Vaccination shots are an important aspect of this time period as not only they provide protection against some sinister but preventable diseases but also give an opportunity for assessment and interaction with a pediatrician who not only provide cure to ailments but has an equally important role in monitoring growth and development of the baby and to timely identify timely the so called “red flags”. Never shake your baby, prevent exposure to second hand smoke, don’t leave your baby in supine position when unsupervised Place your baby in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat while he is riding in a car and. Safety of the environment is another important aspect. Mother being the primary care provider in our setup should be provided with physical, social and mental support and care so that she not only recovers from the hardships of child birth but truly becomes capable of being a MOTHER from being just a women. Cuddling and holding the baby make baby feel cared for and secure and should be encouraged. Talking with your baby and making eye contact is beneficial in forging a bond between mother and baby and also provide valuable stimuli to the growing brain. It goes without saying that standards of hygiene and cleanliness, love and care various visual and auditory stimuli go a long way in shaping child’s future as this is the time when baby is first exposed to new sounds and sights. Besides nutrition the care from the family as whole and not just the mother is what is warranted. Activities like Yoga, meditation and special antenatal classes go a long way in allaying maternal fears and anxieties and provide her social security in form of a peer group.We all have heard Abhimanyu’s story in our mythology so the importance of antenatal period can very well be fathomed.īREASTFEEDING(0 to 6 months): WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months which should be continued till 2 years of age with gradual introduction semisolid and then solid foods. Other than nutrition the mothers mental and social health also has a bearing on the baby and hence all efforts should be to provide most congenial environment. DHA) of the mother’s diet has been associated with positive developmental outcomes. Key nutrients for pregnant women are vitamins D, B2, B6, B12 and choline and the minerals iron, iodine, folic acid and calcium Furthermore, the quality of fat (i.e. PREGNANCY(-9 to 0 months):During pregnancy and ideally starting even before conception the women should eat a healthy and balanced diet to nourish the fetus and to build optimal stores as well. I have tried to divide this period into 4 groups : So the question now is how can you make the most of these “ early moments for your child”. One 20-year study showed that disadvantaged children who participated in quality early childhood development programmes as toddlers went on to earn up to 25 per cent more as adults than their peers who did not receive the same support. This is especially significant for children growing up in poverty. A lack of nurturing care – which includes adequate nutrition, stimulation, love and protection from stress and violence – can impede the development of these critical connections. Investment in early childhood is one of the most cost effective ways of increasing the ability of all children to reach their full potential – increasing their ability to learn in school and, later, their earning capacity as adults. These connections contribute to children’s brain function and learning, and lay the foundation for their future health and happiness. This means that at least 80% of disease risk in later life is due to the environment, including nutrition and life style.ĭuring this critical window of opportunity, brain cells can make up to 1,000 new connections every second – a once-in-a-lifetime speed. It has been estimated that at most 20% of lifelong health can be explained by inherited genes. Indeed, it is now recognized that individual development is determined not only by genetics, but through a complex interplay of genes and the environment. from first day of pregnancy to about 2 years of age when all organs and tissues of the body are being formed and educated to perform their respective functions. These are the pearls of wisdom which came to my mind when I came across the UNICEF campaign “ Early moments matter” which kicked off in January 2107.The campaign aims to highlight the importance of first 1000 days in life of a newborn i.e. “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”….
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