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Birth to Childhood

Birth to Childhood (3)

Marketing During the first 8 weeks of life as the baby's senses develop and coordinate around their mother babies need to be rocked, rubbed, talked to and reassured. The beginning of independence, standing and walking that takes us some 15 months, other mammals achieve some some in minutes, others in hours, days or weeks.

Early Childhood - Phase 2

Post: 05 December 2010

Cagetory: Birth to Childhood

Written by: Peter Walker

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT 3 weeks - 1 year
Phase Two: From Four Months to Twelve Months
In these eight months a child develops many motor skills. By the end of the sixth month he gains full head control. At nine months the sitting position is completed as crawling and standing begins. By the end of another two months a child can crawl and lean over and twist while sitting. At the same time he begins to stand and walk with support.
	Lying on her or his back At five months, a child, lying on her back, turns her head towards a noise and looks for faces. You are no longer dealing with a passive body but with a child who has her own definite reactions and all round movements.
At sixth months, lying on his back, a baby can raise his head forward. He lifts his legs to grasp his feet and can hold his arms out to be lifted, and when grasped braces his shoulders and pulls himself up. He kicks strongly with alternate legs, stretching and straightening his knees and hips in preparation for standing and walking.
	By seven months, lying on her back, a child spontaneously lifts her head off the floor and can roll from her back to her front.

Lying on his Front At four months, when lying on his front a child often arches his back so that his weight rests on his belly and lower chest, his head and chest, arms and legs lifted off the floor.

	At sixth months, a child bears her weight on her hands with extended arms, her chest and upper belly off the floor. At this age a child may roll from lying on her front to lying on her back. A month or so later she can also do the reverse rolling from back to front. She may also assume the frog position with its knees bent and apart and her feet turned out.

A child at seven months can bear his weight on one hand while he looks around for a toy. At nine months, a child can turn his body sideways and progress across the floor by squirming and rolling with attempts to crawl. He makes increasing efforts to crawl but often moves backwards in the process. At this age he reaches out.

	At ten months, a child is able to move forwards pulling itself by her hands. She lies on its belly and her legs trailing behind. Her legs begin to help and at eleven months a child crawls on all fours rapidly and skilfully. Some children walk on their hands and feet like bears. Though most children crawl on all fours before they walk yet not all go through this phase.
Pulling a Child up From Lying on its Back to a Sitting Position and Supporting it in a Sitting Position
	When a four month old child is gently and slowly pulled up by his arms to a sitting position there is only slight head lag initially, and when supported in a sitting position he holds his head up for prolonged periods and looks around actively. The curvature if his spine in this position is seen as only slight in the lower back.
By five months, head control is almost complete. There is no head lag when pulled up to a sitting position.
At six months, a child lifts up her head from a lying position as she is about to be pulled up and holds her arms out to be held up. A child of this age likes to be propped up in her pram and can sit for a few minutes supported in her high chair, She can hold her trunk and head erect.
Sitting By seven months, a child spontaneously lifts his head off the floor to be pulled up to a sitting position and can sit with his hands forwards for support.
	At eight months she can sit for a few seconds without support but it is not until nine months that she can sit for ten minutes unsupported. At this age a child overbalances at times by falling backwards or sideways when trying to reach for an object at her side.
At ten months, a child can site upright and turn his body without support. He can pull himself up from a lying to a sitting position. He can go forwards from sitting to lying on his front and back to sitting. A little later he can lean over sideways and recover his balance and by twelve months can twist around to pick up objects without overbalancing. By this age a child can raise himself up unaided from a lying to a sitting position
Held supported Standing At five months, a child held in a standing position bears some weight on her bent legs.
After six months, he bears a large part of his weight, but given his full weight his knees and hips still sag. Held lightly, a child of this age bounces up and down actively.
	Standing At seven months, a child can maintain extension of her hips and knees for short periods when supported and bounces with pleasure, whereas before this she sagged at the hips and knees. At eight months she readliy bears most of her weight on her legs when she is supported.
After nine months he can stand holding onto furniture but has to be helped into this position as he is not strong enough to raise his body from a sitting to a standing position. However, he can pull himself into a standing position and hold it for a few minutes but cannot lower himself. Held standing he steps purposefully on alternate feet.
	A child of ten months can pull herself up from a sitting to a standing position. At first her feet get into the wrong position and she slips or falls in her efforts. She lets herself down from standing by falling down with a bump. At eleven months while standing and holding onto furniture she lifts and replaces one foots and in this position she finds some difficultly in picking up objects from the floor.
By twelve months, a child can pull himself up into a standing position and lower himself, holding onto reliable objects like furniture, down onto his bottom. Supporting himself standing he can step sideways and walk with assistance, first with two hands held and then with one hand held and may stand and walk alone.

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Early Childhood Phase 2

Early Childhood - Phase 1

Post: 05 December 2010

Cagetory: Birth to Childhood

Written by: Peter Walker

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Young children develop rapidly, but they still need the same protective care and unconditional affection as the babe-in-arms. Young bodies are supple and full of life, and children express vitality with their entire selves, exploring abilities with great courage and adventure. But if not encouraged to test their full range of movements when young, they may never reach their full natural physical potential. One precious gift from parent to child is physical games, especially those involving imagination. All children love stories and love to join in, responding willingly to fun and exercise through imaginative play. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT 3 weeks - 1 year Phase One: From a Few Weeks to Three Months
A new born baby has just spent a number of weeks in a tight foetal position in a confined liquid environment. When born she then has to deal with an unconfined, airy environment and the full force of gravity. To begin with, a baby's arms and legs are bent and held close to her and she possesses very little resistance to gravity. Her first steps in dealing with her new situation are to unfold her body gradually and gain control of her head. By the end of three months while lying on her back, a child can fully extend her arms and legs; on her front, she can hold her chin and shoulders off the floor bearing her weight on her forearms with hips and legs extended: when held in a sitting position she holds her head and back straight, except for the lower back; and when held standing she holds her head and begins to bear weight on bent legs. Ease and confidence when handling your baby is established by first getting to know your child's structure, feeling his muscles and bones and the way in which he can be held and moved supportively and comfortably. Remember when holding and positioning your child that his head and spine need to be supported and you must be relaxed and at ease. A secure way of holding your child is to use the palm and extended fingers of one hand to support the back of your baby's head, while the palm and fingers of your other hand are spread around her or his hips and along his spine.
	Lying on her or his back A newborn lies on her back with her arms and legs bent and held close to her trunk, her head turned to one side, with hips slightly opened and knees slightly parted. Involuntary extension and stretching begins in a baby's newborn period. Lying awake a baby is constantly moving her hands, arms and legs, at time extending and stretching. At other times she makes identical spontaneous arm and leg movements from both sides of her body. This sometimes included holding out her arms and turning her hands. If she is disturbed by sudden sounds she will arch her back and extend her arms and fingers before bringing them back across her chest.
After one month, a baby lies comfortably on his back with his head to one side and his arms bent, his knees apart and feet turned inwards. His movements are jerky and his arms are more active than his legs.
After two months, when lying on her back her arm and leg movements become more active and less jerky.
	Lying on her or his Front When a newborn is placed on his front he lies with his head turned to one side and his pelvis raised with his knees drawn up under his belly.
By the age of one month, in the same position, she momentarily lifts her chin from the floor. Her knees are now not drawn up beneath her as much as before and she kicks her legs, instinctively extending and stretching them.
By two months your child no longer kneels for his legs are partly extended or straightened.	At thee months, lying on her front, she holds her head and shoulders off the floor for a long time, bearing her weight in her forearms with hips and legs fully extended and stretched.

Phase Two: From Four months to Twelve Months

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Early Childhood Phase 1

First Weeks

Post: 05 December 2010

Cagetory: Birth to Childhood

Written by: Peter Walker

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THE NEW BABY In mother's womb, the baby has every need met. In the vulnerable time after birth, the newborn needs reassurance this warmth and security will continue. Touch is a baby's first language. Meeting the baby's urgent need for contact not only eases the upheaval from womb to world, it also arouses the maternal instincts. Children learn to love by being loved. Parents who kiss, cuddle and massage find peaceful friendship easier with their children in the future. Such emotional support gives babies confidence, helps them relate, and positively influences their physical development.
BREASTFEEDING Caution! Hold baby close so the head is not twisted. The most natural way to stay close is to breastfeed. Not only is nursing emotionally gratifying for mother and baby, breast milk contains all the protein, vitamins and antibodies for healthy development. How long you continue usually from 6 months up to 4 years is your choice. The let-down reflex 1. During pregnancy, mammary glands enlarge, releasing milk into ducts. These open into small reservoirs behind the nipple. 2. Pressure of baby's tongue and gum draws out milk and triggers the pituitary to release more milk into ducts.
Normal breast feeding Sit cross legged, with your back straight. Lay your baby sideways on your lap and hold him or her to your breast. Or if you prefer, sit on a chair, resting one foot on a stool to prevent back strain. You may need a pillow to raise your baby to breast height.
Bread feeding twins It may be easier to feed twins together rather than to double the number of feeds. Put two large cushions on your lap and lay both babies on top, facing you. Tuck one twin under each arm and cradle a head in each hand. If only one twin is crying, feed that one first, then wake and feed the other.
				Breastfeeding after a caesarian If your stomach is sore after stitches, lie down on one side, propped up on a pillow and lay your baby down beside you with his or her feet next to your pillow, well away from your stomach. This is also a good position for feeding at night.

EARLY DEVELOPMENT From 0-3 months Feeding your baby During the first four to six months the ideal diet for an infant is mothers milk. Many of the earliest habits of a nursing mother are instilled during breastfeeding. If the mother remains calm during breastfeeding and eats wholesome foods the child receives nourishing milk and a sense of harmony from the mother. The first solid foods could well determine habits that last a lifetime. Avoid baby foods containing sugar and salt and try to resist the temptation to salt or sweeten your babys food that you prepare yourself. Many babies begin taking some ‘solid’ foods between the ages of four to six months. Pureed fruits and vegetables can be given as milk consumption may naturally and gradually decrease to 50% of the infants diet by the age of twelve months. From four to six months the most easily digested foods in addition to milk are fruits and vegetables which are best cooked/steamed and then pureed, including; Apples, pears and avocados.Try to avoid overusing citrus fruits, but try to include papaya which is excellent for digestion. Carrots, parsnips, pumpkin also cooked/steamed and pureed with a little added water.
Newborns can sleep almost around the clock. Awake, they suckle, swallow and hiccup, and respond to touch, sounds and smells. Eyes start to focus clearly in the first month. Conscious movement develops soon after, as limbs stretch and joints open, muscles strengthen, and the spine straightens. At first, babies lie on their backs, sides or tummies. Until baby can control the head, it needs support during lifting or carrying.
			Lying on the side Strengthens back and shoulders. Rolling over requires help until baby is 6 months old.
Lying on the tummy Helps digestion, stretches and relaxes abdomen, encourages head lifting, and feels secure.
			Lying on the back Spontaneous stretching gradually gets more vigorous and controlled. By 3 months, babies kick with alternate legs and clasp hands over their chests.
Cobra position By 3 months, babies can lean on hands, raising shoulders and outstretching legs. They may arch backs and raise feet, too.
BABY MASSAGE A relaxing routine for mother and baby
	Parents instinctively stroke their babies, and enjoy extending this into a more complete massage. Ensure baby's cooperation by warming your hands, and using only natural oils on your baby's sensitive skin. Try to massage your baby between feeds when he/she is neither hungry nor full. During the first eight weeks rather than a formal massage routine, use lots of stroking with your baby either naked or dressed. (Also encourage dad to do the same.)
Back and spine massage Soothes babies and helps coordinate muscles. Some postures also encourage head-lifting, thus strengthening neck and shoulder.
		Hips, tummy, arms & legs massage Opens chest, stretches tummy muscles, and helps breathing and digestion. Improves lower body flexibility.