The Times of India

Talk to your baby as if they understand you: Pediatrician shares 5 simple habits that may support your baby's brain development

Brain development is now taking centre stage. Parents are looking for ways to help develop their childs brain from an early age. Some parents even look for gadgets and toys in attempts to make their baby smarter. But, what are the most effective ways to nurture a baby's developing brain? According to a pediatrician, some of the most effective ways to nurture a baby's developing brain are surprisingly simple- and they cost little or nothing.In a recent video, pediatrician Dr. Abhishek shared five everyday parenting habits that can help lay the foundation for healthy brain development. These habits are: Talk to your baby as if they understand you Parents often assume that because babies cannot speak, they cannot understand conversations. The pediatrician encourages parents to do the opposite. Talk to your baby as if they understand you. Your baby is constantly recording the rhythm and sounds of your words, and this helps build the brain's language circuits. According to the doctor, babies are listening long before they begin speaking. The sounds, rhythm, and tone of a parent's voice become part of how their brains begin developing the foundations of language.Read to your baby every dayMany parents believe reading can wait until children are older. The pediatrician says reading should begin much earlier. Read to your baby every single day, even if they're only looking at the pictures. He explains that babies benefit from books even before they understand the story. This helps babies begin to recognize new words and learn to visualize stories. Simply hearing a parent's voice while looking at pictures introduces babies to language, storytelling, and new vocabulary in a gentle, engaging way.Let your baby explore different textures and shapesBabies naturally want to grab, twist, squeeze, and explore everything around them. Rather than stopping this curiosity, the pediatrician recommends encouraging safe exploration. Let your baby explore different textures and shapes. He says these moments are actually important learning experiences.When a baby twists, turns, or even breaks things apart, they're learning through trial and error. Exploring different objects, textures, and shapes allows babies to learn by experimenting with the world around them.Avoid screens completely until the age of twoThe doctor strongly advises parents to keep screens away during a baby's first two years. Avoid screens completely until your child turns two. He explains why this matters. A baby's brain learns through real-life interactions, not by passively watching a screen.According to him, babies learn best through face-to-face interaction, conversation, movement, and everyday experiences- not by simply watching content on a device.Hug your baby every day and make eye contactThe final habit has nothing to do with toys or learning activities. Instead, it focuses on helping babies feel emotionally secure. Hug your baby every day and make eye contact with them.The pediatrician says that emotional safety gives babies the confidence to explore and learn. A baby only develops the confidence to try new things when they feel safe and secure. Simple moments of affection, eye contact, and physical closeness can help create an environment where babies feel comfortable exploring their surroundings.The best thing about the pediatricians message is that its surprisingly simple. What parents need for the development of their babys brain are not complicated routines or gadgets. Talking to babies throughout the day, reading together, encouraging safe exploration, avoiding early screen exposure, and making time for hugs and eye contact are everyday interactions that can become powerful building blocks for learning. A baby's developing brain grows best through consistent, loving, real-world interactions with the people who care for them.