What is Multisensory Input (MSI) and How Is It Beneficial to Your Baby?

Multisensory input or MSI is the synchronised activation of multiple sensory systems, including sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Human beings are constantly bombarded with sensory information from our environment. Our bodies receive this sensory information and then our brains interpret it and respond with an appropriate behaviour. There have been numerous studies conducted on the way this works in adults, but very little done on infants. 

In a recent study, researchers aimed to correct this. The study describes MSI developmental processes in infants and children and delves into whether these processes exist from birth or are due to life experience. The study discussed data that showed babies as young as 6 days old moving their hands towards visual targets, while infants a few months old begin to actively process more complex sensory interactions, such as associating a sound with a visual object. The study concluded that MSI developmental processes reach their peak during late childhood and rely on early experience. It also looked at dyslexia, and whether the MSI processes responsible for letter-speech sound integration may be impaired in children with this condition. Overall, from a learning perspective, when a child is provided with learning opportunities that incorporate multiple senses, that child will stand a greater chance of success when it comes to auditory and visual processing, memory, and other types of sensory processes. Failing to provide children with this type of stimulation can result in developmental and cognitive delays. 

How Can You Stimulate All of Your Baby’s Senses?

There are many sensory activities for babies you can do to help to stimulate multiple senses in your baby – even from home. Some of these can include:

• holding your baby against your chest, skin-to-skin
• playing with a variety of different textured toys – balls, rattles, sponges, soft toys
• playing in water
• spending time outside in the sunshine, listening to the wind in the trees, the sound of birds, etc
• talking and singing with your baby, while holding the baby at face level so they can see the way your mouth moves
• playing music – this should be appropriate for a young baby. There are mixes of classical music and nursery rhymes online for streaming
• bouncing balls where the baby can see, so they can associate the bouncing with the noise the ball makes
• providing your baby with food that has different flavours, textures, and colours

How Can Baby Sensory Classes Help?

Taking your baby to a sensory class can help you provide the tools to help stimulate your baby’s senses. These classes are developed by early childhood specialists and are designed to help you further develop the bond you have with your baby in a fun and gentle way. It’s incredibly important that your baby is provided with the opportunity to hear music and watch you sing and play. The classes also often involve props like scarves, musical instruments, handheld shakers, balls, sand, bubbles, and other sensory items. You’ll be able to take home what you’ve learned and continue to help your baby develop the cognitive and developmental skills they need. Once your baby grows, they can progress to toddler classes.