Flash cards, rubber balls and musical instruments - these are tools used by infant care centres that look after babies aged between two and 18 months.

Besides providing routine care-giving, many of these centres have specific programmes to give babies a headstart in learning.

Most of these programmes zoom in on stimulating the five senses.

At Rosy Hearts Babies in Upper Bukit Timah, parents pay about $1,500 a month (before government subsidy) so their child can undergo 'baby stimulation', said founder Lim Chong Peng, 41.

This includes a music programme consisting of instrument play, singing and basic dance steps.

Another popular infant school, Babyplanet Montessori in Jalan Ulu Siglap, has a similar curriculum.

For $1,500 per month (before government subsidy), babies get anything from 'gym' exercises that develop their sense of balance and coordination, to arts and craft sessions that stimulate creative thinking.

Infant schools in the heartland also have such programmes.

At PCF Punggol East Sparkletots Infant & Child Care Centre, caregivers use picture and word flash cards to improve a baby's sense of sight.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times,The Straits Times.