How to Stimulate a Newborn's Sense of Hearing

Work with your baby to stimulate her sense of hearing

There are ways to encourage and stimulate your newborn's senses. One of these important senses is your baby's hearing. A baby learns about language, emotions, feelings and her environment through her hearing. There are many ways to stimulate your baby's sense of hearing. Below are several tips to stimulate and encourage your newborn's auditory senses.

Things You'll Need

• Baby CDs
• Music box
• Baby toys that play music
• Rattles

Instructions

1. Talk to your baby. This is the most important sound that your baby will hear. Talk and sing to your baby as much as possible. Read her stories, tell her about your day and sing her lullabies. When your baby makes noise or coos, mimic these noises back to her.

2. Expose your baby to household noises. Many babies are intrigued and even comforted by common household noises such as the TV, dishwasher, or vacuum cleaner. Expose your baby to as many noises as you can.

3. Play with your baby using rattles and other toys that make noise. Shake the rattle yourself or put the rattle in your baby's hand and gently help him shake it.

4. Show your baby a music box. Even very young babies will learn to recognize simple tunes and music boxes are perfect for this.

5. Use toys that make music. Colorful, musical toys will stimulate a baby's vision and hearing. If the toys have safe, moving parts, the toys will also be good for developing your baby's motor skills.

6. Buy CDs made especially for babies and children. You may also want to start exposing your baby to classical music. Many babies even like rock, country and pop music. Play music softly beside your baby's crib during nap times.

7. Narrate to your baby. Talk out loud as you do things with your baby. Tell her that you are going to give her a bath and tell her what you are doing throughout. Tell her what you are doing when you are changing her diaper, dressing her, or explain, out loud, what you are doing while you are making dinner.

Tips & Warnings

• Exposing your baby to noise, like shaking rattles, will help her to develop coordination between her sense of sight and hearing as she begins to turn toward the noises that she hears.

• A newborn will usually prefer to listen to her mother's voice since that is what she heard most before she was born.

• Babies respond better to a higher pitched voice.

• Be sure that any toys, music, or household noises aren't too loud. This could damage your baby's hearing.

• Carefullly watch your baby when you play music for him. If he appears to be upset or disturbed by anything you are playing, be sure to turn it off.