When Do Babies Start Remembering Things? Newborns operate almost entirely on instinct. That first turn towards the breast or bottle is not memory, it is reflex. But it does not take long for something more interesting to start happening. The first signs of memory From around three to four months, babies begin to show a…
Baby Attachment and Bonding: What Every Parent Needs to Know Somewhere in the middle of the sleepless nights and the endless nappy changes, something remarkable is happening. Your baby is learning that you can be trusted. That quiet, steady process is called attachment, and it is one of the most important things happening in your…
Signs of Baby Overstimulation: How Much Stimulation Does Your Baby Actually Need? There is no such thing as the perfect amount of stimulation, and there is no such thing as the perfect parent either. Your baby’s brain is remarkably good at taking exactly what it needs from the world around it and quietly filtering out…
Baby Classes Near Me: What to Expect Before a New Term Starts A new term of Baby College is about to begin, and whether you are booking your very first class or coming back for another term, here is everything you need to know before you walk through the door. Why a new term is…
How Babies Make Friends: A Month-by-Month Guide Your baby’s first friends are you, your partner, and any siblings. Trust comes before play, and trust starts at home. From birth, babies show preferences for people based on how they feel when held and soothed. By three months, most babies have mastered what looks like a proper…
Family Holidays With a Baby Holidays look different once there’s a baby in the mix, and the planning that goes into them looks different too. Start with accommodation. Places that describe themselves as family friendly usually already have a cot, a highchair and a few toys waiting for you, which means less to pack. Climate…
What makes the best baby class? Five things worth looking for Search for “best baby class” and you’ll find no shortage of results. Sensory play, baby yoga, music groups, messy play, rhyme time – the options have never been more varied, which is brilliant in principle and slightly overwhelming in practice. But here’s the thing.…
A study published in Child Development in 2026 found that by 18 months, toddlers engage more deeply with adults whose emotional reactions have been consistent. They were already tracking who to trust. It turns out that social intelligence does not suddenly appear. It builds, quietly and steadily, from the very first days of life. It…
Are babies born or made? New research has the answer Scientists at Stanford University have just shed new light on one of parenting’s oldest questions: how much of who your baby becomes is down to their genes, and how much is down to you? Their answer, published earlier this year, is both hopeful and fascinating.…
From the moment a baby is born, touch plays a powerful role in helping them feel safe, calm and connected. In fact, touch is one of the first senses to develop and remains one of the most important ways babies communicate and learn about the world. The skin is also the largest organ in the…
Make Friends at Baby College: Why Early Social Experiences Matter One of the loveliest parts of coming to Baby College is watching friendships begin. Not just for parents, but for babies too. While babies are not yet sharing toys or playing together in the way older children do, they are already learning essential social skills.…
🎉 Kick off the New Year with Baby College! 🎉 Say hello to our Baby College Crocodile 🐊, a tummy time superstar who loves making special appearances in class and helping babies stay engaged and curious. ✨ Why tummy time matters Using a gentle pull-along toy during tummy time does not just make the activity…
How Babies Learn Through the Festive Season Christmas is a season filled with warmth, excitement and togetherness. For our youngest learners it is also a time rich with developmental opportunities. The festive environment is naturally suited to the way babies and toddlers explore the world through movement, sensory play, communication and social connection. With a…
Your Baby’s Emotional Brain Explained From the very first minutes of life, your baby is busy trying to make sense of the world. Long before they can talk or walk or even fully focus their eyes, they are already experts in one remarkable thing: feeling.This early emotional life is powered by a fascinating part of…
As parents, it’s fascinating to wonder what’s going on inside your toddler’s busy little mind. They might surprise you with the things they recall – a favourite song from class, where you’ve hidden the biscuits, or even the last time Grandma visited. But how does toddler memory really work, and what can they hold on…
At Baby College, we believe listening and connection can look different for every child and every parent. In this guest article, Nikky Smedley originally used the phrase Whole Body Listening. Because that phrase has developed different meanings in educational settings — sometimes linked with compliance-based approaches that don’t reflect our values — we’ve chosen to…
How to Be a Perfect Parent: Why Perfection Doesn’t Exist and How Baby College Can Help Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding experiences, but it’s also one of the toughest. Many of us strive to be the “perfect parent,” but here’s the truth: there’s no such thing. Instead of chasing perfection, what truly matters…
🤝 How Babies Make Friends: The Social Side of Development You might not think of a six-month-old as having “friends” – but social development begins from birth, and by the end of their first year, many babies already have favourite people, preferences for familiar faces, and even start showing early signs of empathy. At Baby…
🌞 Family Holidays: A Brain-Building Adventure! When you think of a family holiday with a baby, you might imagine sunshine, suitcases, and the challenge of keeping everyone fed and happy. But did you know that holidays can also be a brilliant boost for your baby’s development? At Baby College, we often talk about the importance…
👶 Why Baby College Is the Best Choice for Families Choosing an activity for your baby or toddler can feel overwhelming. With so many options available — music groups, sensory sessions, baby yoga, signing classes — how do you choose what’s best? At Baby College, we combine the best of all of these with something…
The Power of Early Connection From the very first cuddle, your baby begins forming the most important relationship of all—the one with you. That first connection with a primary caregiver isn’t just heart-warming, it’s foundational. In fact, your baby’s first friend plays a key role in shaping their brain, behaviour, and ability to form relationships…
A Parent’s Role in Early Development “Which contributes more to the area of a rectangle, its length or its width?” – Donald Hebb, psychologist When it comes to understanding how babies and young children develop, the debate between nature and nurture has been long and lively. Are children born with their personalities and abilities already…
If you’re a parent in the UK looking for a first baby class that supports social and emotional development, read on to discover why fostering your child’s social skills early on is so crucial—and how Baby College can help. From birth, infants demonstrate a remarkable readiness to engage with the world around them. Whether it’s…
As the New Year begins, it’s the perfect time to start something exciting for you and your little one. At Baby College, we love supporting families in their journey through early development—and we’re thrilled to introduce you to a very special member of our team: Colin the Crocodile! 🐊 Colin is our tummy time superstar,…
As parents, it can be fascinating to watch your baby grow and change, especially when it comes to their ability to remember things. Early memory development is a crucial part of brain growth, and understanding the difference between recall and cued memory can help us appreciate just how much is happening in those little minds.…
Creating Special Family Memories Becoming a parent is an incredible journey. Amidst the sleepless nights and endless nappy changes, there’s a deep joy in watching your little one grow. As new parents, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily routine, but it’s important to take a step back and treasure these fleeting moments.…
How Babies Make Friends: A Journey of Social Discovery How Babies Make Friends: First Friends From the moment your baby is born, you, your partner, and any siblings are her first friends. Babies are inherently social beings, and they start forming connections based on their early experiences with family members. In these initial months, your…
As new parents, we’re often intrigued by the nature versus nurture debate, wondering how much of our baby’s personality is inherited and how much is shaped by their environment. It’s a fascinating journey that begins the moment we welcome our little ones into the world. Nature, the genetic makeup inherited from us, lays the groundwork…
The skin is the largest organ in the body and touch is one of the first senses to develop. It plays an essential role in human growth and development, particularly during infancy. But do we, as a society, realise the importance of touch and do we touch enough? Studies have shown that the Western…
Are baby classes worth it? So many reasons but social development is one of the most important. Raising a baby is a wonderful journey, especially seeing them grow socially. Have you ever wondered how they learn to connect with others? Or when they start making their first friends? Right from the beginning, your baby begins…