Healthy brain development means your child will be more likely to:

• Have good health
• Do well in school
• Understand right and wrong
• Have good self-control over their behaviour and emotions

Building Healthy Brains to Build a Healthy Future

Give your child the building blocks to be the best they can be. When you respond to your baby in a consistent and positive way, you help your baby's brain develop.

• Create  a healthy environment where your baby feels loved and safe to explore their surroundings.
• Play with your baby and your baby's brain will respond to what is going on around him.
• Talk, read, sing to your baby regularly. 
• Tell your baby you love them.
• Respond to your baby's cries, smiles, and babbling.
• Breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months.
• Once baby is 6 months old, continue to breastfeed and begin to introduce solids. Provide healthy nutritious foods for a healthy mind and a healthy body.
• Always respond in a caring, sensitive way when your baby is upset, scared, hurt or ill.
• Encourage your child to talk about their feelings
• Create a stimulating environment to help develop their senses
• Help them identify new smells (i.e. flowers, food cooking)
• Offer a variety of foods to stimulate their taste buds
• Play music and identify new sounds
• If you are feeling overwhelmed or stress, talk to a health care provider. Taking care of yourself helps you to care for your baby.

View the Healthy Baby Healthy Brain Video Library

Health Connection

Call Health Connection to speak with a Public Health Nurse from the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

• 519-663-5317 ext. 2280
• Monday - Friday
• 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Supportive and Stable Relationship with Caregiver