How To Stimulate Baby’s Memory

Memory is the capacity that all human beings have to retain, process and have endless information. Although it seems incredible, it is a skill that arises from before birth, but not in a conscious way, but in an evolutionary way and for that reason it can be good to stimulate the baby’s memory.

In fact, the period from the first instant of life to two years of age is marked by significant mental development. Therefore, it may be a propitious time to put into practice a series of stimuli that allow it to “enhance” it.

The main element to improve the whole process that leads to memorization and learning are the senses. Therefore, parents must have an effective methodology to achieve a stimulus that marks the little ones for life.

What are the resources that help stimulate the baby’s memory ? There are alternatives that are always at hand. Below we want to review some of the most important so that you do not hesitate to take them into account.

How does the baby’s memory evolve at each stage?

The baby is born with a sufficiently developed cognitive structure to process the stimuli it receives. Their sense organs, especially sight and hearing, have the ability to collect “information” from the environment to strengthen memorization.

This ability is strengthened as the development process occurs and becomes optimally consolidated in early childhood, especially when it has been stimulated. How does the baby’s memory evolve at each stage?

• At 3 months he is able to identify toys.
• When he reaches 6 months, he becomes familiar with those close to him and they are able to follow customs, such as when they prepare him for the bath.

• By 9 months of age, they can remember more specific information, such as where in the house their toys are.
• Around the first year he begins to use language and sounds to describe what he wants.
• At the age of 2 his language has developed, he remembers familiar faces, names, objects and colors. He also often repeats stories that have been told to him several times and begins to express his feelings. Since then long-term memory develops.
• From the age of 3, the child already develops a conscious memory that allows him to remember something important until he is an adult.

Tips to boost your baby’s memory

All parents can be involved in their children’s development process from the time they are babies. Although one part of evolution occurs biologically, another may require external stimuli to consolidate.

Therefore, we will give you a series of tips to stimulate the baby’s memory. Remember that in no case these tips replace the pediatrician’s instructions.

Strengthen the bond with the baby

In order to increase the disposition towards memorization and learning, it is important to start creating a “secure attachment” from the first days of life. By increasing self-esteem and confidence, the baby finds the necessary security to learn. How to do it?

• Spend as much time with the baby as possible.
• Gently massage or bond skin-to-skin.
• Talk to him constantly or sing to him.
• Carry it in your arms whenever possible.

Establish routines for your basic needs

A very simple way to stimulate the memory of babies is to establish fixed routines to carry out their basic needs : food, rest, hygiene, among others. Thus, the baby begins to relate schedules to habits.

Leaf through books

From six months of age the baby begins to recognize and identify different objects. For this reason, it is a good time to start showing cartoon and colorful stories.

This is confirmed by studies such as the one published in 2018 in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology . According to this study, those babies who began to read daily at 6 months showed greater understanding and production of vocabulary, cognition and socio-emotional competence at 12 months .

Put it in front of the mirror

It is very likely that in the first months of life the baby will have contact with the mirror. However, only after eight months does he begin to recognize himself. You can take the opportunity to strengthen his memory by standing next to him and explaining what he sees in the reflection.

Show you family photos

The family photo album is an excellent resource to stimulate your baby’s memory. Showing him pictures of people close to him can help him match faces and names and then recognize them.  

Other ways to boost your baby’s memory

Here are some other ways to cognitively stimulate a baby. Like the rest of the suggestions, these are not a substitute for what your pediatrician indicates:

• Sing songs to them and show them music videos.
• Play with different objects and describe their characteristics.
• Choose stacking and nesting toys to enhance their visual and spatial memory.
• Describe everything they see in their environment: birds, houses, airplanes, etc.
• Play to hide objects.

What else do you do to stimulate the baby’s memory? Even if you think it is too young to learn, its first months of life can be key to developing an important part of its mental qualities. Don’t overlook it!