Making it easy to Read, Talk, Sing from day 1

HealthPartners, Park Nicollet and Stillwater Medical Group are encouraging expecting moms to help their babies’ brains grow. OB-GYNs and midwives are key to teaching mothers how reading sparks early brain development. That’s because they become trusted partners to mothers-to-be as they help them through their pregnancies. Our clinics now give a children’s book to expecting moms at their 32-week prenatal visit. That is around the time when they’re really getting ready for baby at home. A child’s brain best absorbs language during the first three years of life. So, it’s important for parents to start reading to their babies right away. The book is titled Baby Animals Black and White, and is written by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes. A newborn’s retina can only see big contrasts between light and dark. Because the book features black and white images, it sends the strong visual signals to a baby’s brain. And, because it’s a board book, it will hold up when the baby starts to chew. Chewing helps babies strengthen their tongues, which is important for their speech development. The book also doesn’t have any words. A parent can simply tell a story about the pictures, regardless of the language she speaks.