The protection that kids inherit from their mothers at birth is transient and will disappear in a few weeks or months. However, babies, like everyone else, produce their own antibodies when exposed to a virus or other germ, and this is when their immune system begins to function. Since children need to play outside and be exposed to the sun in order to develop vitamin D, which is essential for boosting immunity, it is necessary for them to be exposed to their environment without being overprotected.
In contrast to inadequate nutrition, which raises the risk of sickness, and incorrect nutrition, which can also result in childhood malnutrition, adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is crucial to ensuring the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential.
Here are some pointers for parents on how to guarantee their children’s healthy development:
1. Offer sufficient nourishment
Babies need a healthy diet to grow and develop as they should. During the first six months, breastmilk can be the only and healthiest source of nutrition, but gradually, it needs to be supplemented with wholesome solid foods.
2. Breastfeeding for the first six months only.
It is crucial to emphasize the necessity and advantages of exclusively breastfeeding a baby for the first six months of life. Breastfeeding has many good implications on a baby’s development, from disease prevention to optimum physical and mental wellness.
3. Establish a sense of security for them
Infants’ mental and emotional health must be safeguarded in order to promote healthy growth and development. Parents are responsible for providing a secure and peaceful atmosphere in which to raise their children.
4. Prompt treatment and vaccinations
Getting a newborn all the necessary vaccines, especially in the first few years of life, is the best approach to safeguard the development of children. The baby’s immune system will be strengthened and their development will be aided by timely vaccines and care during illness.
5. Play interactive games
Parents must play developmental games with their newborns, such peek-a-boo and belly time, to encourage infant development. Playing such interactive games on a daily basis helps babies’ motor, sensory, cognitive, and social development.
6. Interact and connect
Parents must interact with their newborns from the moment of birth in order to aid in their development of language and social skills. In addition to fostering a closer link between parents and children, it will be essential to their growth.
7. Developmental milestones to watch for in infants
Each stage of a baby’s development during the first year of life is marked by particular milestones. The infant’s timely growth is defined by crucial abilities including smiling, rolling over, holding their neck, focusing their eyes, sitting up, grasping items, and putting them in their mouth.