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Birkbeck scientists collaborate on new book

Watch My Baby Grow explores the science behind a baby's development

Scientists from Birkbeck’s world-leading Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development have worked with writers at DK on a new book, Watch My Baby Grow, which is on sale today. The book explores the science behind a baby’s development, offering a unique perspective and helping parents to envisage the world from their baby’s point of view.

Scientists are still discovering just how capable babies are of complex thought and how remarkable in their powers of learning, communications and perception almost as soon as they are born.

Research carried out at the Babylab, which is part of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, has revealed that newborn babies have built in body awareness; that within hours of birth the ‘social brain’ develops significantly; what babies’ laughter tells us about their understanding of the world; how the visual techniques in children’s television helps young infants to make sense of it; and how babies with blind parents develop social communication skills with their parents and with sighted adults. Scientists at the Babylab are also conducting ground-breaking research into earlier diagnosis of autism.

The idea for Watch My Baby Grow came from the notion that most parents at some point will wonder what their baby is thinking and feeling. The book provides parents and caregivers with a clear, scientific approach to every aspect of an infant’s development during the first year.

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