0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:04 > 0:00:06- We're all different.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09- We all live a life - that's unique to us.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12- From our first breath...
0:00:12 > 0:00:14- ..throughout our life...
0:00:15 > 0:00:16- ..we learn and change...
0:00:16 > 0:00:19- ..we learn and change...- - ..as we adapt to our surroundings.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22- I'm Dr Anwen Jones, - a Physiology lecturer...
0:00:22 > 0:00:25- ..at Cardiff Metropolitan - University.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31- I'm Dr Katie Hemer, a Bioarchaeology - specialist at Sheffield University.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36- We'll look at the key developmental - steps for body and brain...
0:00:37 > 0:00:41- ..as we grow, mature and welcome - new members to our midst.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46- In each programme, we focus - on a specific stage of our life.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- This is our journey through life.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- Infant
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- Our life journey begins in the womb.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10- I'll welcome a new member - into my family in the near future.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15- Today, I'm having - an ultrasound scan.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19- The spine is on the left.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24- It's hard to believe...
0:01:24 > 0:01:28- ..but he or she will soon leave - the warm safety of my womb...
0:01:28 > 0:01:33- ..and take his or her first breath - in a new, bright, noisy world.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- What challenges await my baby - during the first year?
0:01:46 > 0:01:49- How do babies cope - with so many new experiences...
0:01:49 > 0:01:51- ..and so many huge changes?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54- I can't wait to meet him or her.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06- Every year in Wales, we welcome over - 30,000 new babies into the world.
0:02:06 > 0:02:12- On average, a boy weighs 7lb 8oz - and a girl weighs 7lb 4oz.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17- A normal baby's weight will double - by the time it's four months old...
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- ..and treble by its first birthday.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24- A baby will gain the weight - of a football every fortnight...
0:02:25 > 0:02:28- ..and grow - an inch and a half every month.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30- If we kept growing at this rate...
0:02:30 > 0:02:34- ..we'd be as heavy as a panda - and as tall as a giraffe...
0:02:34 > 0:02:36- ..by our 20th birthday!
0:02:36 > 0:02:38- To help them grow quickly...
0:02:39 > 0:02:43- ..a baby needs between half a pint - and a litre of milk every day...
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- ..and as much as 17 hours' sleep.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- Unfortunately for parents...
0:02:48 > 0:02:52- ..they only sleep - for two to four hours at a time.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03- After spending nine months in the - womb, the baby is ready to come out.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08- How equipped is a newborn baby - to cope with this new world?
0:03:08 > 0:03:13- How does it cope with a myriad - of new sensory experiences...
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- ..and with meeting people - for the first time?
0:03:19 > 0:03:24- Christine Anthony has been - a health visitor for over a decade.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- She meets over 300 babies - and infants every year.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33- She knows all about the way - a newborn baby copes and behaves.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- I met Christine to discuss this...
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- ..and to ask her - if she had any advice for me.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48- When do you see a baby - for the first time?
0:03:49 > 0:03:54- When the baby is between ten days - and a fortnight old...
0:03:55 > 0:03:58- ..when they're home - for the first time.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01- We give babies - a physical examination...
0:04:02 > 0:04:04- ..and we weigh and measure them.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- We discuss all aspects - of an infant's development...
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- ..and their general health - with the mother.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- Everything looks fine - on the weight graph.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20- We carry out specific checks - when they're eight months old.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- We monitor their mobility.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- We review their hearing, - sight, and speech...
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- ..plus we also look at - social development and behaviour.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41- How ready is a new baby - to enter their new world?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44- They can see from birth...
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- ..but they only focus on - the eight inches in front of them.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- It's important that the mother holds - the baby close when she feeds it.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59- Is it important to breastfeed?
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- Is it important to breastfeed?- - Breast milk is important to babies.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- It contains nutrients...
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- ..and antibodies which can - help a baby resist infection.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13- It can also help - lower risk of childhood obesity.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- Babies need nothing but breast milk - for the first six months.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- It's important not to introduce - solid food too early...
0:05:23 > 0:05:28- ..as an infant's kidneys and bowels - aren't developed enough...
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- ..to process - anything other than breast milk.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35- Babies can smell and taste - before they're born.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- The mother's diet - during her pregnancy...
0:05:40 > 0:05:44- ..influences what foods - the baby likes when it's older.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50- What I'm eating now and what - I've eaten during my pregnancy...
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- ..will influence - what my baby enjoys?
0:05:53 > 0:05:54- Definitely.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- A newborn baby needs constant care.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- The bond which is formed - between a baby and its parents...
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- ..is strong and very important.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- It's known as attachment.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10- Four mothers and their babies...
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- ..agreed to help us - show how attachment works.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- The mothers simply - set their babies down...
0:06:19 > 0:06:25- ..and kept an eye on them as they - explored a new, alien environment.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30- It didn't take them very long - to find their feet.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35- The babies were all - between nine and 18 months old.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42- Some could walk - and one wasn't quite ready to crawl.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51- To give us a better idea - of our findings in the experiment...
0:06:52 > 0:06:57- ..I talked to Clinical Psychologist, - Dr Mair Edwards.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- Oh! Off she goes.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- She's very confident.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08- What is attachment, Mair?
0:07:10 > 0:07:13- Initially, - it's the way a newborn baby...
0:07:13 > 0:07:17- ..ensures it gets - the care and comfort it needs.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21- The basis of attachment is survival.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- Ensuring the main carer - feeds their baby...
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- ..and makes sure - they're warm and clean.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35- Also, that they comfort the baby - when it needs comfort...
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- ..to help with physiological - symptoms of discomfort.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- The physiological aspect - must be in place...
0:07:43 > 0:07:46- ..to give a child - emotional security.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52- If attachment patterns weren't - established during infancy...
0:07:53 > 0:07:58- ..we'd find it difficult to interact - with people and with the world.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- Almost every single one of us...
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- ..will have - some sort of attachment strategy.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09- What have we seen in these films?
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- We've seen interesting patterns...
0:08:12 > 0:08:17- ..which show how children experiment - with their surroundings...
0:08:17 > 0:08:19- ..from a place of safety.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24- They come in with their parent and - take a quick look around the room...
0:08:25 > 0:08:27- ..then off they go.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32- They're confident enough to want to - explore their new surroundings.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- You immediately see - that they have self-confidence.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41- Then, as though there's - an invisible elastic between them...
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- ..the baby feels - it's gone too far from Mam...
0:08:45 > 0:08:47- ..so it looks - to check she's still there.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53- That's the sign that the baby - is using Mam as a safe place.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58- It gives them confidence - to keep experimenting and exploring.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- Did the very young baby in the video - display signs of attachment too?
0:09:07 > 0:09:10- Yes. She followed her mother - with her eyes.
0:09:11 > 0:09:12- When Mam stood behind her...
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- ..the baby turned her body - to make sure Mam was still there.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- When does attachment start?
0:09:19 > 0:09:23- It starts in the early stages - of the bonding system.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- The first two months of a - baby's life is an important period.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- The development - of an attachment strategy...
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- ..begins at around - six to nine months.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- The initial strategy - continues to develop...
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- ..until the age - of two to three years...
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- ..then it continues to develop - throughout our lives.
0:09:46 > 0:09:52- Even as adults, when we feel down or - we face major events in our life...
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- ..we often - look to our parents for comfort.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- That's why these attachment patterns - are so important.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02- They're part of us forever.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- That's why I phone Mam - when I'm ill or upset.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07- Absolutely.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- Early attachment is important.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16- It helps us feel safe and confident - to explore our surroundings...
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- ..knowing a parent or guardian - is nearby.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- It also sets a firm foundation...
0:10:22 > 0:10:27- ..for developing relationships - with others as we get older.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- After the break, - we listen to the brain...
0:10:33 > 0:10:38- ..as we look at the some important - development stages in babies' lives.
0:10:39 > 0:10:39- .
0:10:42 > 0:10:42- Subtitles
0:10:42 > 0:10:44- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- A baby's clever brain - functions like a computer.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55- It analyzes patterns - of what it sees, hears and senses...
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- ..in its new, alien surroundings.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- Our brain is 25% of its full size - when we're born...
0:11:02 > 0:11:07- ..but it includes almost every cell - and neuron it will ever contain.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- Around 100 billion of them.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14- As the infant learns - and has new experiences...
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- ..branch-like connections - form between cells...
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- ..so that they can - communicate with each other.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- From the second it's born, - a baby searches for a face.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- A baby favours a person's face...
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- ..over that of an animal, - a toy or a jumbled-up human face.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- Once a baby has met someone...
0:11:37 > 0:11:42- ..parts of the brain which deal with - emotion, memory and bonding...
0:11:42 > 0:11:46- ..form special connections, - ready to socialize.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52- Infants are cute.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57- Their wide foreheads, big eyes - and full cheeks melt our hearts...
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- ..and trigger an instinct in us - to guard them and protect them.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03- This is a natural response
0:12:04 > 0:12:06- When we see a baby's face...
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- ..a different part - of our brain responds...
0:12:09 > 0:12:13- ..from that which responds - when we see an adult's face.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17- How much of what we do - around infants is intuitive?
0:12:17 > 0:12:22- How do we subconsciously adjust - our behaviour in their company?
0:12:22 > 0:12:26- We sought help to find answers - to these questions.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33- In this series, we'll follow three - generations of the Smith family.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36- Non - the mother.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41- Mike - the father.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- Marilyn - the grandmother.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- And the children - - Tian, Nia and Bethan.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- They'll help us discover - how the body develops and matures...
0:13:03 > 0:13:04- ..during our lives.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14- I asked Non and Rhia, her friend, - to take 15-year-old Bethan...
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- ..and eight-month-old Eleri - for a walk in the park.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26- We put cameras on the buggies to - record Non and Rhia's behaviour...
0:13:30 > 0:13:34- ..and to record Bethan and Eleri's - reaction to their mothers.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- Look! Look at the water.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47- Are you going to sleep?
0:13:53 > 0:13:57- I invited child development - researcher, Enlli Mon Thomas...
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- ..from Bangor University...
0:14:00 > 0:14:02- ..to cast her expert eye - on the footage.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- What does - Non and Rhia's behaviour...
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- ..tell us about the way - adults communicate with infants?
0:14:10 > 0:14:12- Look at the bird. Tweet-tweet!
0:14:12 > 0:14:14- Look at the bird. Tweet-tweet!- - She said, "Tweet-tweet!"
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- Pointing things out.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25- Enlli, what did you see - in the mothers' behaviour?
0:14:25 > 0:14:29- The language they used - was interesting.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- There were - a lot of high-pitched tones.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- What can you see? What's that?
0:14:38 > 0:14:43- They place emphasis on certain words - and they use a lot of repetition.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48- That includes repeating - ungrammatical things children say.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- They'd say "Fish there" - rather than "The fish is there".
0:14:55 > 0:14:57- Fish in the water?
0:14:59 > 0:15:00- Oh, no! Where?
0:15:02 > 0:15:07- The mother also added interest - to everything by using sounds.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12- The mother grunted a lot when she - struggled to get through the gate.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- This type of speech - is known as baby talk.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26- It seems to happen naturally - when an adult talks to a baby...
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- ..no matter - what language the adult speaks.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- Baby talk has particular features.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39- In addition - to short, slow sentences...
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- Are you happy now?
0:15:41 > 0:15:47- ..and a lot of repetition, the pitch - of the voice is higher than normal.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- There's a melodic element too.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- Did the mothers - adapt their behaviour...
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- ..according to their child's age?
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- It's linked to the - intelligence levels of the infant.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08- This behaviour changes as soon as - a baby has a of grasp of language.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- Look! Can you see it?
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- Can you see it? There?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- Bethan had the older child...
0:16:18 > 0:16:22- ..and she pointed out things - in her baby's surroundings.
0:16:22 > 0:16:28- The mother with the seven-month-old - baby focused on the baby herself.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- She used language such as - "Are you alright? Are you OK?".
0:16:33 > 0:16:34- Will we go and get Sion?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37- Are you coming to school with Mami?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39- Is it important...
0:16:40 > 0:16:44- ..for her to communicate - face-to-face with her mam?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- Infants learn a lot - by reading facial expressions.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54- Children learn whether they should - enjoy something or fear something.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00- It's something which develops - naturally between mother and child.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05- As a child gets older, - that connection isn't so crucial.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10- As they get older, children stop - thinking about only themselves...
0:17:10 > 0:17:14- ..and things which are directly - relevant to themselves...
0:17:14 > 0:17:19- ..and start taking an interest - in their environment.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- There we are. Go over here.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- How instinctive is this behaviour?
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- Do parents do it naturally?
0:17:30 > 0:17:35- It's instinctive to talk to a child - in simplified language...
0:17:35 > 0:17:38- ..compared to the way - adults package language.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44- The idea of using short sentences - and pronouncing words clearly...
0:17:44 > 0:17:49- ..all contributes to - helping a child learn a language.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- It's all part of the same process.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57- It encourages children - to develop the language they hear.
0:18:06 > 0:18:12- When we're born, each one of us has - the potential to learn any language.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26- How does a baby's brain make sense - of the torrent of sounds...
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- ..which come - out of the mouths around them...
0:18:31 > 0:18:33- ..and turn them - into words and sentences?
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- At Bangor University - School Of Psychology...
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- ..they seek to find out - how a baby does this.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51- They're also asking how a baby copes - with hearing more than one language.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56- Volunteers - aged between seven and ten months...
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- ..from Welsh speaking - and non-Welsh speaking homes...
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- ..are taking part - in a special research project.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06- The infants can't speak yet.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12- They are put in EEG caps, - which are covered in electrodes...
0:19:13 > 0:19:18- ..to monitor the babies' brains - at work as they watch a puppet show.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- The caps allow them to see which - areas of the brain are active...
0:19:26 > 0:19:28- ..from one millisecond to the next.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31- There are - white and black mustard seeds.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34- There is no wild mustard outside.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37- He likes his mustard on cheese.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- The infants watch a puppet show...
0:19:41 > 0:19:46- ..which introduces specific new - words over and over again to them.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52- Researches then play newly - familiarized words to the baby...
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- ..plus some unfamiliar words.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59- She bought mustard in the shop.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Sweet mustard is good.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- The child - understood this syntax fast.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- This syntax is hard to grasp.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- They can compare - the way a baby's brain reacts...
0:20:14 > 0:20:17- ..when they hear - these newly familiarized words...
0:20:18 > 0:20:20- He likes his mustard on cheese.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- ..and unfamiliar words.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26- The correct syntax is explained.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- The results are very interesting.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- By 200 milliseconds - after the onset of the word...
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- ..before the word's over...
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- ..there's more activity - to newly familiarized words...
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- ..than to ones - they haven't heard before.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- It's remarkable, after a few times - of hearing these words.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- When infants - first learn a language...
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- ..they must recognize words - in a constant stream of language.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- When we read, there are spaces - to help us see individual words.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- When we hear a new language, - this isn't the case.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11- The infant must work out exactly - where words start and finish.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- To do this...
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- ..a baby's brain looks for patterns - or clues within the language...
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- ..by getting to know - the sounds of the language.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- It then puts the sounds together - to form words and sentences.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- The brain must also understand - the meaning of new words...
0:21:33 > 0:21:35- ..and learn the language's grammar.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- We begin to become familiar - with words before we're born.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- This complex process...
0:21:43 > 0:21:47- ..happens astonishingly quickly - within a baby's brain.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51- Infants who hear two languages - like Welsh and English...
0:21:51 > 0:21:55- ..must listen for different clues - within both languages.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- Remarkably, some of these babies - are hearing almost all Welsh...
0:22:03 > 0:22:07- ..and there isn't much difference - in the brain activity...
0:22:07 > 0:22:12- ..from a baby that hears 80% Welsh - to a baby that hears just English.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- Unlike other areas where - bilingual children lag behind...
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- ..children learning - Welsh and English...
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- ..have the same number - of words in English...
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- ..as those just learning English.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- When you add in Welsh words, - they're ahead of the game.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35- Research shows that the brains of - babies as young as seven months...
0:22:35 > 0:22:37- ..react to the language around it.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- It's a big step towards analyzing...
0:22:41 > 0:22:46- ..how the brain turns - a flow of sounds into language...
0:22:46 > 0:22:48- ..during our early years.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- The first year of life - is full of new experiences...
0:23:01 > 0:23:06- ..as the body and the brain gets - to grips with life outside the womb.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08- We're born with a set of skills...
0:23:09 > 0:23:13- ..which arm us to survive and - communicate with our guardians...
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- ..who, in turn, - respond to us instinctively.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20- We watch - and listen to our world carefully...
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- ..building vital cognitive - and physical foundations...
0:23:25 > 0:23:28- ..ready to take - our next developmental steps.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35- In the next episode, - we stare and move...
0:23:36 > 0:23:40- ..as we become more aware of - ourselves and of our surroundings.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones
0:23:56 > 0:23:56- .