What do fetuses hear

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Fetal hearing development: A timeline. Will my baby-to-be recognize my voice? Should I play music for my developing baby? Hearing in early infancy. The takeaway. Parenthood Pregnancy 2nd Trimester.

The Best Pregnancy Apps of Read this next. Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M. PLoS One 9:e Locher H et al. Development of the stria vascularis and potassium regulation in the human fetal cochlea: Insights into hereditary sensorineural hearing loss. Developmental Neurobiology. Reproductive Health and the Workplace. Pujol R et al. Development of the human cochlea. Acta Oto-Laryngologica Supplement Pujol and Lavigne-Rebillard M. Sensory and neural structures in the developing human cochlea.

Efficacy of automated auditory brainstem response hearing screening in very preterm newborns. The Journal of Pediatrics 5 Join now to personalize.

Photo credit: Katie Rain for BabyCenter. When can a fetus hear? When do babies develop ears? What babies hear in the womb How to support your baby's hearing during pregnancy Milestones in baby hearing development. Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.

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Join now. Password Forgot your password? As they grow, they'll also start recognizing books, the stories they tell, and the pictures they contain. Reading to your baby gives you special time to bond with her every day. Bedtime is a great time to establish a routine of reading books, no matter what your child's age.

Don't be afraid to use silly voices and goofy faces, especially as your baby gets older—this makes the experience memorable for you both. By reading to your baby, you'll also be helping them learn a healthy habit at a young age. This means that it's more likely they will develop a lifelong love for reading and learning.

You already know your baby will reach motor milestones like rolling over, sitting by themselves, and walking. But did you know that when you start reading to them early, they will also reach early literacy milestones? Here are some of the reading-related behaviors you can look for:.

Around 3 months , they'll start to react to the expressions on your face and the sound of your voice, especially when you read. They may even be able to start understanding what you're reading a bit. They'll also start showing interest in the books, trying to touch them and put them in their mouth. Around 6 to 12 months , she'll start grabbing the pages and putting books in her mouth. Don't worry, this actually shows that she's interested in them.

But unless you want to be taping fragile book pages back together, be sure you stick with board books at this age. Around 12 to 18 months , they'll be able to hold their board books while they're sitting and sort of turn the pages themselves.

Reading gets interactive at this age. They may carry their books around with them and give them to you to read. They'll be able to point to pictures in the book when you ask questions. Around 18 to 24 months , they'll be able to turn each page of their board books by themselves.

They'll also be able to help you read their favorite stories. You may even overhear them reading to younger siblings or toys. Reading and singing to your baby, even before they're born, will help build bonds, promote development, and serve as a source of joy for years to come. Shu is a practicing pediatrician at Children's Medical Group in Atlanta, Georgia, and she is also a mom. Her experience includes working in private practice, as well as working in an academic medical center.