Category: Q&As
How to Encourage Brain Development in the First Year?
Published : Sep 04, 2025
By Dr. Ana Aznar
“How do I encourage healthy brain development in the first year?”
Here are a few tips:
- Be responsive to your baby: when he makes sounds, repeat them to him while looking at him and add a few new words.
- Talk, sing, and read to him
- Let him play: Play is children’s job. Through play children develop their cognitive and emotional skills. And do not be afraid to let him play alone. Unstructured play is really good for children.
- Take him outdoors: more and more we know that spending time in nature is good for children’s development and for us, as well!
- Feed him a healthy diet: once he starts eating solids, encourage him to try new tastes. Give him a varied diet and avoid processed foods.
- Sleep is key for a healthy development. The guidelines state that infants 4-12 months of age, should get between 12-16 hours of sleep per 24 hours (including naps). However, some kids sleep more than others, if your baby seems happy and relaxed during the day, he is probably getting enough sleep.
- Touch him: physical touch (hugs, kisses, cuddles) is a must for our children.
- Keep him active. Do not keep him in swings, strollers, bouncer seats, or slings for too long. Babies need to practice their motor skills and they cannot do it when their movements are restricted.
- Screens: this is always a big worry for parents. The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) advises that children should not have any screen time before the age of 2, other than video chatting with family and friends. It is also important to remember that children always learn better and more from a human being than from a screen.
- Last but not least: take care of yourself. Your child needs you to be ok for him to be ok. It is really important that you don’t burn yourself out and remember that the perfect parent does not exist. You don’t need to be perfect.
Having said this, don’t go ‘crazy’ thinking that you need to do too many things to boost your child’s brain. Children will reach their full potential, provided they are well taken care of. The idea that the more you stimulate your child, the better is not correct. Children need enough stimulation for their brain to develop, but there is a threshold. It is wrong to think that if a little bit of stimulation is good, a ton of it must be better. I am saying this to remind you to relax and enjoy your baby!
You may find these articles useful:
Understanding Brain Development in Children
Can You Discipline a 1-Year-Old?
The Importance of Parenting: How Much Do Parents Really Matter?
Also, these masterclasses may come in handy:
Educational Apps for Children: Are They Really Educational?
Sleep Hygiene Tips for Children and Teenagers
I hope this helps. I wish you and your family all the very best.
Love,
Ana
Leave a comment
Comments
Cristo
2025-07-29 12:20:59
Amazing, thank you so much for this blog.
Pia Satrustegui
2025-04-25 07:23:36
Hola Ana,
Qué fantástico artículo y que buenos consejos. Ha sido de una gran ayuda. Un abrazo muy fuerte
Qué fantástico artículo y que buenos consejos. Ha sido de una gran ayuda. Un abrazo muy fuerte
Dr. Ana Aznar
2025-03-31 19:41:20
Qué ilusión tu mensaje, Pia! Gracias a tí por leernos.
Pia Satrustegui
2025-03-28 10:13:56
Querida Ana,
Maravilloso artículo sobre la serie Adolescentes y consejos de gran ayuda en una etapa tan complicada de nuestros hijos , tan desprotegidos frente a las nuevas tecnologías.Es una ayuda tremenda para nosotros. Muchas gracias
Maravilloso artículo sobre la serie Adolescentes y consejos de gran ayuda en una etapa tan complicada de nuestros hijos , tan desprotegidos frente a las nuevas tecnologías.Es una ayuda tremenda para nosotros. Muchas gracias
Armani
2025-03-06 09:31:35
This is ethically wrong and I don't think it's worth the damage it will ultimately cause to the relationship. And the issues it will cause for the one being spied on. Just don't do it.
Meghan
2025-02-07 21:26:19
Is there a printable version of the article? I am a school based mental health professional and would like to share it with parents.
J
2025-02-03 10:52:04
This is such a great writeup. I think too often we get caught in a rutt of trying to categorise everything. Our daily lives are kind of dictated by categories and labels, certainly in a digital world.
I'd imagine this is quite deteremental for a childs development in the long run as nothing stays the same forever, and we shouldn't really be making these categorisations, especially towards our children.
Just live life, sometimes you'll have to be the parent that's the shoulder to cry on. The week after you may have to raise your voice a little when everyone is in a rush and you're trying to get your children's shoes on.
Just balance it all out, don't be too self critical and pick up on what your child wants and needs.
Again, great writeup!
I'd imagine this is quite deteremental for a childs development in the long run as nothing stays the same forever, and we shouldn't really be making these categorisations, especially towards our children.
Just live life, sometimes you'll have to be the parent that's the shoulder to cry on. The week after you may have to raise your voice a little when everyone is in a rush and you're trying to get your children's shoes on.
Just balance it all out, don't be too self critical and pick up on what your child wants and needs.
Again, great writeup!
Dr. Ana Aznar
2024-09-13 12:51:46
Dear Robert,
Thank you so much for your comment. I totally get what you mean. It is always difficult to have kids living with you, wanting to support them and their parents but at the same time not wanting to step in anyone's toes. If there's anything we can do to support you and your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Ana
Thank you so much for your comment. I totally get what you mean. It is always difficult to have kids living with you, wanting to support them and their parents but at the same time not wanting to step in anyone's toes. If there's anything we can do to support you and your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Ana
Robert Eisenbart
2024-09-10 00:43:07
Great Article! I'm a retired FNP. Years ago I taught a STEP program to parents via family court cases. I now have a daughter and her man disciplining three children 4, 8, and 10. The 10 year old has ADHD and my personal diagnosis is she's also Oppositional/Defiant. I believe the OD came from harsh discipline. All they seem to do is punish and threaten physical punishment. They say positive reinforcement didn't work however they tried it for about 2 months and then went back to punishment. I can't reason with them as "they are the parents"!! is all I hear. They all live with me and have since the oldest was about 2. Sadly I can see the other 2 developing issues like anxiety and aggression as well. Trying to show them another side of adult supervision when I have them but frustrating.
Dr. Ana Aznar
2024-09-02 20:48:07
Really glad you found it useful! Thank you for being here and for your comment.
Ana
Ana
Dr. Ana Aznar
2024-05-17 09:55:58
Hi Donna,
sO great to have you here! Totally agree that Zara is great! What other topics would you like us to discuss?
Ana
sO great to have you here! Totally agree that Zara is great! What other topics would you like us to discuss?
Ana
Donna
2024-05-17 09:49:36
Love Zara’s ways of teaching for both parents & kids! Also so helpful. We want more!! (Please!) :D
Ana Aznar
2024-05-08 07:24:31
We are glad you found the content useful! Many thanks for being here.
Ana
Ana
Cristoj
2024-04-09 18:20:19
Great article!!!
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