Parenting : Child Development 0-1
I talk about parenting a 0-1 year old. Discuss ways to help your babies sleep, nurse and how to nurture them.
Infancy 0-1
In 1989 Romania orphanages were first viewed by the world. What we saw there was devastating which started a flurry of studies on how touch, attention, and nurturing a child affects the brain. The first 5 years of a Child’s life are the most important for the brains development.
“Similar to other sensory deprivation, the lack of touch during the early years slows growth in infants. Although research emphasizes the great benefits of touch for premature babies, the presence of such contact has also been shown to benefit all children. In fact, infants who experience more physical contact with caregivers demonstrate increased mental development in the first six months of life compared to young children who receive limited physical interaction. Furthermore, this improved cognitive development has been shown to last even after eight years, illustrating the importance of positive interactions. Infants who receive above-average levels of affection from their mothers are shown to be less likely to be hostile, anxious, or emotionally distressed as adults. The lack of such interaction, however, proves to be just as powerful. Infants who attend lower quality institutional daycare tend to receive minimal touch, which is associated to long-lasting cognitive delays in the future. Touch deprivation is additionally associated with increased aggression, pointing to the emotional and behavioral impact of contact during early childhood.
In addition to the cognitive benefits, skin-to-skin contact lets children know that they’re safe and protected, building trust between child and parent. Through the physical contact with adults, strong attachments can be created, thus providing a stable foundation for future relationships. Oxytocin, known as the “bonding” hormone, is released during times of close physical contact such as breastfeeding. Parent-child interactions may help foster the neurodevelopment of brain regions producing oxytocin, thus enhancing children’s future socio-emotional development. Mothers’ ability to identify their baby solely through touch immediately following delivery indicates their unique reliance on the tactile sense. Touch can benefit both mothers and infants alike, forming a bonding connection between parent and child. Infants of depressed mothers who massage their infants show improvement in growth and development while the mothers’ depression levels decreases. Physical contact can also lower cortisol levels for both mothers and children, thereby leading to improved immune system functioning. By continually providing nurturing touch, parents can help facilitate enhanced social, emotional, and physical development at young age.”
Sleep
The first couple of months of a Child’s life they are adjusting to time: morning vs night.
Sleep when your baby sleeps (now if you have other children this is very difficult but try).
But when they are around 3-6 months old you can start to sleep train them.
Let them know you are putting them to bed, rub there back or tummy, talk or sing softly for a few moments and then leave the room.
If they start to cry allow them for a few minutes and then go back in.
Don’t pick them up just rub there back or tummy again and go out.
Your baby might fall asleep as you are feeding them, if they do you can lay them down but don’t be afraid if they wake up.
This does not mean you leave your child to cry all night long.
Let them cry for 10-15 min. If they do not stop go in and pat their back or rub their back or tummy. Repeat.
When a child is old enough to each solids: like cereal this is when they should start being able to sleep through the night (make sure your pediatrician agrees with this).
Have a routine for your child also when you start to sleep train them
Try and put them in bed at the same time every night. I know this isn’t always possible but try.
Breast feeding
Drink tons of water if you are nursing
If you have problems you can always call the La Leche society.
Make sure you eat well too.
0–2 months
Gross motor skills
Sucks, swallows, and breathes while feeding
Shows strong reflexes
Lifts head momentarily about 45 degrees when lying on stomach
Relaxes arms and legs from the tight fetal position
Fine motor skills
Holds hands in tight fists and then begins to uncurl fingers
Palmar grasp
Language skills
Recognizes familiar voices
Cries generically
Social and play skills
Responds to calming actions such as rocking, singing, babywearing, or massage
Has short periods of wakefulness
Follows parents with eyes
Cognitive skills
Assumes that expressions of distress will be followed by comfort
Begins to develop trust
Fusses if needs are not met quickly enough
Reacts to sounds
Realizes that cues generate predictable responses
2–4 months
Gross motor skills
Lifts head higher than bottom
Rolls from back to side, tummy to side
Bears weight on legs when held upright
Rests on forearms when lying on stomach
Lifts head and chest when lying on stomach
Stretches legs and kicks when lying on stomach
Fine motor skills
Plays with hands in front of face
Holds onto the hair and clothes of anyone nearby
Holds rattle
Bats at dangling objects with hands
Language skills
Makes a variety of sounds—single vowel sounds and screeches
Coos, squeals, and gurgles
Says “ooh-ooh” and “aah-aah”
Cries according to need
Communicates through body movements—waving arms and legs and opening up hands
Social and play skills
Smiles and shows emotions—happiness and sadness
Laughs Blows bubbles
Self-calms by sucking on hands
Loves human faces, maintains eye contact, and mimics facial gestures
Cognitive skills
Recognizes cause and effect
Realizes actions cause others to react—a smile generates a smile in return
Turns head toward sound made at ear level
Shows boredom by crying or fussing if there are no changes in activity
Realizes that objects have names
4–6 months
Gross motor skills
Sits when assisted or propped with pillows (supervision required)
Holds head up 90 degrees when lying on stomach
Pushes up on hands when lying on stomach
Controls head well when held
Sits leaning forward on hands—tripod stance
Rolls both front-to-back and back-to-front
Assumes pre-crawl position with head and part of tummy raised
Fine motor skills
Reaches accurately with one hand
Predetermines hand position needed to grasp specific objects
Points to objects
Holds small objects in palm of hand
Transfers objects from hand to mouth
Language skills
Gets attention by babbling
Uses different sounds for different needs
Mimics sounds, inflections, gestures
Social and play skills Raises hands for “pick me up!”
Anticipates food on sight
Shows interest in colors
Makes “raspberry” sounds
Smiles and vocalizes to mirror
Mimics facial movements
Cognitive skills
Learns which sounds and actions are most likely to get a desired response
Follows moving objects with eyes
6–8 months
Gross motor skills
Sits unsupported
Begins pre-crawling: lifting knees off floor, scooching, wiggling
Stretches to reach objects beyond arm’s length
Fine motor skills
Uses hands to “rake” small objects
Transfers objects from hand to hand
Language skills
Puts vowels and consonants together
Uses tongue to change sound
Social and play skills
Responds to name
Plays peek-a-boo
Cognitive skills
Looks to floor when toys are dropped
Locates partially hidden objects
Explores visually and by putting objects in mouth
8–10 months
Gross motor skills
Sits unsupported
Crawls on hands and knees
Pulls up to stand, while leaning on furniture for support
Fine motor skills
Picks up tiny objects with thumb and forefinger—pincer grasp
Bangs objects on table
Feeds self (though messily)
Drinks from a cup (to practice, give a few sips of water in a plastic, non-sippy cup)
Language skills
Continues building new sound combinations
Uses tongue to change sound
Social and play skills
Shows separation anxiety
Learns speech sounds by focusing on others’ mouths
Cognitive skills
Recognizes spatial relationships—in and out, nesting objects
Puts mental images and labels together (“dog”)
Explores visually and by putting objects in mouth
10–12 months
Gross motor skills
“Cross-crawls”—moves arm and opposite leg simultaneously
Moves easily from crawling position to sitting
Sits for long periods
Crawls up stairs (but not down)
Walks while holding onto furniture
Takes first solo steps
Fine motor skills
Points with index finger
Stacks blocks
Turns pages of a book
Language skills
Says “mama” and “dada” (now accurately identifying each parent)
Understands “no”
Tries to imitate animal sounds
Social and play skills
Waves bye-bye
Shows stranger anxiety
Cognitive skills
Has sense of object permanence, that things out of sight still exist
Can find hidden toys under a blanket
Develops depth perception
Responds to simple requests
Remember that every child develops at there own pace. At each Doctor visit they will assess the Child's growth over time to ensure that they are developing well physically, mentally, and behaviorally.
““Until next week May the light of the savior shine in your relationships and bring you joy each and every day.””