Communication and Social Development
Communication and interaction is an important part of newborn development. Your baby's auditory development began in utero, and now continues to improve in complement to his newly-acquired linguistic skills. His vision is blurry and his hearing muffled, however he can recognize your body scent and voice intonation patterns, meaning that he will respond to your voice, will stop crying when picked up, and will look to you for comfort. You can nourish the development to help him reach milestones by providing balanced nutrition and stimulating his cognitive development with interactive activities, such as:
- Providing a different perspective: Hold him against your chest, facing over your shoulder. Support his head gently but firmly.
- Imitating him: When he's quiet and alert, watch to see what he does, then mimic him.
Why is Nutrition Important?
Language and hearing development is linked to proper nutrition. Essential nutrients provide the basis for healthy growth and development. A balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of DHA and ARA (Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats) contributes largely to your baby's healthy brain and eye development. If you are breastfeeding, make sure that you are consuming enough to meet his developmental needs. If you are formula feeding, choose an iron-enriched formula that contains DHA and ARA like Enfamil A+®, our closest formula to breast milk.