What Babies Learn Before They Are Born

Many think that people first learn things when they finally go to school or when parents teach them how to walk and talk. In reality, learning actually happens way ahead all those things as babies get to flex their minds while they are still inside their mothers’ wombs. This may sound unbelievable and shocking for some, but a number of researches have led the medical and psychological societies to say that this is the truth.

But parents need to understand that learning, in this context, does not refer to arithmetic or memorizing trivia. The things that babies learn before they are born are more vital than any subject taught as schools – the skills needed to survive.

Babies get to recognize their mother’s voice even before they are born so they could tell who they can trust first. They also learn about which food are delicious and safe as what mothers eat during pregnancy affect what babies prefer after birth. Some studies even note that what mothers eat prepare their unborn children to what to expect in this world—either a life of abundance or that of austerity.

This makes it more important for mothers to take care of themselves during pregnancy as what happens to them can affect the way her child will develop. Parents need to work together to make sure that what their baby learns in the womb would be beneficial once he enters the real world.

Evidence that Playing Music for the Womb Works

Many people believe that playing music for babies while in the womb has a profound effect on their development, particularly on their brains. Unfortunately, concrete scientific proof of this is limited, mainly because of the difficulties involved in studying unborn children. However, there are some case studies from around the world which demonstrate the effects of this seemingly inexplicable phenomenon.

A study conducted by the University of Helsinki proved that playing music for the womb can improve a baby’s memory. In this study, the researchers instructed 12 mothers-to-be to play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ five times a week, during the last three months of their pregnancy. When the babies were born, they were exposed to the music again, only this time some parts of it were altered. By reading their brainwaves, these babies quickly recognized the edited music, while those who weren’t exposed to the tune while in the womb didn’t see any difference.

This study was similar, but more-refined, to an earlier research conducted in 1991. As reported by the BBC, one-year-old babies who were exposed to classical music in the womb are easily calmed whenever they listen to the familiar tune, suggesting that this practice can help parents control restless children.

Early Learning for Your Baby Begins at the Fetal Development Phase

"In that sense, using a prenatal audio system like the BabyPlus can help jumpstart auditory learning and bolster brain function at various prenatal development stages. A newborn child’s brain weighs around 12 ounces but increases to 2.2 pounds by the time he or she turns a year old. The extra weight comes from the additional brain mass which develops within 12 months to produce the neurons that will handle specific body functions and cognitive skills."
http://blog.babyplus.com/early-learning-baby-begins-fetal-development-phase/

Prenatal Music Gives Babies a Life Advantage

Music can have a profound effect on people’s brains, as many studies have found. It can reduce stress, improve cognitive ability, elevate mood, and help people perform better in high-pressure situations. Evidence is showing that music might be useful as a tool for stimulating the development of babies’ brains while they are still in the womb.

This idea is based around the recent discovery that the development of a prenatal baby’s auditory organs actually occurs quite early into the pregnancy. Researchers have found that at around 16 weeks, a baby gains the ability to perceive auditory queues and may even respond to them. Development of the brain is also elevated during this phase.

Mothers who regularly sing or read to their babies during their pregnancy often report that their children are better behaved than their peers and exhibit superior learning skills. Additionally, mothers who used prenatal sound systems— specialized equipment designed to direct sounds into a mothers’ womb during her pregnancy—have observed differences between children who were exposed to such systems as opposed to those who weren’t.

While the idea of using music to improve prenatal development and, consequently, affect children’s cognitive abilities after birth has yet to be studied in depth, what anecdotal evidence there is seems to support that fact. It is understandable, therefore, that parents would jump at the chance to give their children a competitive edge—because, realistically, what parent wouldn’t?

A Look into a Baby's Trimestral Growth

Human reproduction is a fascinating topic. Who would've thought, at the infancy of obstetrics, that two cells (sperm and egg) coming together would result in new life? The would-be mother carries the responsibility of nurturing the baby's growth until he or she grows big enough to be welcomed into the world.

Here's a rundown of what happens inside your womb every trimester during pregnancy.

Months 1 to 3

Doctors point out that the first trimester is the most critical stage of a baby's growth. Of course, the baby during the first trimester won't look anything like the real deal because his or her bodily features are still under development. By the end of the first trimester, the baby would have developed hands and feet, be between three and four inches long, and weigh around an ounce.

Months 4 to 6

Other features, such as teeth and hair, should start to grow during the second trimester. You should also start to feel some movement inside the womb; at this point, the baby would’ve developed basic motor abilities. By the end of the second trimester, the baby would be able to see the interior of the womb, be around 12 inches long, and weigh around 2 pounds.

Months 7 to 9

The baby's size and weight starts to increase dramatically due to the formation of fat inside the baby. In fact, his weight may double as early as month 7, and his length, in the run up to the delivery date. 

Our Trusted Prenatal Care Product has Expanded Its’ Distribution in the Philippines!

At any given moment, millions of women around the world are pregnant and all of them recognize prenatal care as a factor that gives their child a head start in life. As the makers of BabyPlus—the number one fetal learning system on the market—we understand that expectant moms everywhere want to benefit from our product. That’s why we’re happy to announce that BabyPlus is now more widely available in the Philippines! This development is all thanks to Quirks Marketing, our exclusive distributor in the Philippines. With their help, the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System is now available in over a dozen online and brick-and-mortar stores across the archipelago. As such, Filipino mommies can now take advantage of our product’s ability to stimulate prenatal cognitive development.
http://blog.babyplus.com/trusted-prenatal-care-product-expanded-distribution-philippines/

A Brief Timeline of Fetal Development Milestones

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Very few things in life can match the joy of becoming a mother.

By now, you’re probably already going over potential names or looking at clothes and toys for the future bundle of joy. Before you start picking them out, however, here are a few dates you should keep in mind, as they will definitely help you make your naming decisions and the like much easier:

12 weeks

Rejoice, as week 12 typically marks the end of morning sickness. More importantly, though, is the fact that once you reach the 12^th week, the chances of having a miscarriage take a significant plunge.

18 weeks

Once you reach the 18th week, an ultrasound scan may already be able to detect the gender of your child. Undoubtedly, this would make it easier to narrow down your list of names and choice of clothes for your child. At this point, you may also notice your baby kick, flex his/her fingers, or mimic the motions of breathing.

23 weeks

If you believe in using prenatal music to help aid the brain development of your child, week 23 is the ideal time to start. By this time, the baby’s hearing is almost fully developed, enabling him or her to differentiate sounds.

37 weeks

Your doctor will inform you that your baby is now full-term, meaning that the body is primarily fully-developed. At this stage, you can give birth at any time, so keep an overnight bag packed and ready.

Hearing in Utero

Nine months of pregnancy puts the expectant mother on alert mode as she works to nourish her child during the period. Some maternity specialists claim that the baby can start reacting to various sounds as early as 5 to 6 months. Still, it pays to know what the fetus actually hears while inside the mother’s tummy.

Fetuses start developing audio perception capabilities at 20 weeks old, with the ears completing its structural development in 24 weeks. Studies have shown that an environment with a sound level quieter than 70 decibels is optimal for the baby’s relaxation and eases the mother’s stress. However, sudden loud noises, such as a slamming door or a nearby explosion, may trigger strenuous movements in the child. At the same time, the internal sounds in the body, such as the mother’s heartbeat, may seem too loud for him or her.

The voices of the parents, on the other hand, help provide a calming effect on the fetus. Even if the baby cannot actually recognize words, the tone and speech patterns create the positive effect on him or her. Some pediatricians claim that a lack of aural stimulation hampers certain elements of the baby’s development; thus, the importance of the mother striking a balance between nurturing in a secure environment and going out to experience natural surroundings and talking to the baby about them. 

Three Important Things to Consider when Playing Music for Baby in Womb

Since mothers want their babies to grow up healthy and smart, they obtain comprehensive prenatal care services for a trouble-free pregnancy. Some also play music for baby in the womb with the hope of promoting their child’s mental development. The Washington Post writer Meeri Kim reports on a research’s findings that babies in utero do recognize the music played by their expectant moms. Playing music for in-utero babies is nothing new. In fact, doing so is commonplace that even a popular media management software offers several albums designed specifically for that purpose. Moms-to-be who intend to follow this practice, however, must take into account three critical points first.
http://blog.babyplus.com/three-important-things-consider-playing-music-baby-womb/

Music for Baby in the Womb: Soothing Your Mind and Guiding His Growth

Mothers would be happy to know that prenatal music not only soothes their baby, but also relieves undue stress throughout their pregnancy. Of course, when they are stressed, their body produces hormones called glucocorticoids, which could cross over through the placenta into the baby, potentially affecting the growth of his or her heart and liver. Prenatal rhythms from sources like BabyPlus can help make the child grow up to be the best he or she can be. With a child’s physical, mental and emotional development at stake, it’s only fair that mothers play soothing music for babies in their womb to ensure a more balanced development in their children.
http://blog.babyplus.com/music-baby-womb-soothing-mind-guiding-growth/

Prenatal Music for Your Baby: Taking Full Advantage of its Benefits

As to when you should start using a trusted prenatal sound system like the BabyPlus Prenatal Educational System, experts say your 18th week is the recommended time. By this time, the baby’s hearing is almost fully developed, enabling him or her to differentiate sounds. In terms of actually listening to music, there is no right or wrong time to listen to music. However, the best time to do so would be when you are taking the time to rest as well. During this time, your baby is less exposed to cortisol (stress hormone), allowing them to associate the music with more pleasant feelings.
http://blog.babyplus.com/prenatal-music-baby-taking-full-advantage-benefits/

Early Child Development Stages: Advantage of Prenatal Aural Stimuli

"Remember, though, that the use of the system is optimal beginning when you are halfway through your pregnancy, as your child’s ears would be almost fully developed by then. Effective use of prenatal audio programs is seen to make a difference later during the infant development phase. Hughes says the music helps generate more stimuli in the brain from the baby’s response to gentler sounds. In turn, the increased brain stimulation could lead to better cognitive and motor skills for the baby, and to early-than-normal manifestations of language capabilities."
http://blog.babyplus.com/early-child-development-stages-advantage-prenatal-aural-stimuli/

Revolutionary Child Development Stages Brand Ties Up with Magazine

"Fishers, Indiana (May 27, 2014) – BabyPlus Prenatal Education System, a firm advocate in advancing prenatal child development stages in the womb, is launching its partnership with Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine. Moms who join the promo get a rare chance to win VIP Celebrity Baby Gift Baskets, which include BabyPlus, given to Hollywood A-lister moms like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Olivia Wilde, Gwen Stefani and Kerry Washington. To sign up for the promo, moms need to fill out an online form found in the magazine’s website. The gift packs contain the BabyPlus system, a patented learning method especially designed to augment and develop babies’ cognitive functions in several ways. The revolutionary system utilizes natural sounds customized to the prenatal developmental stages, making babies familiar with the sound and their brains properly stimulated. In a way, babies are offered audio lessons of sonic sounds similar to the soothing rhythm of their mothers’ heartbeat."
http://blog.babyplus.com/revolutionary-child-development-stages-brand-ties-magazine/

Excellent Prenatal Care Leads to Proper Brain Development in Babies

"The origins of autism continue to elude scientists to this day, but studies on this at least point to the benefits of effective prenatal care. As reported by Associated Press writer Lindsey Tanner, the latest research on autism conducted at the University of California attracted a lot of expert attention as it implied that autism may have its origins in the womb: “A small study that examined brains from children who died found abnormal patterns of cell growth in autistic children. The research bolsters evidence that something before birth might cause autism, at least in some cases.”"
http://blog.babyplus.com/excellent-prenatal-care-leads-proper-brain-development-babies/

Language and Music for Baby in the Womb as Part of Pregnancy Care

The relationship between music and the speaking voice is a very close one. Both share many of the same elements, such as rhythm, pitch, and timbre. Music can then be a pre-cursor to language training. However, the mentioned elements of language are best captured in a series of tones that have been especially created to conform to the prenatal baby’s developing auditory skills.

In addition to soothing womb music, mothers can also expose their babies to a series of tones developed to help along a baby’s cognitive development. A prenatal education system, like that formulated by BabyPlus.com, has been found in various research to effectively teach the baby to distinguish among various tones, as his abilities progress in the womb. A program such as this ensures that the sounds the baby hears have been carefully arranged into a curriculum that provides optimum cognitive learning effects.

http://blog.babyplus.com/language-music-baby-womb-part-pregnancy-care/

Correct Prenatal Care: Does Music for Baby in the Womb Make Sense?

"While the idea that music is good for babies in their prenatal stage is supported by many testimonies, this isn’t something that expectant parents must apply without care. In fact, they should not try it without recommendations from health practitioners who have experience and training in providing auditory exercises for fetuses. What is well known, however, is that soft music produces “white noise”, which, along with everyday sounds surrounding the mother, can help soothe and relax the baby. How much the right music for babies in the womb can stimulate cognitive learning, if at all, is still subject for debate."
http://blog.babyplus.com/correct-prenatal-care-music-baby-womb-make-sense/

Choose Prenatal Music Wisely: Babies Recognize Them from the Womb

"Additionally, a study by Kawakami et al. (2013) revealed that listening to sad, somber music can actually be used to improve mood, mainly because this type of music induces a mix of positive and negative emotions for cathartic effect. That said, music’s effects on pre-natal babies could be varied as well, highlighting the need to identify and choose the right kind of music to expose these babies to. Pre-natal babies’ abilities to recognize, discriminate, and recall various sounds, however, can go beyond their early exposure to music. A full audio-learning program for pre-natal infants, like that designed by BabyPlus, offer their own enriching benefits. An effective prenatal sound system can provide good foundation for a baby’s future cognitive skills and behavior. As the baby learns to distinguish a variety of sounds while in the womb, it also starts to learn the basics of communication and language."
http://blog.babyplus.com/choose-prenatal-music-wisely-babies-recognize-womb/

Foods that are Good for the Baby in Your Womb

What a pregnant woman eats directly affects what her child will absorb in the womb—that’s why expectant mothers will naturally avoid foods, drinks, and habits that are detrimental to their child’s development and opt for natural and healthy sources of nutrition. Although, there are a lot of good food options out there, the question is: How will an expectant mother know which kinds of food is good for her baby?

Here are some foods that will help your baby grow into a bright, bubbly child:

Fetal Development Experts Join BabyPlus’ Scientific Advisory Board

"The success of the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System is already being enjoyed by mothers and expectant families, and it is our goal to help more people by ensuring the quality of our program for a more remarkable fetal development for babies. Having that in mind, we recently updated our Scientific Advisory Board, and tapped some of the brightest minds in the field of medicine, child development, therapy, and education. Leading the pack is Dr. Elizabeth Moore, the board’s chairperson and a pediatrician who has special interest in childhood development and behavior, who also has a background in treating asthma and other forms of allergies. Next is Ms. Karin Bell, a registered nurse, who focuses on the field of reproductive medicine, and is one of our most committed educators and promoters of the BabyPlus program, serving the prenatal caregiver community."
http://blog.babyplus.com/fetal-development-experts-join-babyplus-scientific-advisory-board/

Tips for Playing Prenatal Music

Music is an important part of a person’s life, even at its earliest stages. Several studies have shown that playing music during pregnancy is a great way to stimulate a baby’s brain development. Parents who have used prenatal music often report that their babies are more attentive and learn at a very high rate.

Music during Pregnancy: Not always what You Think

If you’re an expectant mom and have read and researched everything you can about ensuring that your baby is born healthy, chances are you’ve seen images of a mother holding big earphones over their bulging tummies and making their babies listen to music. In many cases, music does have a stimulating effect on an unborn child. However, the outcome can swing in either favorable or uncomfortable situations for the baby.

On Prenatal Development and Auditory Senses

Many studies have been conducted throughout the years regarding how prenatal development can be achieved through music. Recent discoveries about infant brain development state that the baby's brain can already process information while still in the womb. Sounds that mimic the mother's heartbeat and classical symphonies are examples of music that, when exposed to unborn children, will help greatly in their cognitive development.

The Three Stages of Child Development

Having a child is definitely the best thing parents will ever experience in their lives. They will personally see the growth of their child from a small, vulnerable infant to a strong, responsible adult who makes sensible decisions for his own future.

Until that time, however, it is up to the parents to ensure that their young babies are guided well to become the proper adults they become. Here are some of the stages in a child’s life that a parent must take note of:

Interesting Facts about Fetal Development

It’s amazing how babies develop from a mere group of cells to an actual human being in a span of just nine months. Indeed, nothing embodies the miracle of life better than giving birth to a baby.

While the child in the womb may be growing out of sight, many interesting thing happen between a baby’s conception and his or her delivery. Here are a few interesting fetal development facts you might not know about:

The Sound of Learning: Education through Music

Babies learn from their environment with surprisingly effective results. Even from inside their mothers’ wombs, infants can recognize certain sensations to a degree, and can subconsciously learn from such experiences. Music is a favorite method for mothers to encourage their babies to learn a thing or two about sound, and hopefully enhance their brain development.

Some educators believe that music appreciation and education can begin as early as the early stages of pregnancy. Babies generally respond favorably to the sound of music being played against their mothers’ wombs. Studies have determined that with daily exposure, prenatal babies subjected to music calmed down faster and helped them recognize musical cues to a degree once born. Different kinds of music can be played to bring about such effects, and classical music is by far the most popular choice of them all.

It is hoped that through prenatal sound education, babies can become more musically inclined as they grow. Indeed, entire educational systems revolving around music encourage parents to play classical music to their prenatal child to begin their early training. Studies suggest that babies can already hear while inside the mother’s womb, and react positively to sound, so playing tune from time to time can aid in the development of the child.

This Side Up: Turning Breech Babies with Music

The process of childbirth is fraught with risks, encouraging expecting mothers to be wary of both their condition and their babies’. One of the most dangerous things that can happen is if the child assumes a breech position. In a breech position, the baby’s buttocks and/or feet are facing the pelvis of the mother, and giving birth to a breech infant can pose significant risks to the child.

What Happens during the Different Stages of Prenatal Development?

Prenatal or fetal development is the process taking place within a mother's womb. This is basically the time when the baby is being developed, happening after conception and before birth. Doctors often use the prenatal period to do check-ups on both the development of the child and the mother's well-being to ensure the safety of both during this time until pregnancy. Medical experts even divided the the prenatal process into different stages to ensure that proper care is being given to both mother and child during its proper time.

The Germinal Stage: From The Child's Conception

When the father's sperm cell and mother's egg cell unite, the resulting cell, the zygote, travels down to the fallopian tube where germination takes place. Germination of the zygote essentially is when the cell divides itself, forming more cells and differentiating themselves from one another, resulting in the eventual formation of the placenta and the embryo, the premature baby. The embryo travels into the uterus where it attaches to one of its walls and receives nutrients from its mother until its birth. The whole germinal stage happens twenty-four hours after conception and lasts for one to three weeks.

The Embryonic Stage: From Cell to Child

The embryonic period usually is the time when the baby's features are formed. The cell division that took place in the germinal stage of the fallopian tube continues in the uterus, where the different cells form the different systems of a human baby. From its outer features like the head, hands and feet, to its inner organs like the heart and brain, the baby's development becomes distinct. The embryo is already developing into a human. This stage takes place after the third week and may last until the eighth week after conception.

The Fetal Stage: From Development to Growth

This phase takes place from the eight week until birth. The embryo develops further into a fetus with its growth becoming quite visible, as seen with the mother's womb becoming larger. The fetal stage is the longest stage of prenatal development since aside from the changes happening to the baby, the development of its organs has already reached its climax. The brain of the child is already responding and the heart, beating. Reproductive organs are also developed during this stage, determining the gender of the baby. The growth of the child continues until its ninth month, which is typically when pregnancy ends and the child is born.

Auditory Stimulation for Babies in the Womb

Lullabies, music, your mother’s voice—these are all sounds that bring your childhood back to mind. What if these sounds aren’t just a memory from when you were a child? What if you first heard these sounds while you were still inside your mother’s womb and retained them after birth?

Womb Learning: Increasing your Baby’s Brain Power

Many experts all over the world agree that an unborn baby can receive and respond to sensory information inside the uterus. In as early as 23 weeks, a baby can hear sounds and react to your voice—proven signs of auditory engagement. A large number of studies show that playing music, reading stories, or simply talking to your baby are already learning experiences.

How Maternal Heartbeat Sounds Aid in Baby's Prenatal Development Stage

There's a memorable scene in the hit movie “Baby Mama” where Tina Fey's character tells Amy Poehler's character how important prenatal care is. Fey stresses that whatever the pregnant mom eats, the baby eats; whatever the pregnant mom listens to, the baby listens to. Poehler then quips that she prefers that the baby listens to DMX's rap music like she does.

While that scene was played out for laughs, Fey was actually on to something. Scientific research attests that the fetus's hearing ability is already well developed by the end of the second trimester, and music can stimulate brain activity. However, what you make your baby-to-be listen to is incredibly important; you may love heavy metal music, but this type of music may not be a good idea during the prenatal development stage.

Classical Music

Many parenting resources suggest that the most ideal type of music to make babies-to-be listen to is classical music, preferably Mozart's or Bach's. However, there is actually no concrete evidence that listening to classical music during pregnancy will help produce highly intelligent babies. Evidence is strong, though, that there is much significant effect of exposing babies to classical music—that is, when they are out of their mom's wombs.

In addition, listening to classical music may aid in the production of breast milk in nursing moms. This statement is at least according to research by psychologist and book author Sergio della Sala. Sala wrote that a farmer in Italy told him that playing Mozart at least three times a day helped his buffalos produce better milk.

Maternal Heartbeat Sounds

While classical music has yet to be proven in early brain development, a report in Time magazine says that maternal voice and heartbeat sounds provide comfort to premature babies. In the same way, pre-born babies can be stimulated by electronic devices that replicate maternal heartbeat sounds.

Putting a pair of headphones against the belly of a pregnant mom makes for a comical scene in some TV shows and movies. However, there is truth to how babies can respond to the sounds they hear even when they are in their mom's womb.

Build a Good foundation for your Child: Prenatal Education

There are many things that take place during the different stages of child development. Parents invest a lot in classes and programs that will help hone their child’s skills. Many parents remain curious, though. Is it possible to facilitate the advanced development of the child even when the baby is still inside the womb?

Education During Fetal Development

A lot of parents would consider it ideal to be involved with their kids every step of the way. Now, it’s possible to be involved even during fetal development, which happens right after the moment of conception.

What’s Happening in There? The Main Stages of Prenatal Development

Congratulations! You are now an expectant Mom. As you wait for your bouncing baby to be born, have you ever wondered how things go inside your belly? Well, it actually is important to know how your pregnancy moves on from conception to birth – so that proper care is administered. Since there are a lot of development stages, here is a much simpler version of the process.

First 10 Weeks:

Known as the fetal development stage, this period includes the formation of major organs including the brain, lungs, and the gastrointestinal tract. Limbs also begin to become visible as little buds protruding out of the fetus’ body. During this stage, the fetus doesn’t appear to look human yet.

Week 11-21:

Known as the gestation period, the 11th-21st weeks see the further development of physical features like the face, limbs and even the first senses – most notably, hearing. Yes, your baby can hear you talking to him whenever you do. Also, the baby’s genitals can now be differentiated by ultrasound, which allows for early gender detection. However, if you want a little bit of surprise, you can always tell your doctor to withhold the news of your baby’s sex until delivery.

Week 22-32:

During this stage, the bones, muscles, limbs and major organs have already developed. The eyes can now open and close – which can lead to amazing images on a 3D ultrasound where the baby seems to “look around” him. Developed muscles now allow him to move independently, and the respiratory tract is now ready to perform gas exchanges. In other words, the baby has begun to appear more human.

Week 33-42:

The final ten weeks of prenatal development prepares your baby for his big day. At this stage, all his limbs, major organs, and distinguishing physical features are developed. He also now has a headful of hair. Being an expectant Mom is considered one of the best feelings in the world.

A healthy baby is both a gift and a responsibility – it is your duty to guide, nurture and make him appreciate the world he will live in.

The Lowdown on Early Brain Development: Raising Your Own Baby Mozart

Ever heard of the parenting myth which states that, “Fetuses exposed to classical early have higher learning rates than those who weren’t?” Yes, a lot of parents believed that fetal stage learning is possible. And they were right – minus the fact that music is still too complex for a fetus’ brain to comprehend. Knowing how a baby’s mind works is vital in helping him perceive and appreciate the world around him much better. Here are some major points about that:

The human brain is built from the bottom up.

A child’s begins learning as soon his first senses develop – in this case, vision and hearing. At this stage, 700 new neural connections are formed every second. This period of rapid proliferation is slowed down by a process called pruning, which decreases neural connections to give way to more complex brain circuits. Since hearing is one of the first senses, studies have shown that enhancing the “auditory atmosphere” in the womb helps the baby differentiate and prefer to react to natural sounds rather than unnatural ones – say, a mother’s heartbeat from another source. In other words, pre-birth learning has begun.

Experience is the best teacher.

Physical experiences have the biggest effect on a developing mind – in fact, it can even lead to disparities between learning and behavior. This means that babies will differ in terms of learning quickness and behavior because of the stimuli they receive from different situations. Also, early exhibitions of social or cognitive functions are directly affected by the environmental stimuli – and can be exact pre-requisites for academic or career success in the future.

Stress can deteriorate the developing brain early on.

Chronic stress, whether exhibited by the mother while the baby is in the womb or induced by society after a child’s birth, is shown to cause adverse effects to a baby’s developing brain. This can lead into slowed-down learning, inappropriate behavior and even mental problems. Want to raise your own baby Mozart? Keep this information in mind, and only time will tell if you are going to bring forth a smart, healthy child or not.