Baby brain development and attachment

Now that you are settling into your pregnancy you will be starting to think about your baby:

• What will baby look like?
• Will they be a boy or a girl?
• What will we call them?

Perhaps you are now rubbing your belly, or noticing your baby’s movements more? Many people start talking to their baby bump, or singing to them. If you have a partner or the baby has siblings they may also be starting to engage with the baby.

All these actions are very normal and are encouraged because they are important ways of bonding with your baby during your pregnancy.

You can learn more about the importance of your developing relationship with your baby here:

• Communicating with your baby

Our brains are filled with billions of nerve cells, they develop continuously, but are busy forming whilst a baby is growing in the womb.

By 18 weeks of pregnancy a babies ears are able to send signals to the brain, by 24 weeks it can recognise your voices!

We know this can calm an unborn and helps develop your relationships.  So .. read, sing and talking to your baby helps to build their brain and a strong attachment when they are born and in turn develop health, behaviour and learning habits for life.

• When can baby hear your voice in the womb? BBC Tiny Happy People
• Singing to baby: When can babies hear in the womb? BBC Tiny Happy People
• Shaping Us Centre for Early Childhood