Every bubba is special... but there are some subtle hints that your little one may be boarding the train to Giftedville.
All parents love to know that their baby is super-clever. But what you may not know is that there are certain signs of an intelligent baby – exceptionally so – that you can nurture, so that your little one reaches their full genius baby potential!
The trick is to know what these early signs of an intelligent baby are, so that you can draw them out and watch your baby shine.
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Here are the main signs of an intelligent baby to keep an eye out for and how to nurture them.
1. Hits milestones earlier than other babies their age
You might know that baby developmental milestones are a significant way of telling if your little one is on track with their physical, cognitive and emotional growth.
However, if your baby is hitting these milestones way earlier than their peers, then this could be one of the signs of an intelligent baby. For example, your three-month-old is already sitting up alone. Or your 10-month-old speaks clear, perfect sentences.
Pro tip: Read and talk to your baby to further develop their communication skills. Give them plenty of encouragement and praise when they "show" you what they can do!
Is your baby ahead of their peers? Image: iStock.
2. Has very good focus
Babies and young children are notorious for their short attention spans – give or take 15 minutes and off they go on another quest. However, one of the signs of an intelligent child is that they can focus on a task for long periods at a very early age, usually before six months old.
For example, you might see your highly intelligent five-month-old focussing intently on playing with wooden blocks without getting distracted. Or he/she might sit with you as you read a whole book, even pointing at their favourite images or turning the page.
Pro tip: Continue to encourage play with toys like blocks and puzzles. Try giving your little one big, colourful floor puzzles to stimulate and encourage their focus. And as always, keep reading!
3. Likes solving problems
If your little one displays signs on an intelligent baby, then don't expect him or her to ever give up easily! That's right – along with extreme focus, such babies are gifted with exceptional problem-solving skills. If, for example, you've kept their favourite snacks tucked away in a cupboard, your little one is likely to figure out a clever way of reaching these goodies. Queue the box stacked on top of the toy truck...
And while all children do display problem-solving skills in keeping with developmental milestones, an exceptionally advanced child will show these skills much earlier than their peers.
Pro tip: In order to encourage your little one's natural problem-solving skills, set them easy "challenges". For example, you could create a mini-maze out of pillows or bolsters and place a toy in the middle. Then cheer your baby on as they navigate their way through this maze to find the toy.
Have an older child? Here's how to tell if your child is gifted too, this mum says her son is gifted, but that doesn't mean his life is easy, and here are some links between inattention and the gifted child.
Do they have great problem-solving abilities? Image: iStock.
4. Enjoys (even prefers) solitude
We know that children are sociable little humans and often rarely want to be left alone. However, one of the signs of an intelligent baby is that they often prefer to be alone.
You'll notice them very happily playing on their own. Or they might actually prefer the company of older kids rather than that of their peers, for slightly more advanced emotional and intellectual stimulation. Hello tiny genius!
Pro tip: Remember not to push your little one into the company of other kids, if they do not like this. But at the same time, you could encourage your baby to play alongside his or her peers, so that social skill development is not neglected.
5. Extremely curious
Yes, children can be curious little things. But one of the signs of an intelligent baby (exceptionally so) is that their questions are exceptional too. Their questions could be so complex that they could even stump you, sending you on a quest to the library or Google to find the answer.
Pro tip: The zillions of questions might be annoying. But do try to provide correct answers nevertheless. At the same time, provide your highly curious, highly intelligent child with the resources to find their own answers, such as a junior encyclopedia or library membership. Do join in on their journey of learning too. One is never too old for new knowledge!
What about a curious mind? Image: iStock.
6. High birth weight
It sounds strange but it's true – studies show there is a correlation between a child's birth weight and their intelligence.
Researchers discovered that higher birth weights equated with slightly higher IQ throughout life. You can read the full Pediatrics study here. Meanwhile, continue to nurture your baby's brain with breast milk until they reach six months of age, and with brain foods like avocado and fish once they start solids.
Pro tip: Pregnant mums, if you are reading this, the best way of ensuring that your baby's birth weight is good, is to eat a proper balanced diet when you're pregnant.
7. Alertness
One of the earliest signs of an intelligent baby is a high level of alertness. Such babies are also very aware of their environments and loved ones, quickly recognising and bonding with family members. They'll make eye contact with you very early on and reward you with a smile or other signs of recognition, like cooing, or waving their fists.
Pro tip: Your baby's high level of alertness might also mean they're harder to put to sleep due to environmental stimuli. Address this by providing your baby with a calm, dark and secure sleeping environment. Try using white noise and a bedtime routine (feed, bath, story, sleep) to calm your super-alert little one right down.
This article originally appeared on The Asian Parent and has been republished here with permission.
How alert is your little one? Image: iStock.
