It’s a marvel how fast babies change—if you’re a parent, you may be astounded by how quickly your baby gains weight, grows longer and needs the next size up in clothing.
It’s not as visible, but your baby’s brain is also rapidly developing. It doubles in size in the first year and is nearly fully grown by age 5.
“Those early years are really important for brain growth and development,” says UNC Health pediatrician Katherine Jordan, MD. “Infants and toddlers are taking in so much of their surroundings and learning what’s important, and it’s important to support them through that so that they’ll be ready for school.”
From birth to age 5, your child’s brain is forming the connections needed to speak, move and ultimately, to learn. Supporting that growth might seem overwhelming, but Dr. Jordan says that you can focus on these simple steps.
1. Talk and sing to your baby.
Don’t wait for your child’s first words to start having conversations. Talking and singing to them from an early age builds their vocabulary and strengthens your bond.
“Babies thrive on language interaction, so do back-and-forth interactions even before they’re talking,” Dr. Jordan says. “Say something, let the baby coo, and then respond. It fosters a close relationship with the parent and other caregivers.”
Dr. Jordan acknowledges that these conversations may feel awkward when your child isn’t cooing or babbling or is too young to respond.
“It can be really hard if you don’t get a lot of input from a young baby, but know that the baby is listening and taking it in,” she says. “It can be easier to start by narrating what you’re doing or what’s going on to your baby. Say, ‘I’m making breakfast right now; I’m getting a banana ready.’ Once the baby starts to smile and laugh, it will feel easier because you’re getting more interaction.”
You can also sing to your child.
“Singing is such a fun way to learn language,” Dr. Jordan says. “Many songs have fun hand motions, so a child can move their body, too. Babies love to hear their parents sing, even if they don’t have perfect singing voices.”
2. Read to your baby.
A loving relationship with a caregiver supports a baby’s brain development, so snuggling up with your baby and a book is a real win-win: You’re fostering closeness while also introducing them to new words.
“Reading is really important, and we have great data that when kids are read to, they are exposed to more language and different types of words,” Dr. Jordan says. “Kids who are read to are ready for that next step of kindergarten. Spend time reading and looking at a book or just talking through what you see.”
If you make reading a regular part of a bedtime routine, that will help your baby know it’s time for rest. Adequate sleep is also important to supporting brain growth.
3. Let your child lead the way in play.
You may be bombarded with advertisements for expensive toys that promise to build your baby’s brain. Rest assured that all your child needs are things that are already around the house or in nature.
“Pretend play is better than fancy toys, and parents don’t have to buy high-tech toys or even a lot of toys,” Dr. Jordan says. “Kids enjoy making different items in nature into pretend objects. A pot or pan from the kitchen can be a pirate hat or a drum. They can do all sorts of things with their imagination.”
Dr. Jordan recommends parents find a few minutes every day to play with their child, letting the child lead the way. That means allowing your child to dictate that you’re race car drivers or looking for treasure together. Try to focus on your child during this time; keep phones and other distractions away.
“When the caregiver responds to what the child says and follows the child’s imagination, that will mean the world to that child,” Dr. Jordan says.
It’s OK for you and other caregivers to be your baby’s only playmates, as it’s building your bond. But when your child becomes a toddler, look for opportunities for playdates with other children if your child isn’t already regularly seeing them in child care or preschool.
“In the toddler years, it’s important to start interacting with other kids and adults, so the child can start learning different social rules within culture, like how to not take toys, or emotions, like navigating disappointment,” Dr. Jordan says.
4. Limit screens and television.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that screen time for children younger than age of 2 should be “very limited” and take place only with a trusted adult, such as a parent helping a toddler video chat a loved one. Children ages 2 to 5 should have no more than one hour per day.
But you don’t need to be perfect on screen time, just aware.
“Even though the recommendations give us an ideal, screens are all around us in real life,” Dr. Jordan says. “If you can limit screens as much as possible, the child will pay more attention to the real world, relationships and interactions.”
Dr. Jordan says there are shows aimed at young children that can help them learn skills related to emotional intelligence.
“If the caregiver can watch the show with the child, and talk about the lessons learned, they’ll get the most learning out of that show,” she says.
While children can learn from some programs, it can come at a cost.
“All of that visual input can be overstimulating for their brains, so after watching screens, you may notice that your child is overly tired, is irritable and seems ready for a nap,” Dr. Jordan says. “We see more symptoms of hyperactivity with screens.”
5. Let go of perfection and focus on loving your child.
Thinking about your baby’s brain development may seem like too big a task when you’re also focused on feeding them, changing them and generally keeping them alive while also managing other family or career responsibilities.
“There is pressure from society to be the perfect parent, but there is no such thing as the perfect parent,” Dr. Jordan says. “What a child needs—and what evidence shows they need—is a loving and supportive relationship with their caregivers, whether that’s parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles. Whoever it is, that loving and supportive relationship makes a huge difference.”
That’s why finding time in your day to talk, play or read with a child will go a long way. Focus on quality time, and give yourself grace on days when it’s hard to achieve.
“Remember that a lot of the challenges of these years are temporary and part of the developmental process,” Dr. Jordan says, citing the “terrible twos,” known for tantrums, as a time that can be difficult for caregivers. “It can be joyful and challenging at the same time, so I encourage parents to connect with others for support and just enjoy and love their child.”
In addition to seeking support from friends and family, remember that your pediatrician is a professional ally in baby’s brain development.
“During well-child checks, we do developmental screenings and talk about age-appropriate ways to support your child’s future development and health,” Dr. Jordan says. “We’re a sounding board, coach and support for families to help care for their child.”
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s health, talk to their doctor. If you need a doctor, find one near you.