According to UNICEF, “from conception to the child’s second birthday, this is one of the crucial windows for the growth of the child, and this shapes their lifelong being.”
The beginning years are the key foundation of a child’s growth and development, and it becomes the core of how they will live their lives in their adulthood. But, on the first day of those 1000 days, the answer is: the first 1000 days started on the day when a woman gets pregnant (conception), and it covers the day till when your child gets 2 years old. Now the question is, why did the first 1000 days matter?
Brain Plasticity in The First Three Years
A baby’s brain is not a smaller or slower version of an adult brain; instead, they have more flexibility, and this is called neuroplasticity. Every second, their brain forms more than one million new neural connections in their early age. And you know how important their skills are, and in that, these neural pathways repeatedly become faster and stronger. But if these are not properly used, then these pruned away, the growth of the child.
Despite the progress, there are some children who become victims of malnutrition and poor health, and this not only impacts their childhood growth, but also influences them in their further life. The majority of parents believe that feeding their baby becomes crucial only after birth.
But, NO!
Your baby starts to develop a brain much earlier. During pregnancy, their development phase starts, and this continues to progress till the third trimester. Nutrition supplied by the mother helps to support the formation of brain cells, nerves, and structure, which help to regulate the whole body.
At birth, their brain is still in progress, and it develops experience through touch, taste, hearing, seeing, and smell.
Point to Remember: From birth to age 3, their brain develops fast, but if they experience a toxic home environment, their hormones keep them on high alert. This floods their brain, increases cortisol, and stops normal brain growth, shrinks the learning centre, and causes long-term mental and health issues.
Let’s Understand Why It Matters Throughout The Phase.
1. Pre-conception
It is important to understand that women should pay attention even before conception. Keeping them healthy, eating a good diet, staying away from smoking and drinking, indulging in exercises or yoga, and maintaining a healthy body weight are some crucial things. These will not only help you in your pregnancy, but they will help you to stay healthy throughout your life if you maintain healthy living.
2. During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an important phase of not only the growth of the baby but also brain development as well. Some of the important nutrients needed by both the mother and the baby include:
- Iron
- Iodine
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- B vitamins
- Vitamins A, C, D, and E
- Omega-3 fatty acids like DHA
Some of the important factors that should be considered during pregnancy include proper nutrition, healthy weight gain, exercise, proper hydration, prenatal care visits, and avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption.
3. Infancy : 0 to 6 months
Nutrition and nurture are still relevant after birth. It is recommended that babies breastfeed exclusively for at least four to six months because of the nutritious value and benefits of the milk. A mother who breastfeeds should consume nutritious food, be well-hydrated, and avoid drinks like caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Baby’s vitamin K and D are the ones that are highly recommended by gynecologists.
4. Toddlerhood: 6 to 24 months
Starting from six months, kids begin switching from exclusive milk feeding to complementary foods; however, breastfeeding can be continued for as long as the mother and kid wish to. Different kinds of food depend on the development of the child.
It is recommended to eat:
- Vegetables and fruits
- Grain products and cereals
- Protein foods
- Foods rich in iron
- Milk or alternatives
- Different flavors and textures
Assessment Process: What To Expect?
Step 1: First Visit
The child is visited by a pediatrician or a developmental specialist, and they conduct a medical history that involves the following:
- Birth history
- Developmental history
- Family history
- Any other specific concerns that you may have
Step 2: Developmental Testing
The child is now tested in various areas of development so that proper assessment can be done, and it includes:
- Gross Motor Development (sitting, crawling, walking)
- Fine Motor Development (grasping, pointing, stacking blocks)
- Communication/Language development
- Social/Emotional development
- Cognitive development
Step 3: Recommended to Specialist (if necessary)
Based on the identified challenge, a specialized expert is recommended for that particular child. The purpose of this is to focus on a particular area of development. Sometimes, more than one therapist is also recommended if the child is dealing with more than one condition.
Step 4: Individual Development Report
An individual development report will be prepared in comparison to the development of the child and children of the same age group. This process has been designed in such a manner that it produces minimum stress for both parents and children. The whole process is absolutely test-free.
What Does Early Intervention Include?
- Early intervention does not constitute a form of treatment but rather constitutes a series of therapies based on the type of delay that the child suffers from, including the following:
- Speech and language therapy for speech delays or difficulties comprehending due to poor vocabulary skills.
- Occupational therapy to develop fine motor and sensory skills in children, like feeding and dressing.
- Physiotherapy to develop gross motor skills like sitting, crawling, and walking.
- Behavioral and developmental therapy to cope with the problems linked with social and emotional development or autism in infants.
- The monitoring of the growth and nutrition of underweight babies or infants who are premature.
- Training of parents to conduct therapy sessions at home.
- When it comes to the infant or toddler who is undergoing early intervention therapy as the subject, what distinguishes this type of therapy is that early intervention is basically play-based therapy. This is conducted through play, exercises, songs, and daily activities.
Who Should Be Assessed?
- Infants born before full term (less than 37 weeks): in the event of prematurity of the infant, this would indicate that the infant did not have enough time to develop the brain and other body parts while still in the womb. The more premature the baby, the higher the risk of delay in development in motor skills, speech, or cognitive skills of the baby.
- Children who were in NICU: infants who have spent some time in NICU because of respiratory problems, complications due to jaundice, infections, or oxygen deprivation after birth definitely need special attention to their development within the first two to three years of their lives.
- Infants weighing less than 2.5 kg: babies weighing less than 2.5 kg at birth may have delays in motor skills and cognitive development milestones and, therefore, require regular examinations by professionals.
- Developmental disorders in a family’s history: if there are any developmental disorders in a family’s history such as autism, ADHD, speech delays, learning disability, intellectual disabilities, and so forth, there will be increased risk for the baby developing such problems, and hence the baby needs special screening.
- Pregnancy complications: in complicated pregnancy, prolonged labor period, delivery asphyxia (baby not crying right after delivery), or maternal infection during pregnancy can be a real risk factor.
- Non-accomplishment of milestones: despite whatever number of the above risk factors the child is free from, if the child does not have the ability to accomplish such tasks as sitting, crawling, walking, babbling, and responding to their name being called out, then they must be assessed.
The Role of the Parent
Children spend more time at home, and they become the key to learning skills and implement in their day-to-day life. That is why parents become the core of a child’s development. But therapists also become a bonus, because their guidance and effective strategies improve skills of a child.
How Can Parents Assist in Early Interventions?
- Performing the recommended activities while performing daily activities (bathing, eating, playing)
- Communicating with the child and explaining to them in order to enhance their speech
- Being patient and celebrating each success instead of comparing a child with others
- Going to all necessary therapy sessions
- Discussing with the therapist all positive and negative things happening during therapy at home
- No doubt, the children would be developing much quicker if the whole therapy started in the clinic and continued in the child’s daily routine.
Common Signs of Developmental Delay
- Lack of awareness: around 50% to 60% of parents and caregivers lack proper awareness that the first 1000 days are important for children. They are also not aware that the 1000 days also include 270 days of pregnancy and impact them entirely on their growth and development throughout their lives.
- Communication lags: some children lag even in babbling a single word by 16 to 18 months, and fail to respond to familiar names. Parents believe that their child will learn later by saying, “he’ll catch up later”. But if your child is unable to achieve milestones based on age, then it is crucial to talk to a pediatrician so that you can get assurance and clearance.
- Difficulty in adapting to everyday activities: if your child is continuously facing challenges in feeding, dressing, or even implementing daily activities based on age, then this is the biggest sign that the child might have faced challenges. If these issues are detected under those 1000 days, then parents should take appropriate steps.
- Lagging social and emotional skills: failing to respond to familiar voices, smile, and avoid making eye contact. Showing little to no interest in active play, and facing difficulty in interacting with peers or adapting to normal daily activities.
What Can Delaying Cost?
- Missed development: due to delaying early prevention, there is a high risk that your child might miss developmental windows. As you know, neuroplasticity is highest in the early years, and delaying can often slow progress, which might require more effort in the later years.
- Fear of being labeled: your fear can cost your child’s growth. What other people can think might put a load on you, but your fear should not become a barrier to your child’s progress.
- Longer treatment- the more you delay the treatment, the chances of getting treated will increase.
- Increased stress- of course, the parental stress will increase. But your pressure to treat your child, and your pressure to force them to become normal, can make things worse.
What Can Work?
1. Maternal nutrition and care
Maternal nutrition holds accountability of 20% to 30% of a child’s risk related to stunted growth and developmental delays. Not just a child, but their mother’s health influences their growth as well. What she eats and drinks, it impacts their breastmilk, which is an important source of nutrition for a child. It becomes important to provide at least four antenatal care visits, as this reduces the risk of low birthweight and stunting.
2. Proper treatment through an expert
It is important to make sure that you choose the right expert for your child. Make sure to research properly before finalising. Their expertise, experience, history, and strategies influence your child’s growth.
3. Your (parent’s) support
Parental support is the core to provide the right guidance to a child. Your emotional and mental support matters a lot. Along with that, make sure to implement the techniques mentioned by the therapist so that you can fasten their progress.
Conclusion
The 1,000 days have a particular window of opportunity, the chance of learning something new about the development of your baby through various interventions. It is always wise not to procrastinate and do things right away. In case you are a parent of a premature baby, or one whose development has had some issues before, or you feel that the baby may lag in some way, this particular test would cost very little compared to the benefits that it can offer in the future.
For developmental screening for developmental delay by the experts in Jaipur, contact Cradle Children Hospital.
FAQ’s
What is the best age to start therapy for my child?
There is no specific age, but if your child is showing any signs, then make sure to talk to a pediatrician.
Does early intervention apply only to children having problems with autism and cerebral palsy?
No, it refers to all children who have some problems with their development, namely with their motor, language, cognitive, and social-emotional skills.
Does my kid need to attend therapy sessions throughout their whole life?
No, not always, because many children who have some delays can manage early interventions.
Do babies born prematurely develop normally due to early interventions?
Many preterm infants develop properly due to early interventions and assessment.
What does the period of development assessment last?
It lasts for about 30-60 minutes and involves observation and expertise to make sure that the proper analysis has been done.
