Just as you have an important role to play in ensuring that your baby's body gets the nutrients it needs to grow up strong and healthy, you need to ensure that your baby's brain gets fed a steady diet of intellectual "nutrients." That means providing your baby with plenty of opportunities for mental stimulation during the all-important first year.

Now before you start hanging flash cards from your baby's crib and filling your home with thousands of dollars worth of educational toys, allow me to explain. There's no need to go overboard and turn your home into a "super baby" boot camp, painting your baby's room with bold black-and-white graphics so that he can be stimulated 24 hours a day. All you have to do is play with your baby and to take advantage of the many opportunities you will have to teach him about the world around him. Here are some important points to keep in mind.

• Seize the right moment. There's no point trying to play with your baby when he's fussy or sleepy. It's better to hold off until a time when your baby is quiet and alert.
• Remember that you're the best "toy" you can provide to your child. Because his abilities are limited at this stage of development, he's counting on you to be the entertainment.