Parents in the Thirty Million Words Initiative learn the importance of talking to their babies from birth. Photo credit: TMW.

Being a new parent is stressful.

But the way you handle that stress plays a critical role in how your child develops. It can, research shows, literally change the way a child's brain develops.

Studies show that babies whose cries are left unattended suffer “toxic” stress. If that continues over time, it damages the child’s brain and makes it harder, research shows, for that child to learn, trust others and control his or her emotions.

How do you start? Try this and listen. When babies cry, respond with warmth and love.

If you see that someone you know or love is having trouble with this, help them ask for help.

For more advice, check out TMW Tips: Building Your Baby's Brain, linked here.