Summary
Child development is an intricate process with gradual changes, and parents have the opportunity to observe the meaningful moments that come with it. I recently interviewed a new mother who had her first child in 2021. The woman stated that there were many emotional and physical milestones, especially during the first year of the child’s life, which was a time of immense growth and development.
Physical and Emotional Changes in Early Days After Birth
Starting from the beginning, the first days after the birth involved drastic changes for both the new mom and her newborn. Regarding emotional changes, the mother interviewed explained that she simultaneously experienced fatigue, anxiety, and significant joy. Meanwhile, the child slept long hours and ate regularly. Indeed, newborns have extended periods of sleep, ranging from twelve to seventeen hours a day (Chambers & Hayes, 2020). However, there were additional physical changes in both the mother and the child. As the woman explained, she experienced extreme soreness during the first days, and this was additionally when the newborn demonstrated reflexes, such as rooting.
Reflexes in the First Days, Weeks, and Months
Generally, healthy newborns’ grasping, rooting, and sucking reflexes are common (Chambers & Hayes, 2020). Then, the child’s growth was seen in the startling and stepping reflexes in the following weeks and months. The mother emphasized that observing such changes in the infant was fascinating. Overall, it can be claimed that the reflexes and changes in the child were signs of healthy behavior.
Major Physical Milestones in the First Year
Furthermore, when asked about the physical milestones experienced by the child, the mother claimed there were many. However, the “baby’s first smile, first roll over, and first steps” were the most memorable and significant moments. It is important to note that throughout this period of a child’s development, a pediatrician must monitor such milestones since the ability to reach them implies that the child is healthy (Nies & McEwen, 2022).
Emotional Development and Parental Adjustment
Moreover, emotional development is an integral part of an infant’s growth. The interviewed mother emphasized that throughout her first years, the child demonstrated satisfaction and happiness.
However, more complex emotions were observed with time, such as anger and frustration. As the woman commented, “it was challenging to cope with such changes,” and that she “sought support from [her] friends and family.” Generally, at this stage in a child’s growth, it is normal to experience such transitions and develop new emotions (Nies & McEwen, 2022). As a result, new mothers need to adjust to such changes. The interviewed woman described her ways of coping with these emotional transitions. Among the approaches she mentioned were talking to other mothers and loved ones, practicing self-care, and taking breaks.
Intellectual Achievements in the Early Months
Lastly, it is essential to analyze the intellectual gains that infants experience. As explained by Chambers and Hayes (2020, p.89), infants’ intellectual gains can be observed through their ability to “recognize people at a distance,” “follow things with eyes,“ and “pay attention to faces.“ The interviewed mother confirmed that among the first developments she noticed was the child’s recognition of familiar voices, faces, and responses, such as smiling.
Progression of Intellectual Development Throughout the First Year
Moreover, the woman said the child was “learning something new every day, like making different sounds.” With time, intellectual development progress became more apparent and significant. For instance, as the mother I interviewed discussed, the child began communicating with gestures and sounds. The woman claimed she was amazed at how quickly her “baby girl was learning and growing.” Overall, the child demonstrated healthy behavior, changes, and reflexes.
References
Chambers, J., & Hayes, K. (Eds.). (2020). Infant, toddler, and child health sourcebook. Infobase Publishing.
Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2022). Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations. Elsevier Health Sciences.