The Crib: A Blog for New Parents

Posted by kateriscribe on 04/07/08 - 09:07 AM

From the first moments after the birth of your child, it will become perfectly clear that you are the center of his or her whole universe. While that realization may be exhilarating and give you a sense of confidence, it may also be very frightening. To know that this tiny being depends solely upon you for so many things is a daunting responsibility.

Nevertheless, don’t be too scared because as the first weeks pass, you will come to see that most parenting skills are really just natural instincts and reactions.

One of the biggest worries that many new parents have is whether or not their baby is progressing at the rate they should be. Parents wonder if baby is as alert as she should be, if he is responding to situations the way he should be. It is common for new parents to listen to other parents, see other babies, mentally compare the babies, and then wonder what they should be doing differently. Although this is natural, it is completely unnecessary and does nothing except cause you more needless worry.

As your baby grows, he or she will be learning and developing in major ways that you will be unaware of but teaching and encouraging without even thinking about it. Every time you praise him, baby smiles, when you show disapproval, baby is saddened by her behavior. When you read to her, she learns to pay attention and to imagine. By talking to him, he learns to talk and to listen. Holding baby close teaches love and comfort, playing games with baby is how he or she learns motor skills and coordination.

Neuroscientists have determined that the human brain has the greatest potential for learning during the first three years of life. While it seems logical that the mind of a child is less active than that of an adult, the opposite is actually true. The brain of a baby is twice as busy as that of a grown-up. It is during infancy that the basic pathways of thinking, responding, and problem solving are developed. The older we get, the harder it is to alter those pathways or develop new ones.

What does this mean for you as a parent? It simply means that the environment you create for baby will help him or her to learn, grow, and develop to his or her full potential.

If you provide your baby with an atmosphere that includes love, encouragement, stimulation, patience, and pride, then you can be assured that your baby will progress at the rate they are supposed to and that it really does not matter if the neighbor baby seems to be ahead of yours