As many new moms can attest, your goal in life is suddenly to provide your baby with the best experiences possible from care to love to learning. And one of the most important things you can do, even from the first months of life, is to begin stimulating your baby's brain. Through a series of articles will provide you with activities targeted by age for each month of a baby's life. Read this introduction to find out what you need to know to get started and then choose the appropriate article for your baby's age.

By stimulating your baby, you'll be aiding in the "making" of your child's mind. Our brains are much like other parts of our bodies, and if we want them to grow strong and function at their optimal capacities, we must stimulate them through exercise. For our muscles we lift weights, but for babies' minds, the exercise that helps brain cells grow and establish strong and stable connections is the experience of life. If the connections are used consistently, they will continue to grow stronger and more stable, thus, providing a solid foundation for your baby's future learning.

There are many such exercises that you can do that are easy to incorporate into your daily life with your baby. Through a series of articles, we will provide you with developmental activities appropriate for Baby at each month of life. One of the best ways to exercise your baby's mind is through play. Make learning fun, both for you and your baby, and eventually, through repetition, you will begin to see results.

Babies are constantly growing and developing both physically and mentally, so they naturally tire easily. Therefore, it is important to learn your baby's specific signs of over-stimulation and respond to them. If your baby becomes upset, simply stop performing the exercise. The period of time that you spend doing the exercises will depend on your baby; however, it is best to start slowly (five to 10 minutes) every day and gradually extend the length of the time period. Signs of over-stimulation include wide eyes, crying, squirming with arms and legs flailing, wrinkling of the brow, thrusting of the tongue, splaying fingers and toes, lifting the legs and looking away from you or looking uncomfortable. If you notice any of these behaviors, give Baby a little break.

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