All babies deserve a healthy start to life. As a parent, it’s important to do your part to help your child reach his or her full developmental potential. Sandra Madubuonwu, MSN, CSN, RN, is a parent/child nurse specialist and supervisor for Le Bonheur’s Nurse Family Partnership program. We asked Sandra to weigh in on the following questions and offer tips for parents who want to give their babies a healthy start.

Why is prenatal care so important?

Prenatal care is very important because it leads to improved pregnancy outcomes. The health care provider is able to obtain a baseline assessment on the mother and baby early in pregnancy and monitor the progress throughout the period. If any pregnancy risks are detected or developed during this period, the doctor can plan ahead and determine the best way to treat the problem with minimal risk to the mother and the unborn baby. Any pre-existing medical disorder of the mother is also noted, and a plan is developed by to address and monitor the issues.   

Women tend to listen to their health care providers and generally want to have healthy babies, so they will engage in good preventive health practices.  The health care providers can educate parents about topics such as proper nutrition for the healthy growth of the baby.

At prenatal checkups, parents can also learn the danger signs in pregnancy and when to seek medical intervention. The doctor can refer the patient to available resources in the community that help promote good pregnancy outcomes and child health development.

What can parents do to promote healthy development for their babies?

At no other time in life are physical changes and developmental achievements as dramatic as during infancy. All body systems undergo progressive maturation. Concurrent development allows infants to increasingly respond to the environment. 

Interaction with the infant is very important to help their fine and gross motor skills to develop. It also helps brain development. The more interaction the parent has with the child, the better the baby’s brain development will be.

Interaction can be as simple as reading to the baby. Playing is also necessary to help stimulate the infant at an early age. Repetition is the key to learning and to the development of language. The parent should talk to the infant in a regular tone. The so-called “baby language” is not necessary; it is actually confusing to the infant.Parenting classes are available in the community to help new mothers learn how to interact and provide proper stimulation for their babies.

Explain how good pregnancy outcomes lead to healthy, productive families.

It is obvious that when the pregnancy outcome is good – meaning the baby is born healthy -- the parents adjust more quickly to having a new child and are able to function better in their parenting role and also in the community. Parents are able to return to work or school more quickly. On the other hand if the outcome is not good, and the baby is born with health issues, it puts physical, emotional and financial pressure on the family.

According to data from the Tennessee Department of Health from September 2010, in Shelby County, 13.2 percent of births were preterm births. Only 20 counties – out of 94 in the state – had more preterm births. That number could be reduced if pregnant mothers receive adequate prenatal care, getting proper intervention from a health care provider.

It’s fun to watch children grow and change as they get older. As babies, it seems they learn something new nearly every day. Whether we realize it or not, these new tricks they try are actually developmental milestones – important to their physical and mental progression. Parents play a key role in helping their children reach their full developmental potential.

Fawn Galvan, a physical therapist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, offers parents some helpful information regarding important developmental stages. 

“It’s important to keep in mind, that each child has his or her own developmental path,” said Galvan. “Not every child will reach these milestones at the exact same time. If they’re falling within the range, it’s normal.” Your child’s pediatrician will help determine if your child is falling within an age-appropriate developmental range.

0-3 months
At this age, babies are usually following you with their eyes. They turn their head to sounds they hear and can hold things, like a rattle, in their hands. 

“Make sure their eyes and ears are working because that’s what they use to explore their new environment,” says Galvan. She suggests using objects like rattles, mirrors and mobiles to stimulate their senses.

“If you don’t have these things, you don’t have to buy them,” says Galvan. “Sing, talk and dance with your baby often, and make lots of eye contact.”

3-6 months
“Tummy time” is essential at this age, as babies start to strengthen their neck and back muscles. 

“In the womb, babies are in the ‘fetal position,’ which tightens their front – or flexor – muscles and stretches out their back – or extensor – muscles. A part of early normal development is strengthening the back muscles,” says Galvan.

To implement “tummy time” in your home, parents can place babies of this age on their stomachs on a firm surface, recline and hold them on the parent’s chest or hold them on their stomach on a therapy ball. They will naturally try to use their arms to push up, strengthening their back and neck muscles.

At this age, babies will start gaining head/core control, exploring with their tongue and mouth and reaching out for objects.

6-9 months
Babies can usually sit up by this age, and most start to crawl or push up on their hands and knees. They also use their hands more and gain eye-hand coordination. At this stage, it’s good to use manipulative toys, like blocks, balls and cause-and-effect toys to progress their development.

9-12 months +
As they near age 1, babies will start to pull up on nearby furniture and try to walk. 

“Many parents try to push their child to start walking, but it’s not necessary,” says Galvan. “Actually, the longer they stay crawling on their hands and knees, the better because it helps develop their hip muscles and the arches in their hands.  This contributes to better fine motor skills – like writing – and more stability with walking later on.” 
 
Should you worry if your child isn’t reaching one of these milestones?
Galvan says no. Consult your child’s pediatrician if your child is not meeting these milestones on time. He or she will know your child’s development history and might be able to identify possible contributing factors – like chronic ear infections – for the delay.