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