What are you doing to help your baby develop "skills" in the womb?

[MrsMcJnr]

Just curious! My friend tried to explain some thing she had to help stimulate the baby's brain cells - it was a strap on thing and had a new noise for each week from week 20, I got very confused! I have bought a Mexican Boula to soothe the baby but just wondered what else people have tried if anything

[nailpolish]

i played Rod Stewart - its very important to have good taste in music, you know

[gringottsgoblin]

i took ds3 to uni. he sat through a whole year of biology lectures

[Ceebee74]

I fed DS a constant supply of Haribo sweets from about 15 weeks - not sure what skill that was trying to develop

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

I took DS3 to church every week (and DS2 actually) and taught them to play the organ and how to sit quietly through the services

[MrsBadger]

drinking chocolate milk
eating muffins

also taking it to work - you're never to young to hear eminent professors precis their latest breakthough / complain about the quality of university coffee.

[MrsMcJnr]

you can tease me ladies but some people do do lots of specific things!!

[nailpolish]

im not teasing im perfectly serious

[WanderingTrolley]

Ah, I see it is your friend's first baby.

WTF is a Mexican Boula?

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

also took DS3 to work - taught him about dementia, first aid and how to care for elderly people

[fedupwasherwoman]

I relaxed on the sofa each evening (and as much as possible in addition to that timeslot given working full-time and taking care of ds1 morning and evening).

I felt chilled and relaxed in the hope that the vibes were relaxing/chilling for ds2 and especially in the hope that he came out pre-programmed to be laid back.

[witchandchips]

my ds would get so bored in departmental seminars and go completely manic. In the last few weeks it got quite embarassing as practically the whole room could see his "This is so trivial let me out of here" kicks

[MrsMcJnr]

Wandering ? that?s the scary thing, she did ?stuff? for all 3 ? something about the brain cells sprouting due to the sounds a Mexican Boula is just a chime on a string that you can wear and then turn into a rattle so the baby can recognise the sound and apparently feel soothed by it, aside from that, it makes a pretty necklace

Nailpolish ? mental note to ensure DH is no longer allowed to play his ipod through speakers

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[ledodgy]

This week i'm eating mars bars and I think he or she is loving it and therefore going to be a bloody genius.

[LucyK1978]

@ MrsMcJnr - before I was pregnant I also planned to research all the wonderful things you can do during pregnancy to help develop a bright, clever, genius (?) baby. Playing classical music, or hearing different languages etc.

But in absolute honesty, since I got pregnant, I've been super lazy and kind of forgot all those intentions. I've been too busy reading "ooh she's 30cm now and weighs 640g - she can even open her eyes!" All amazing stuff, but not as constructive as I had planned to be.

[nailpolish]

omg i am scared of cat in the hat
dd got all the books one birthday and i have hidden them

[MrsJohnCusack]

um
well I think I breathed, and ate, and drank, and slept
I think that pretty much covers all you can do really

(unless you count blasting them both with clarinet, saxophone and flute playing. I expect that taught them the very useful skill of How To Cover Your Ears)

[WanderingTrolley]

SHE DID THIS WITH THREE CHILDREN????

f me.

Walking around with a wind chime around yer neck to make yer kid intelligent.

Let's hope those apples fall farrrr away from the tree.

The Mexican Boula shop saw her coming.

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

mind you - aside form the jokes.

When my mum was pg with me, many many years ago - she was listening to the entire Organ Works of Js Bach played by Peter Hurford (or Radio 3)....by the time I was 4 I "wanted to be a church organist" - and when I was older (and my parents had been able to aford to send me to lessons) I did actually meet (and even share a taxi with, as well as getting some fab contacts from) Peter Hurford........and yes my favourite composer was Bach!

[ledodgy]

Nailpolish I thought it was just me! The Cat in the Hat terrifies me there's something so sinister about him.

[expatinscotland]

Huh?

I ate lots of curries - they're full of antioxidents.

And lots of Ben & Jerry's to fortify their bones.

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[Desiderata]

Well, when pregnant I had to sit in a small office with the dullest bastard on the planet. His monotone voice filled my ds's waking moments like a metronome going on, and on, and on.

ds was then born, and quickly decided that Mervyn was a plague to be avoided at all costs ... something he has kept up to this day. Much to my delight.

So I guess I taught him to steer clear of studious bores!

[MrsBadger]

QoQ - mine played me alternately the du Pre recording of the Elgar cello concerto and the Four Seasons.

By 2 I demanded a cello and still prefer Baroque to Other...

[JARM]

Mostly telling it to stop kicking at midnight because i want to sleep

Eating chicken pasta salad - tis yummy!

Ooooooh and Ben and Jerrys - I obviously didnt eat enough ice-cream when pg with DD2 as she hates the stuff!