What Are the Conditions That Will Affect My Baby’s Development during the Growth Period?
Each baby develops differently, and that includes your baby. Depending on several factors, your baby will grow fast or preserve energy to have a growth spurt.
Prenatal care and nutrition
Studies have shown that mothers that observe prenatal care and observe what they eat give birth to babies that are healthier and well within the ideal birth weight. Mothers who smoke, drink alcohol, abuse drugs and are undernourished give birth to infants who are underweight and premature. Mothers who over-indulge food can give birth to babies who are large for their gestational age.
Genetics
Your baby’s size is also determined by genetics. Large parents often have babies that are also large and develop rapidly. Small parents often have small babies that take their sweet time in growing. As long as there are definitive traits within the family, your baby will have the possibility of carrying that trait as he grows.
Race
Race also determines the rate of growth in babies. African-American infants are smaller compared to white infants. Asians babies also are relatively smaller compared to white babies. This is probably due to the fact that Asians are smaller in frame compared to most Americans.
Nutrition
What you feed your baby will affect his growth and development because nutrition has a direct impact on overall well being. A baby that is given a healthy diet will develop better compared to babies that are not given proper food. How much and how often you feed your baby is also an important determining factor. Babies fed in proper quantities and frequencies develop better compared to those who are fed less. Over feeding may give your baby that plump, adorable appearance, but that does not mean it is a normal healthy development.
Medical Condition
Babies that have disease or disorders have problems in development compared to healthy babies. Metabolic conditions such as celiac disease will usually lead to babies who have failure to thrive. Hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria are also conditions that can lead to other developmental problems.
Environment
Your baby’s environment also plays a major role in your baby’s development. Babies born in an environment that has clean air develop healthier lungs. Babies who are constantly touched and talked to are more aware of their surroundings and develop speech faster compared to babies that are not properly stimulated. Exposure pollutants can cause illness that can impede with your baby’s development.
A baby that is well taken care of by giving love and attention always develop favorably. Babies in a stressful environment are also stressed, leading to poor eating and sleeping habits. Babies that are poorly treated by allowing them to cry without getting any attention will become depressed. Depressed babies have been found to develop poorly compared to babies that are in good disposition.
Babies are so helpless; they need total care to help them develop to their full potential. You must give them utmost care that does not only involve giving them food and shelter. Tender loving care is important so your baby will achieve his developmental milestones.