Brain Development in Babies

Phase One of Brain Development
The first phase of brain development in babies is neurogenesis. During neurogenesis, new neurons are formed in the brain. Neurons are nerve cells that conduct electrical impulses throughout the body. In babies, more than 100 billion neurons are formed before birth, with as many as 50,000 neurons being formed every second during fetal brain development. These newly developed neurons allow the infant brain to link events to memories that occur at the same time. This is known as integration. This process continues after the baby is born into adulthood.

Phase Two of Brain Development
The second phase of brain development in babies is neural migration, also known as neuronal migration. In neural migration, the newly formed neurons in the brain are relocated to different areas of the brain dependant on their assigned function. Neural migration can occur in three different ways: radial neural migration, tangential neural migration or multipolar migration. This process begins while a baby is still in the womb and ends around its 10th month of life.

Phase Three of Brain Development
The third phase of brain development in babies is called myelination. Myelin is the coating that covers each neuron's axon, which is a long, arm-like fiber that protrudes from the neuron. Myelin forms a protective sheath around the neuron that keeps it from harm and allows it to be more effective in transmitting signals to other neurons. Myelination begins in the developing fetus and continues through a child's teenage years.

Phase Four of Brain Development
Synaptogenesis is the fourth phase of brain development in babies. Synapses are the spaces where two neurons connect. When an infant is born, each neuron has 2,500 synapses, which totals 50 trillion synapses in the infant brain. By the age of 1, this number increases to 15,000 synapses per neuron for a total of 1,000 trillion synapses. Synaptogenesis is the formation of new synapses. When synapses are created to a high degree through new experiences, they allow the central nervous system to send and receive messages much more quickly between nerve cells. Like neurogenesis, synaptogenesis continues into adulthood.

Phase Five of Brain Development
Pruning is the fifth and final phase of brain development in babies. During this phase, neurons that have become weak or obsolete due to disuse are destroyed while those that have proven to be valuable through repeated use are strengthened and given room to expand. This is also known as neural plasticity. Which neurons are pruned is based on the child's experiences and occurs most often between the ages of 3 and 16.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5403407_brain-development-babies.html

Baby Brain Growth

Between birth and age 6, 75 percent of a child's brain growth occurs. This makes some parents think they must send even their crawlers off to baby brain classes. After all, we all want intelligent children. However, the good news is most of a baby's brain development happens naturally, without teachers or classes. And it's easy to stimulate your baby's brain to help him become the brightest child he can be.

Birth
Babies are born with more than 100 billion brain cells. Some are already connected at birth, but most of the brain's growth occurs after birth and before age 3.

"A newborn baby is functionally blind, deaf and insensate," says Janet Doman, author of "How Smart is Your Baby?" Each time she is exposed to stimulation, her brain makes new connections, allowing her to grow as a human being.

Brain development tends to snowball. When a newborn's brain allows her to see better, she tends to move more. When she moves more, her breathing improves, making it easier for her to make sounds. And so on.

Early Months
Between birth and 8 months, babies' brains grow enough to respond to what's around them. (That's why many children in this age group cry when a stranger holds them.)

10 Months
By 10 months, babies can see more clearly at a greater distance, have far better control over their bodies and can communicate their needs relatively easily. They can create memories, which helps them learn how to do things such as put food into their mouths. Your 10-month-old's brain has also grown sufficiently to make him mobile, understand what you're saying and communicate with sign language.

One Year and Beyond
During your child's first year of life, her head will grow almost 80 percent of adult size. Her brain is getting larger and more functional, helping her develop in every way. Her brain allows her to scribble with a crayon and perhaps toddle and say a few words.

As she moves into the toddler years, her brain will grow at a slower rate, but connections inside the brain will still develop rapidly, allowing her to run, jump, speak sentences and much more.

Encouraging Brain Development
Experts agree the best thing you can do for your baby's brain is to hold and talk to him. Have conversations with your baby, long before he can ever speak words. Providing interesting toys is also important. Reading books to your infant is a must, but also allow him to hold them and, yes, chew on them.

Baby-proof your house so your child can explore freely. (Gate off any areas that can't be baby-proofed.) Understand small children need to make messes.

Expose your baby to music. He'll love your singing, and he'll probably like anything on the radio. There is no evidence Mozart makes babies smarter.

Take your child with you when you go for a run, visit the store, go on a hike and run errands. Each new experience stimulates your baby's brain and helps him learn more about the world.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_5382300_baby-brain-growth.html