Mental stimulation for newborns/toddlers (method, milk, infants, weight)

[namelesstraveler]

Has anyone tried programs like Baby Einstein or any of these other methods that allegedly stimulate neural activity at an early age? I'm wondering what the criteria is for properly stimulating a newborn's neurons.

[BirdieBelle]

The best way to "properly" stimulate your baby's neurons is not to treat him/her like a science experiment but to interact.

Talking to your baby, picking him up, playing with him and making eye contact are proven to help your child do better mentally AND physically.

So keep him in an environment with lots of sights, sounds, smells and touch, balanced with rest. Baby Einstein is fine occasionally, but sitting in front of a screen is no match for a parent's attention.


http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-li...n/faq-20058099

Indeed, one popular form of smart baby technology -- learning videos such as Baby Einstein -- received low marks in a study designed to evaluate their effectiveness in helping baby brain development. The research, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, showed that not only were these so-called baby brain tools not helpful, they may actually slow word learning.

[stan4]

Being with mother and having her talk, interact, do her daily activities, etc, with baby are the best.

They studied the Einstein program and it's bogus.

[Mnseca]

Baby Einstein got sued or something for making those bogus claims. What newborns need is attention, mostly being picked up and held. Not videos.

[aliss2]

Activities that encourage ALL senses (not just visual/auditory). Touching, tasting, smelling, messy play, outside play, SENSORY based play!

The science behind increased neural development is (in summary) about as much varied exposure as possible. Good ol' pots and pans is the best for toddlers.

"sensory motor checklist"

Put Something in Your Mouth (Oral Motor Input):

Drink a milkshake
Suck on hard candy
Crunch or suck on ice pieces
Tongue in check movements
“Chew” on pencil/pen
Chew on coffee swizzle sticks
Take slow deep breaths
Suck, lick, bite on your lips or the inside of your cheeks
Drink carbonated drink
Eat a cold popsicle
Eat a pickle
Chew gum
Crunch on nuts/pretzels/chips
Bite on nails/cuticle
Eat popcorn/cut up vegetables
Eat chips and a spicy dip
Smoke cigarettes
Chew on buttons, sweatshirt strings or collars
Whistle while you work
Drink coffee/tea (caffeinated)
Drink hot cocoa or warm milk
Other:
Move (Vestibular/Proprioceptive Input):

Rock in a rocking chair
Shift or “squirm” in a chair
Push chair back on 2 legs
Aerobic exercise
Isometrics/lift weights
Rock own body slightly
Scrub kitchen floor
Roll neck and head slowly
Sit with crossed legs and bounce one slightly
Run/jog
Ride bike
Tap toe, heel or foot
Dance
Tap pencil/pen
Yard work
Stretch/shake body parts
Other:



Touch (Tactile Input):

Twist own hair
Move keys or coins in pocket with your hand
Cool shower
Warm bath
Receive a massage
Pet a dog or cat
Drum fingers or pencil on table
Rub gently on skin/clothes
Fidget with the following
a straw
paper clips
cuticle/nails
pencil/pen
earring or necklace
phone cord while talking
put fingers near mouth, eye, or nose
other:
Look (Visual Input):

Open window shades after a boring movie in a classroom
Watch a fireplace
Watch fish tank
Watch sunset/sunrise
Watch “oil and water” toys
How do you react to:
dim lighting
fluorescent lighting
sunlight through bedroom window when sleeping
rose colored room
a “cluttered desk” when needing to concentrate


Listen (Auditory Input):

Listen to Classical Music
Listen to Hard Rock
Listen to others “hum”
Work in “quiet” room
Work in “noisy” room
Sing or talk to self
How do you react to:
scratch on a chalkboard
“squeak” of a mechanical pencil
fire siren
waking to an unusual noise
dog barking (almost constantly)

[pkbab5]

Scientific studies have observed mothers with their infants and toddlers and counted the average words spoken to the child every day. Then they wait and see how the child grows and observe their educational outcomes. Children who heard the most words spoken every day, especially if they were read to, had the best educational outcomes. Baby Einstein and the like doesn't do anything except for hold the child's attention long enough for mommy to go pee and make a bottle.


If you want the best for your baby, talk to her a lot, and read to her a lot. And play. With things that don't flash or make noise, things that require manipulation and creativity. Melissa and Doug toys are great for this.


Good luck!

[somebodynew]

Raspberries!

[pkbab5]

Originally Posted by aliss2

Activities that encourage ALL senses (not just visual/auditory). Touching, tasting, smelling, messy play, outside play, SENSORY based play!

The science behind increased neural development is (in summary) about as much varied exposure as possible. Good ol' pots and pans is the best for toddlers.

"sensory motor checklist"

Put Something in Your Mouth (Oral Motor Input):

Drink a milkshake
Suck on hard candy
Crunch or suck on ice pieces
Tongue in check movements
“Chew” on pencil/pen
Chew on coffee swizzle sticks
Take slow deep breaths
Suck, lick, bite on your lips or the inside of your cheeks
Drink carbonated drink
Eat a cold popsicle
Eat a pickle
Chew gum
Crunch on nuts/pretzels/chips
Bite on nails/cuticle
Eat popcorn/cut up vegetables
Eat chips and a spicy dip
Smoke cigarettes
Chew on buttons, sweatshirt strings or collars
Whistle while you work
Drink coffee/tea (caffeinated)
Drink hot cocoa or warm milk

While I appreciate what the other poster was trying to say, please DON'T try most of these with your baby/young toddler!!! OMG. Hard candy, carbonated drinks, gum, cigarettes, coffee... good lord.

[BirdieBelle]

Originally Posted by aliss2

Activities that encourage ALL senses (not just visual/auditory). Touching, tasting, smelling, messy play, outside play, SENSORY based play!

The science behind increased neural development is (in summary) about as much varied exposure as possible. Good ol' pots and pans is the best for toddlers.

"sensory motor checklist"

Put Something in Your Mouth (Oral Motor Input):

Drink a milkshake
Suck on hard candy
Crunch or suck on ice pieces
Tongue in check movements
“Chew” on pencil/pen
Chew on coffee swizzle sticks
Take slow deep breaths
Suck, lick, bite on your lips or the inside of your cheeks
Drink carbonated drink
Eat a cold popsicle
Eat a pickle
Chew gum
Crunch on nuts/pretzels/chips
Bite on nails/cuticle
Eat popcorn/cut up vegetables
Eat chips and a spicy dip
Smoke cigarettes
Chew on buttons, sweatshirt strings or collars
Whistle while you work
Drink coffee/tea (caffeinated)
Drink hot cocoa or warm milk
Other:
Move (Vestibular/Proprioceptive Input):

Rock in a rocking chair
Shift or “squirm” in a chair
Push chair back on 2 legs
Aerobic exercise
Isometrics/lift weights
Rock own body slightly
Scrub kitchen floor
Roll neck and head slowly
Sit with crossed legs and bounce one slightly
Run/jog
Ride bike
Tap toe, heel or foot
Dance
Tap pencil/pen
Yard work
Stretch/shake body parts
Other:



Touch (Tactile Input):

Twist own hair
Move keys or coins in pocket with your hand
Cool shower
Warm bath
Receive a massage
Pet a dog or cat
Drum fingers or pencil on table
Rub gently on skin/clothes
Fidget with the following
a straw
paper clips
cuticle/nails
pencil/pen
earring or necklace
phone cord while talking
put fingers near mouth, eye, or nose
other:
Look (Visual Input):

Open window shades after a boring movie in a classroom
Watch a fireplace
Watch fish tank
Watch sunset/sunrise
Watch “oil and water” toys
How do you react to:
dim lighting
fluorescent lighting
sunlight through bedroom window when sleeping
rose colored room
a “cluttered desk” when needing to concentrate


Listen (Auditory Input):

Listen to Classical Music
Listen to Hard Rock
Listen to others “hum”
Work in “quiet” room
Work in “noisy” room
Sing or talk to self
How do you react to:
scratch on a chalkboard
“squeak” of a mechanical pencil
fire siren
waking to an unusual noise
dog barking (almost constantly)

That's a checklist for ADULTS; it's more like a quiz and not meant to be a list of suggested activities. Lots of those things would KILL a baby or toddler:

http://meredithdunnschool.org/wp-con...ult_chklst.pdf

[txtoal]

Originally Posted by stan4

Being with mother and having her talk, interact, do her daily activities, etc, with baby are the best.

They studied the Einstein program and it's bogus.

I agree. It's a load of crap and I made it clear that we didn't want anything of the sort.