Spend Some "Face Time" with Baby!


Show your baby how much you love them by looking at their face, smiling, talking and even making silly faces at them!  Looking at your baby with a calm and happy face will help baby connect with you and to feel secure. It will also help your baby learn to pay attention.

 
Brain Science for Your Baby

 

Your baby interacts with you through touch, smell, and vision!  And you respond.  We call this developmental game "serve and return".   Just like in a tennis game, your baby "serves" up a smile or a coo, and your "return" by looking back and smiling. And believe it or not - this back and forth interaction between you and your baby builds your baby's brain! 

 

See how this works here
A Baby Buffer Prescription for Your Baby
 
Make eye contact with your baby as much as possible. Look and talk to them during feedings, diaper changes, reading and any other opportunity that comes along during the day.
 
Position your baby so they can see your face when reading a book to them. (We tend to put them on our lap but then they can't see our face and expressions).

A baby Buffer Prescription for You   

 

Recognize and talk about your feelings with someone who supports you, and keep a journal to express your feelings. Expressing yourself will help you reflect on the experiences you are having...and help free your mind to focus on your baby...your #1 priority!

 

 

What Your Baby Can Do - Developmental Milestones 

 

Your baby will love being held and touched by you from the very beginning, this is the beginning of your relationship with your baby. Click on the links below to find out what your baby should be able to do:

  
Gene's Research Tip!

A study from Swansea University in Wales looked at infants whose families spoon-fed them versus those who were given freedom and time to finger feed.  The babies who were spoon-fed exclusively were decidedly more over-weight than the ones who were allowed to do some finger-feeding.

               Read more here
Baby Buffer Blog
Written by Kathy Ellerbeck, MD, MPH, FAAP

Have you heard of "Active Listening"? They have seminars about it in workplaces. Police officers, counselors, ministers, rabbis and priests do it. The U.S. State Department teaches it. Or you might even see a program about Active Listening on late, late night TV like I did a few weeks ago while cleaning up the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning. 

 

What IS "active listening" - and why might it matter to you and to your baby? There are some key elements that aren't only good for communication with the adults in your life, but for babies as well - with a little adaptation. This is what I learned (that should apply to babies and toddlers and not just to my husband).

 

Read the full blog here

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