Mamas, help make your babies grow up to be geniuses
by Lisa Seehusen, reporter

    Students majoring in child development or nursing or even those who just want to be good parents should be aware of how they can help raise a baby’s IQ.

    Numerous studies and research have revealed that by being selective in the choice of the mother’s nutrition, interacting with the baby and teaching the infant baby sign language, the child will have a better chance of having a higher IQ.

    A mother must understand proper nutrition not only before the baby is born, but also as she is nursing. She also needs good prenatal nutrition.

    For instance, taking vitamin A and zinc helps develop the tissue of the mother and baby. If the mother lacks zinc, the prenatal growth of the baby may be hindered, which may affect the baby’s intellect later in life. Vitamin A will also help the baby’s vision.

    Other essential vitamins for the mother include iron, calcium, magnesium, B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D and fiber. EPA, a fish oil, can help the baby’s nervous system and brain. All of these nutrients are essential for a mother who wishes to have a strong, healthy baby.

    Patti Cates, instructor of child development and Children’s Center director on NE Campus, emphasizes how vitally important the mother’s nutrition is for her baby.

    “A mother’s nutrition is one of the key factors to determine if the baby will be healthy at birth. It takes years for unhealthy babies to catch up both physically and mentally when the mother fails to care for her body,” she says.

    Breast milk can also have an incredible influence on a baby’s physical and mental health.

    Dr. Linda Rodriquez explains in her book, Children’s Health, how breast milk enhances the nourishment of the mind and body.

    Breast milk builds the baby’s immune system and helps prevent allergies from occurring, she says. It is free from bacteria, easily digestible, loaded with human brain factors and much more.

    Research has found that by giving a baby breast milk, she will have a higher IQ.

    Rodriquez described an IQ test that a group of eight-year-olds took. Those who had been given breast milk when they were babies scored an average of 103.0 compared to 92.8 by those who were fed regular formula.

    The results are very impressive and would lead one to believe that breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for those who wish to give their child the best advantage intellectually.

    Not only will nutrition and breast milk have an influence on a baby’s IQ, but interacting with the baby will also bring about a higher IQ level.

    Dr. Stanley Greenspan, a respected clinical professor of psychiatry, explains that the growth of the mind starts with the infant’s emotional experiences.

    Infants require security and understanding from the parents.

    Unfortunately, many parents are putting their children in day care facilities that do not give children the adequate amount of attention and interaction that the baby needs.

    At that age, the baby’s intelligence develops immensely and very rapidly. Parents must think about how much care and interaction their baby is actually receiving.

    While experiencing a sense of love and compassion, babies start developing a sense of empathy.

    Daniel Golman in his book, Emotional Intelligence, explains how babies start developing empathy for other people.

    It is good for parents to let their children know that they understand the feelings that their children are experiencing.

    If parents express much feeling and emotion when they are around the baby, the baby will, in turn, learn to express more emotion.

    The baby will express more empathy toward the parents, and his or her brain will be stimulated.

    In addition, a child will model the character that the parents display when they are around the baby.

    Parents need to be very cautious with the character that they are giving their child through their interactions.

    If parents are angry or give a negative example to their baby, then the baby will be affected.

    Golman has found that children who are raised by violent parents will grow up to be aggressive or become bullies. But children who have been taught to stop and think before they act grow up living more peaceful, less aggressive lives.

    In addition, teaching the infant baby sign language will stimulate the brain and create more effective communication. Nine months is a good age to start teaching baby sign language.

    Prof. Linda Acredolo, from the University of California-Davis, explains that parents can teach babies the signs for things as they point to the items.

    There are about 50 common baby signs. If the infant wants cereal, then the caregiver can dem-onstrate the sign for cereal to the baby.

    Then the next time the baby uses the sign, the parent may verbally express the sign that the baby uses.

    As the parents verbalize the communication of the sign that the baby is using, the baby will learn words more effectively.

    Likewise, as babies use the signs, parents can understand many of the baby’s needs.

    Acredolo’s extensive research reassures parents that signing does not hinder a baby’s verbal development.

    Once the baby starts learning the words to things, he or she will gradually cease to use the sign because the child does not need it.

    Acredolo details many benefits of signing with babies.

    Signing babies were above the norm at almost every measure at almost every age.

    For instance, at two years old, they comprehended language faster, talked sooner, put words together faster and performed better on the infant IQ tests.

    “Children who learn signs may have more brain capacity later,” Susan Goodwyn, a child development expert, says.

    Socially, a baby can communicate and use appropriate manners when he or she is taught baby sign language.

    For instance, rather than screaming from hunger, the baby can simply use the sign for food.

    In addition, the baby can sign please and thank you and learn appropriate etiquette earlier than non-signing babies.

    Although most people have had wonderful experiences with signing, a few have had misgivings. Marion Dewey taught her baby signing.

    He readily learned the signs, but his mother felt his verbal skills were limited and delayed because of this process.

    Although Dewey was not satisfied with the outcome of the signing experience with her son, Campbell, she admitted that Campbell might have just been a slow speaker.

    By giving the proper nutrition to the baby, interacting with the child and teaching the infant baby sign language, the child’s IQ will be higher as the parents incorporate these items into the baby’s life.

    However, parents should realize that children need to feel loved and cared for.

    Cates stresses the need for love and attention in a baby’s life.

    “Children need a main person to bond with. Bonding with a key person will determine whether the child will thrive,” she says.