Here’s one of the most fascinating child development videos I’ve ever shared. As your baby learns language, they begin by approximating the examples you set. After a period of early experimentation with sound (including cries, coos and gurgles), infants begin babbling - making speech-like sounds (which often include components of conventional speech) that are - nonetheless - not yet conventionally meaningful. This babbling phase is a precursor to the use of formal words. And it happens in all languages. Including sign language. This video shows an infant (who, by the way, is not hearing impaired) “babbling” to her deaf grandparents. As they sign to her, she responds in kind, using her hands to approximate the signed communication that they are modeling. It’s a whole serve and return conversation, just as if they were conversing verbally. If you’ll watch carefully, you’ll note distinct turn taking. And - interestingly - that with her grandparents she largely avoids vocalizations, in favor of gesture. What a treat to see this rich example of bilingual language development. This fascinating video was shared to TT by mara_mccullough.

Is it possible to spoil your baby by being too responsive? The short answer is no. Somewhere along the way, we developed the notion that letting babies “cry it out” was good for them. In reality, it’s just the opposite. Warm and responsive relationships help infants develop trust, attachment, and a sense of security… which, in turn, lead to self-reliance and the ability to regulate’s one’s own emotions. These abilities have been linked to higher self-esteem, improved stress management, healthier relationships, and even superior academic performance. This lovely video, shared to IG by previvor2survivor states the case beautifully. This is probably an opportune time for a reminder that parenting is not an all or nothing proposition. It’s impractical to think that even the most attentive parent will be able to respond instantly to EVERY cry. And within the context of a warm and responsive relationship, that’s just fine. In finite amounts, opportunities for your baby to self-soothe can be beneficial. But if you’ve been convinced that responding too often to your infant’s expressions of need is the path to spoiling, think again. Infants can’t be spoiled by love. It’s just that simple.

Reading with your baby is about so much more than the book. It’s a time for bonding and connection. For laughter, love, and language learning… There are so many great things happening as this father and daughter share a board book together. Watch our hero, as she splits her attention between the book and her father, turning her adoring gaze to his face after each and every page. Dad is a fantastic narrator, reenacting the book’s animal sounds with enthusiasm. And let not leave out the fact that this is a shared tummy time activity (which, by the looks of it, is soon to be a precursor to some major crawling). The whole video is a delight… but my favorite part is the end. What do you think she’s communicating as the video closes? This lovely father-daughter moment was shared to IG by theberardos.