Growth & development of infant till 6 month of age; How parents can support healthy development?

🔴 GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OF INFANT TILL 6 MONTH OF AGE

This age is the age of rapid development, not only in observable changes like height & weight but also in brain development.

🔹 Weight of the person can increase or decrease till death.

🔹 Height of the person cannot be increased after puberty. 

🔹 At birth, the average baby's brain is 25% of adult brain & double by 1 year of age. It keeps growing to about 80% by age 3 year and 90% by age 5 year. 

 In short...Brain development is more important than height which is more important than weight in children till 5 year of age. 

🔴 Factors responsible for growth and development

❇️ Heredity

🔹 Heredity is transmission of physical and mental characteristics from parents to children through genes 

🔹 It cannot be changed 

❇️ Family influence 

🔹 It plays an important role from the meeting of genes till death of the person.

🔹 It includes parents, grandparents and other members living in the family 

🔹 It can be changed, in fact it can be used as a stimulation for better results. 

Example: If two children with the same genetics born to the same parents are the same, Answer is No. Why?  One of the main reasons is the different environment from the point of conception till 5 year of age. 

❇️ Environment 

🔹 It includes neighbors, peers, school and social media 

🔹 It can be changed 

❇️ Nutrition 

🔹 Nutrition of the child as well as Mother is important for growth and development 

🔹 Deficiency and overeating are harmful for growth and development. 

❇️ Hormones

🔹 It plays important role in growth and development 

🔹 It cannot be changed but it can be treated if it is the cause of failure in growth and development of children 

❇️ Learning and reinforcement 

🔹 If help in overall development of personality including intellectual, mental, emotional, social and physical development 

🔹 If proper technique of brain development is implemented from conception (Garb Sanskar) till 12 year of age, it helps in much faster development. 

🔹 Reinforcement is a component of learning where an activity is repeated and refined to solidify the lesson learned. 

❇️ Socio-economic status 

🔹 As money determines the nutrition, family environment, neighbors and school, it has influenced in growth and development 

🔹 Lack of money or too much money can cause poor growth and development.

🔹 It can be changed but  lot of children from poor family had done much better than rich family. 

 In short....Nature contributes to the growth and development, but nurture contributes much more.

🔴 Weight of the child

🔹 Average weight of the baby at birth is between 2.5 to 3.5kg

🔹 In first 10 days, baby lose about 5% birth weight 

🔹 For first 3 month, baby gain about 900 gram per month 

🔹 From 4th to 6th month, babies gain about 450 gram per month.

🔹 Consult pediatrician 

▪️ If birth weight is less than 2.5 kg or more than 4 kg. 

▪️ If weight gain is less than 700 gram in first 3 month or less than 350 gram in next 3 month 

▪️ If weight gain is more than 1200 gram in the first 3 month or more than 600 gram in the next 3 month. 

🔹 How increases weight of the baby?

▪️ Good nutrition to mother 

▪️ Consult Gynaecologist for supplements to mother 

▪️ Positive home environment 

▪️ Consult pediatrician for supplements if needed 

🔴 Height of the child

🔹 Average height of the baby at birth is between 45 to 55cm

🔹 For first 2 month, baby gain about 3 to 4cm per month 

🔹 From 3rd to 6th month, babies gain about 1.5 to 2.5cm per month.

🔹 Consult pediatrician 

▪️ If birth height is less than 45cm or more than 60cm

▪️ If height gain is less than 2.5cm in first 2 month or less than 1.5cm in next 4 month 

️ If height gain is more than 6 cm in first 2 months or more than 3.5cm per month in next 4 month. 

🔹 How increases height of the baby?

▪️ Good nutrition to mother 

▪️ Consult Gynaecologist for supplements to mother 

▪️ Positive home environment 

▪️ Baby massage and stretching may help.

▪️ Consult pediatrician for supplements if needed

🔴 Brain development

The early year of a child is very important as maximum brain development occurs and builds a foundation for future learning, health and success. Research has proven that the environment of a child's earliest year from conception to 5 year can have effects that last a lifetime. 

 In short...Genes provide blueprint for the brain, but a child's environment and experience carry out the construction. 

❇️ Know your normal milestones 

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🔹 Milestones are physical or behavioral checkpoints as they grow.

🔹 During first 6 month, your baby will develop at an amazing speed

🔹 No two babies are same, each baby will grow at own speed

Example: Some babies walk as early as 9 month of age and some babies start walking at 17 month of age. Both are normal, still if you start implementing proper technique then the baby can walk early. 

🔹 If baby misses milestone range, please consult pediatrician 

Example: If the baby is not walking by 17 month of age. 

🔹 If your baby is born prematurely then you need to look milestones as per due date

Example: Your baby was supposed to be born on 1st March. Came into this world on 15th January. Use 1st of March as a date for assessment of milestones

🔹 If your baby is born post maturely, use date of birth as a assessment date. 

 Example: Your baby was supposed to be born on 1st March. Came on 20th March, use 20th March as a date of assessment of milestones 

🔹 Always consult pediatrician regularly for assessment of growth and development of infant. 

🔳 At birth 

     -------------

🔶 What most babies do by this age? 

No such milestones which can be recognized by parents. 

🔶 Dangerous sign 

🔹 Premature baby 

🔹 Baby weight less than 2 kg or more than 4 kg. 

🔹 Adimitted in NICU in critical condition 

 Remember...Always follow with your pediatrician for assessment of growth and development. If you missed this golden period of development, you and your kid will cry forever. 

🔳 2 month of age. 

     --------------------------

🔶 What most babies do by this age? 

🔹 Physical development 

▪️Begins to push up when lying on tummy 

▪️ Move all four limbs smoothly ( If baby is one or two limb less compare to other limb, consult pediatrician)

🔹 Language development 

▪️ Respond to sound 

▪️ Makes gurgling sound

🔹 Cognitive development 

▪️ Pay attention to faces

▪️ Follow moving objects 

🔹 Social development 

▪️ Begins to smile at people 

▪️ Mouthing means suck on hand

🔶 Dangerous sign

▪️ No social smile 

▪️ No response to sound 

▪️ Don't follow moving objects 

▪️ Fist closed 

 In short...Follow this-milestones are there to save your life. 

🔳 4 month of age 

     --------------------------

🔶 What most babies do by this age? 

🔹 Physical development 

▪️ Neck holding means hold head steadily 

▪️ Can hold the object

🔹 Language development

▪ Make a sound like ah, eh, uh. 

▪ Respond to sound by turning head

🔹 Cognitive development

▪ Let you know if he is happy or sad

▪ Recognize familiar people

▪ Follow moving object with eyes from side to side

🔹 Social development

▪ Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops

▪ Can copy some facial expressions like smiling and frowning

🔶 Dangerous sign

🔹 No head holding

🔹 Doesn't coo or make sounds

🔹 Doesn't put hand in the mouth

🔹 Body is stiff or very loose

🔳 6 month of age

     -------------------------

🔶 What most babies do by this age?

🔹 Physical development 

▪️ Roll over in both directions 

▪️ Seat with support 

▪️ Transfer objects from one hand to another 

🔹 Language development 

▪️ Responds to own name 

▪️Make a sound like dada, baba

🔹 Cognitive development 

▪️ Show curiosity about new things and want to understand new things by putting in the mouth. 

▪️Try to get things that are out of reach

🔹 Social development 

▪️ Like to look self at mirror

▪️ Like to play with others 

🔶 Dangerous sign

▪️ Doesn't try to get things that are in reach 

▪️ Doesn't respond to sound around him

▪️ Has difficulty in getting things at mouth 

▪️ Doesn't roll over

▪️ Seems very stiff, very tight muscles 

▪️ Seems very floppy

 In short...Maximum problems of brain development can be solved if the patient reaches in time. 

🔴 Can we develop the brain of an infant? 

🔹 Answer is yes

🔹 We cannot change the nature (genetics) but we can change nurture 

🔹 Consult pediatrician for home based stimulation programme 

Example: First major milestone is Neck holding. Lay an active baby on a tummy and make a sound in front of eyes, thus the baby will try to lift his head towards the sound making neck muscles strong. 

 In short...Parents who take the learning, growth & skill development of their infant into their hand will have tomorrow's leaders in their house. 

🔳  Take home message in assessment of your baby milestones 

🔹 Missing one or two abilities should cause alarm 

🔹 Missing multiple abilities is dangerous

🔹 We can speed up brain development of our infant at our home. 

 In short...The more we give importance to development, the more competent will be your child. 

🙏🏻🙏🏻 If you like this blog, please share with other mothers and friends 

 Remember.....Gaining knowledge is first step to wisdom and sharing it is first step to humanity 

Dr Ashish Agrawal, Paediatrician and expert in child behavior, education and developmental problems.

Ph: 8888126037, 7057551985

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