The first vital years
The first couple of years are the most important in a child's development. It is easy to see why.
Start with newborn babies - they can not do anything for themselves. They do not know how to work their muscles or control their physical movements. Their nervous systems are not fully developed and they can only see objects clearly at about 20cm.
Over the next months all this quickly changes. By four months most babies can sit with support and hold their heads up for short periods of time. By six months, most can sit without support and by eight months most can pull themselves up to a standing position, stand with support, and walk if supported and led.
During those first months of life other exciting developments are also occurring that are easily taken for granted. They are starting to become aware of some really basic but critical concepts.
First, they are starting to become aware that they are separate from their parents and that their parents love and value them.
Second, they are learning they can trust their parents to feed them, provide shelter, protect them and to give them pleasant feelings.
Third, they are becoming aware that they can respond to their parents' emotions and that their parents will respond to theirs.
They may be three pretty obvious facts, but they are fundamental to the baby's development into a mature human being.
Further links:
- After the Baby is born
- Love and the growth of trust
- Babies and fathers
- Brain development
- Understanding babies
- Harvard University's Centre on the Developing Child provides an article on the latest scientific information on the importance of relationships in a child's growth and development.
- Harvard University's Centre on the Developing Child provides an article on the latest information on the importance of the child's experiences in the first months of their life for their emotional development.
- Webmd provides a wide range of articles on parenting babies.
Developmental milestones:
- American Academy of Pediatrics - physical development milestones
- Ohbaby - A NZ website providing physical, social and emotional, speech and language, baby communication milestones; also tips on how to encourage development for each set of milestones.
- CNN.com focuses on just 10 major milestones over two years.
- WebMD provides a wide range of information on parenting babies.
For support and advice:
- Barnardos Parent Helpline - a nationwide service that gives callers the opportunity to talk to a sympathetic listener about their parenting issues or wider family/whÄnau problems. Call 0800 4 PARENT (0800 472 7368)
- PlunketLine - responds to caregivers' concerns on child health and parenting. Call 0800 933 922.
- Healthline - provides a 24 hour phone line giving health advice. Call 0800 611 116.
- Parents Centres - provide parent education programmes and support.
- Parent to Parent - offers support groups for parents of children with disabilities or health impairments. They can also be contacted by calling 0508 236 236.
- Child Safety Foundation - for information on home, road, water, sun and fire safety, including advice on poisons and stings, car restraints, and play equipment.
