Your Child's Brain

Your baby's brain is built over time: it starts during pregnancy and continues through to early adulthood. And like a building, it needs a strong foundation. The brain is made up of different areas that control everything we do — from hearing and walking to problem-solving and how we feel. Each area has millions of neurons that communicate by passing chemical messages across tiny spaces called synapses; as messages repeat, more links form and "neural pathways" — the brain's wiring — develop. In the first years of life, these connections develop at an extremely fast pace, shaped largely by everyday experience.

Did you know?

• Your baby's brain wiring isn't fully connected at birth — it's very active, changing and developing in response to what's going on around it. Day-to-day experiences like playing, being read to, learning, and interacting with people help build it.
• How well the wiring gets set up affects your baby's later ability to learn language, solve problems, and do well in school — and later in life, physical and emotional health and relationships.
• Relationships are crucial. Loving, consistent, positive relationships help build healthy brains and protect against the negative effects of stress.
• Even very young infants can experience stress when their environment feels unsafe or frightening. "Toxic" stress — much more serious than short-lived, everyday stress — is caused by persistent problems like extreme marital conflict, poverty, abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, or a parent with untreated substance misuse or mental illness. It's harmful to a baby's developing brain and can lead to physical, learning and emotional problems that carry into adulthood. If you're concerned about your home situation, talk to your doctor.

Good food, real interaction

If you're able to breastfeed, breast milk is the best food for the first 6 months (and well beyond, alongside complementary foods). Whether breastfeeding or using formula, treat feeding time as brain-building time too — eye contact, smiling and skin contact are all positive experiences. As your baby grows, offer iron-rich foods and a variety of nutrients, like fruits and vegetables.

Your baby doesn't need expensive toys. The loving, smiling faces of adults who respond to them are the best toys ever. Many electronic toys, DVDs and TV shows are marketed as "educational," but there's no research to back claims that they help babies learn — watching a screen is passive, while babies need to actively interact with people and explore their world. Screen time is not recommended for children under 2.

What can you do?

• Respond to your baby — especially when sick, hungry, upset or needing comfort, but also to the countless positive ways babies reach out, by babbling, making sounds, or smiling. Responding in a loving, consistent way helps the brain develop.
• Provide a safe and loving home — develop daily routines your baby can count on, and keep the home calm.
• Help your baby explore her surroundings, inside and out. Play helps babies learn, and you're your child's first playmate. Talk through your daily routines, point out interesting things, and help develop her other senses — hearing, touch, taste and smell.
• Get regular health care — keep vaccines up to date and talk to your provider about development and what to expect next.
• Develop community connections — playgroups, drop-ins, community centres, libraries, public health units and family resource programs are great places to meet other parents and get questions answered.
• Choose quality child care — a caregiver you trust, who responds to your baby's emotional needs and provides a safe, healthy environment with opportunities to learn and grow.
• Reach out if you need help — if you feel stressed, overwhelmed, depressed or need support, talk to your health care provider, your family, or a local community agency.