be using the same tactics again next |
| Your aim should be to make the outside environment | | | | time, if we are blessed with a baby sister or brother |
| familiar to the baby. Most of that will happen naturally, | | | | for her.This teaching baby article was written by Roy |
| and she will become used to the daily sounds, such as | | | | Thomsitt, owner author of the Bouncing New Baby |
| vacuum cleaner, liquidizer, lawnmower and other | | | | website. |
| domestic noises that are penetrating.Our baby | | | | |