A baby’s sensory experiences across their first 1000 days (conception to 2 years old) are crucial in terms of influencing brain development and behaviours across their lives. Our brains receive information from our different senses from conception onwards. This helps us build a picture, and make sense of, both our bodies and the world around us. 

So in this series I will look at our 8 sensory systems (that’s right, 8, not just the commonly talked of 5); how they develop and how we can promote positive sensory experiences.

Today we are talking about…Hearing! So let’s start by looking at where it all begins…

Hearing In the Womb:

As early as 5 weeks two small spots appear on either side of Baby’s head that will eventually become their inner ears. The parts of the inner and middle ear continue to develop until around 12 weeks when the ear-brain connection begins to form so that by 16 weeks Baby may be able to start to hear faint sounds, from within the womb at first ( like the woman’s heartbeat) and then from outside the womb from around 23 weeks.

From Birth:

Newborn

• Hearing is well developed at birth but it may take around 6 months for Baby to understand a full range of sounds because 1) Babies ears are still full of fluid. 2) The parts of babys brain that processes sound are also not yet fully developed.
• Your baby will pay close attention to sounds from birth, especially high-pitched ones. They'll also respond to familiar noises, such as your voice, or a lullaby you play or sing to them often. They may startle at unexpected or loud sounds.
• 3 months (+): The parts of baby's brain that help with hearing more active.
• 4 months (+): Baby may react excitedly to sounds, showing more interest as you talk and perhaps even gurgling or cooing.
• 6 to 7 months: Baby will turn quickly to a familiar voice from across the room, and turn to the source of sounds on either side (if they are not distracted of course).
• 1 year old: May respond to their own name, as well as to simple phrases such as bye-bye.

So let’s look at how you can promote and stimulate baby’s sense of hearing.

Activites to stimulate hearing sense at home:

IN THE WOMB:

- Studies have shown that newborns prefer and react to the voice of the woman carrying them more than a strangers! So keep talking, singing or reading to

that bump!

BIRTH:

• Babies will recognise, and respond to, familiar noises from birth. So keep talking to them- and singing familiar songs, especially those you may have sung when they were in the womb.
• Your baby will be delighted by lots of sounds and music, so you don't have to restrict them to children's songs. Share your favourite tunes with them, and see which ones they like.
• Reading to your baby, right from the start, will also help their language skills and hearing development. You don’t have to read the full story, you can just chatter about what you see in the pictures.
• Download your FREE wriggle and roll high contrast book HERE.
• Playing games such as "Peek-a-boo" or "Round and Round the Garden" will also help your baby to learn about listening, taking turns and paying attention.

Wriggle and roll activites:

The Wriggle and Roll classes and activities are carefully designed to provide a variety of sensory stimulation and hearing is obviously a key one in our classes in so many

ways!

• Them heraing the song itself.
• Them hearing you sing the songs.
• Vibrations of the music.
• The different insrutments, tones, pitches, vibrations.

 There is not much that is not stimulating their sense of hearing but this can also mean that Baby can become overstimulated so if they start looking away and not engaging, it can be a sign that it’s time for them to take a break.

A few songs to try:

* IMPORTANT NOTE:

All babies are different, they develop on their own timeline AND also in terms of how they respond to sensory stimulation. Whilst one baby may LOVE being massaged, another may show dislike or disinterest. This guide is to give you a general idea but your baby may

do things a little later than the timeframes given or sooner. Always go at the ability, and comfort level of your child. If they don’t like a particularly sensory activity then stop but perhaps try again at another time as just sometimes it can be the first time they experience something that is surprising.

If you are unsure of anything in terms of the development of your baby and/or if any activity is right for them then always consults your health care team before proceeding. Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects our someone may process sensory stimulation which may mean that they are overly sensitive to stimuli that others are not. If you are concerned this is the case for your baby equally, consult a health expert.