The most important time for brain development is the 1,000 days between conception and third birthday.
It's particularly important to support your child's brain development at this time.
At birth, you child's brain is around 25% of its adult size. By aged 3, their brain will be 80% of its adult size.
What you can do to help your child's brain development
Your child’s brain develops best when they are:
- healthy and well nourished
- in a healthy routine - for example feeding, sleeping, cuddles, reading together, bath time
- protected from stress or neglect
- with a loving and responsive caregiver or caregivers
- given the chance to play and explore safely
As a baby, they can already recognise familiar sounds and will have developed some taste preferences.
Their early experiences, relationships and environment impact on their development. These experiences lay the foundation for important outcomes like future success and health.
Interact with your baby
Babies are born ready to communicate with you. They do this through crying, facial expressions, gestures, babbling, and laughing.
When you react, you help to build a strong foundation for their brain and your relationship with them.
You can do this by:
- making eye contact
- mirroring their expressions or movements
- talking or making the same noises back to them
When your baby repeats an experience, it helps with their brain development. For example, when they keep grasping your finger with their hand, it makes the paths in their brain stronger which relate to movement, touch, and to you, their care giver.
Watch a video on connecting and communicating with your child
Talking and reading
Talk or read to your baby. Do this even when you know they can’t understand you yet. Evidence shows it can help their brain development, especially their language.
Exercise and nutrition
Good food helps your child’s brain to grow. Some great foods for your child's brain are eggs, leafy greens and fish.
Being physically active is also good for your child's development. Start with tummy time.
Playing
Exploring the world around them is important for your child’s learning. Help your child to explore safely.
Playing helps children to develop and learn a range of skills. It also lets your child know you love them and that they're important. This can positively help their long-term mental health.
Soothing and comfort
Respond to your baby consistently when they're distressed. It will help calm them down and reduce their stress levels. It has been shown to build their resilience.
Vaccinations
Vaccinating your child protects them from illnesses that can:
- be life-threatening
- damage the growing brain
Learn about how your child develops through play
Keeping yourself healthy
It's normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Many parents feel stress, anxiety, low mood or depression.
Important
Feeling distressed doesn't make you a bad parent. Taking care of a baby is physically and emotionally tiring.
It's important that you ask for help when you need it and get to take a break.
