Is it possible to predict babies' IQ scores?
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 09:50 AM

As soon as they have kids, a lot of parents worry whether their children will grow up to be successful in life. That's why so many moms and dads opt to test their children's IQ scores before they enter elementary school, since a person's IQ can often predict how well he or she will do academically. But IQ tests have proven most accurate after children have turned 4 years old - the brain is still developing rapidly during the first few years of life. So are there ways to predict if an infant or baby will have a high IQ? Studies have shown breast-fed babies may rank higher on the intelligence scale than their formula-fed peers, but there are a few other ways parents may be able to predict how smart their children are.

Infant IQ tests
A couple of companies have developed IQ tests specifically for infants, though some scientists believe parents should take the results with a grain of salt. A psychology professor from the University of London worked with toy company Fisher-Price, for instance, to develop an assessment for babies between 6 and 12 months old. The test contains 10 questions including, "Can your child drop a toy on purpose," or "Does your child do the action for one song like Pat-a-cake?" 

Early development
It's widely believed that babies who develop cognitive capabilities earlier than average will likely have higher IQ scores later on. British Mensa consultant Lyn Kendall told BBC News that things like exhibiting an unusually good memory, developing reading skills early and having an affinity for music or musical instruments can all predict high IQ scores in babies.  

Attention to novelty study
A study published in the scientific journal Intelligence in 2007 looked at how a baby's attention span may indicate high intelligence later in life and found interesting results. Though most people may think that longer attention spans would be a sign of higher intelligence, researchers actually discovered that babies (between 6 and 12 months old) had a higher IQ score at age 8 if they stopped paying attention to pictures - but only if they were pictures the babies had already seen before. The study's researchers equated their lack of attention to pictures whose novelty had worn off to the babies' being able to process information better. 

Whether you're simply curious about how smart your baby is or want to more accurately predict his or her IQ score, these cues may give you some idea of his or her intelligence. However, for more precise results, it's best to wait until your child has turned 4 years old, when he or she will be able to take a more accurate IQ test.