From the first time they smile at 2 months old, to the first time they sit and stand on their own at 9 months, utter their first word around their 10th month, and walk independently between their 12th and 15th month, a baby’s “firsts” or developmental milestones are always a highly anticipated event and endless source of joy for any family.
As such, Pediatricians like Teresa Maria T. Ribaño, MD from Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) consider the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life the most crucial: The timeframe when the baby’s body, brain, and immune system experience rapid growth and changes. And this period begins not after a child’s birth; it traces back to during pregnancy.
“This is where Mom lays the foundation for the future health of her child,” says Dr. Ribaño. “Gone are the days when you can think, ‘Oh, I can eat anything I want because after all, I’m eating for two or three.’ But we’re now seeing studies that prove diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cardiovascular disease are rooted in how our mothers were when they were pregnant. So, it’s a huge responsibility.”
Once a child is out in the world, Dr. Ribaño then emphasizes how parents should focus on nutrition, immunization, and exercise as foundations of what will lead to a healthy life in the future.
Here are four (4) ways parents can make every day of child rearing count:
1. Breastfeed as much as possible
An international board-certified lactation consultant since 2014, Dr. Ribaño cannot emphasize enough the advantages of giving mother’s milk ideally in the first six months of baby’s life.
“It’s the optimum nutrition, given its perfect balance of protein, fat, sugar, vitamins, and water,” she shares. “It’s also the first immunization of children, because it’s rich in natural antibodies. It prevents and protects baby from a host of diseases, from type 2 diabetes and obesity to gastrointestinal issues and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”
The perks are plentiful for mothers, too. Breastfeeding is said to reduce the risk of postpartum depression as well as the incidence of various cancers (breast, uterine, and ovarian), hypertension, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and more. Plus, it establishes a physical and emotional bond between you and your little one. And because it burns calories, breastfeeding may help you drop the pregnancy pounds faster than you expected.
2. Limit gadget use
Who hasn’t shoved a cellphone playing a nursery rhyme to their little boy or girl whenever they get unruly or refuse to eat? To be fair, gadgets do offer some benefits to young children. They improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills, enhance learning, stimulate creativity, and improve language skills—so much so that some even acquired a British accent from watching a popular cartoon.
“But according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if it’s possible to avoid screen time in the first 24 months of life—as in zero screen time—please do,” the doctor asserts. “The problem with gadgets or television is that it’s a one-way thing. And in this one-way thing, the child is receiving this aural and visual stimulation dump, and they don’t know how to process it. There’s no one to help them understand nor follow through on the visual concepts. This only makes gadgets detrimental to their development.”
3. Practice constant communication
Dr. Ribaño underlines: Nothing beats face-to-face human interaction. Establish eye contact at the level of your little one to build their confidence and introduce them to different facial expressions. “If your child doesn’t look back at you by the ninth month, see your pediatrician to rule out autism, a hearing problem, or social anxiety,” she says.
The MakatiMed doctor also favors avoiding baby babble, “because they might think ‘woojie woojie woojie’ is an actual term”. Instead, she recommends communicating with children with short, simple sentences. “Mommy doesn’t want you to do this. You’ll get hurt. I’m sorry you feel bad,” recites Dr. Ribaño as an example. “You not only teach your child how to communicate and express themselves, but you also treat them with the respect they deserve.”
4. Take care of yourself
The only way your little one can be happy, healthy, and strong is if his/her parents are. Use your children as motivation to stop smoking and drinking, eat a balanced diet, start exercising, and even get a hold of your temper. When they see you thriving by looking after yourself, someday, they’ll want the same for themselves too. “It’s the best thing you can do for your kids—and yourself,” says Dr. Ribaño.
Article based on the MakatiMed Health Vodcast “Beyond 1000 Days (From Baby to Toddler)” episode with Teresa Maria T. Ribaño, MD last June 7, 2022.
For the complete list of Makati Medical Center’s Pediatrician, click here. You may also reach us via MakatiMed On-Call at (+632) 8888 8999 or at [email protected].
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