I wish the internet had existed when I brought my newborn daughter home in 1984. I would have loved knowing the interesting, science-backed facts about tiny humans that are readily available now.
Back then, internet magic hadn’t reached Ft. Knox, Kentucky, and computers were enormous, so I did what I could. I dressed her in cute outfits, coaxed her to eat foods she disliked so she wouldn’t go hungry, took her to the doctor whenever she vomited, and stayed up for years until I felt certain she could breathe on her own. #ExcellenceInParenting
If you’re parenting in the internet age, count yourself lucky.
Science-Backed Insights About Your Child
- Your baby might make you want to “eat” them. Expressions like “That baby is so cute I could just eat him up” reflect a real psychological phenomenon called dimorphous expressions. Intense positive emotions can trigger behaviors that look aggressive or odd—pinching cheeks, playful nibbling, or squeezing—while still being affectionate. If you cry during very happy movie moments, you may experience this too.
- A one-year-old’s foot predicts adult shoe size approximately. You won’t get an exact adult shoe size from a toddler, but a common rule of thumb is that a one-year-old’s foot is roughly half the length of their adult foot. That insight can be fun to keep in mind for milestone gifts or nostalgic gestures.
- Toddlers rapidly build vocabulary. Around 18 months of age, many toddlers add words at an astonishing pace—on average, roughly one new word every one to two waking hours. This rapid growth underscores the importance of talking, reading, and engaging with young children throughout the day.
- Your child’s atoms are the same as the stars’. Every atom in your child’s body is made from the same basic elements that compose stars. It’s a poetic scientific truth: the building blocks of life and the cosmos are connected.
- Children naturally regulate eating—parents can help, not control. Babies are born with internal hunger and fullness cues. When parents enforce rigid “clean your plate” rules or pressure children to eat on a schedule, it can undermine those instincts. Researchers recommend offering healthy choices, modeling balanced eating, and trusting children to respond to their internal signals.
- Nasal issues can affect how well kids hear you. If a child seems not to respond when called, nasal congestion from allergies or a lodged object can change how sound is conducted and perceived. Addressing nasal health can improve hearing clarity in some cases.
- Imaginary friends often reflect gendered patterns. Studies suggest boys’ imaginary companions are frequently portrayed as more capable or stronger than the child, while girls’ imaginary friends are sometimes depicted as less skilled. Imaginary companions serve many social and emotional functions for children.
- Children may master apps before some daily life skills. It’s common today for young children to navigate digital devices and apps earlier than they learn certain practical skills like tying shoes. This shift highlights changing developmental milestones in a tech-driven world.
- Same-sex siblings can experience more rivalry. Evidence indicates that siblings of the same sex—particularly sisters—may have more frequent conflict, possibly because they often share toys, spaces, and responsibilities more directly than mixed-sex siblings.
- Color blindness is usually inherited, often from mothers. Color vision deficiency is typically genetic and present from birth. Many carriers are female, meaning a mother can pass the trait to her children even if she does not exhibit full color blindness herself.
Do these observations match your parenting experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts—kind and constructive feedback is welcome. Let’s keep the conversation supportive and respectful.