My Baby Gifted

Of course we all think our babies are special and they all are, in their individual ways. But how do you know if yours is really exceptional truly gifted child, one whose talents and needs are, well, just a little more special and unique than an average child.It's hard to measure a baby's intellectual gifts, but if you suspect that you have a young genius in your midst, consider the following questions.

Is he always ahead of the game: Does he do everything early, meeting developmental milestones well before his peers? And not just in a single area, such as crawling or walking, but across the board sitting, smiling, talking, fine motor skills.

Does he have a very good memory: Most babies this age show few signs of recall, but gifted children may demonstrate a surprising ability to remember where they left a favorite book, for example, or which shoes are yours and which are your partner's.

Is he a good problem solver: Gifted babies may show off their creativity and originality by tackling a challenge in a surprising way, such as through sign language, pretend play, or tools (scooping a toy out of a narrow-necked jar with a spoon). They may also exhibit an unusual ability to focus and concentrate.

Does he make connections: Can he take knowledge he's learned in one situation and apply it to another? For example, he might point to the refrigerator at a friend's house when he wants milk, even if it is a different color and shape than the one at home.

Is he particularly perceptive: Does he notice changes in his surroundings (a new piece of furniture), your appearance (a new haircut), or even your mood (why does Mommy seem sad?)?

Does he have trouble sleeping: In a gifted baby, this could mean he has a hard time dialing down on the stimulation so he can get some z's.

If your baby does show many of these signs, he may well be gifted. On the other hand, he may merely be precocious, meaning that he's learning new skills and reaching developmental milestones earlier than other babies. However, if your child does indeed turn out to be gifted, it's a blessing that will bring some challenges along with it, but for now what he needs most is lots of love, playtime, talking, and reading just like all babies do!