We support the World Health Organisation’s recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding along with the introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at 6 months together with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age and beyond.

How to Encourage Developmental Milestones with the Right Nutrition

Every child develops at their own pace, achieving developmental milestones when they are ready. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a role to play. Parents can support their child’s growth and development in many ways. Well-rounded brain development is based on two key foundations: nutrition and stimulation. Find out how to utilize both to help your child reach their developmental milestones.

Nutrition to Support Developmental Milestones

During this period, your child’s brain continues to develop rapidly. In order to help him reach his full potential, you will need to incorporate the right nutrients into your child’s diet, as good nutrition lays the groundwork for well-rounded development.

It begins with identifying key nutrients for your child. Supporting brain development, providing nutrition for growth, and building immunity are all possible. 

 

DHA is found abundantly in the brain, making it a crucial nutrient for your child’s brain development.

Zinc is essential for growth. It aids cell division and immune function1.

  Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it also boosts the immune system by helping to fight bacteria and viruses3.

  This mineral plays an important role in red blood cell formation.

This vitamin has many important functions. Aside from strengthening immunity, it also contributes to the absorption of iron from non-meat products.

  Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are prebiotics that stimulate the growth of intestinal Bifidobacteria. They are a great source of dietary fibre2.

  Vitamin A aids in maintaining the health of the skin and mucous membranes and helps the functioning of the eyes.

 

The Role of Stimulation in Child Development

Stimulation works together with proper nutrition for your child’s overall development. In general, it refers to a child’s active interaction with not only their parents but also with their environment. Stimulation helps to strengthen connections within a child’s brain. 

The goal is to provide 360° development for your child. This means helping your child learn in every aspect of their being. The four aspects of development are:

  Cognitive Skills - This involves thought processing. They are the core skills your child’s brain uses to think, remember, identify, and reason.

  Motor Skills - These skills are used for body coordination and movement.

  Communication Skills - Language and interaction are at the core of these skills.

  Emotional Skills - Your child will be able to recognise and control their emotions and behaviours when they develop these skills.

 

Stimulation can help the 360° development of your child’s exceptional learning. And by understanding the developmental milestones that signal growth, you will be able to measure and track your child’s progress.

How to Encourage Your Child’s Developmental Milestones


 

 1 Year

  • Flip through the pages of a book and have your child look at each page. As intellectual development continues, they may even point to a picture of a cat when you ask where it is.

  • To help your child achieve their physical milestones at year 1, have a race with your child. Stepping up their speed will help improve their physical condition.

 

 2 Years

  • To encourage communication skills, play back-and-forth games with your child. Try rolling a ball to them, for example, and asking them to roll it back.

  • Stimulating toys can also be beneficial for your child’s physical development milestones at year 2. Provide playthings that help develop fine motor skills, such as large beads to string or chalk to draw with.
 

 3 Years

  • Speaking to and responding to your child is one of the best things you can do to boost their communication skills and intelligence.

  • Offer guidance when needed. Say, “Use your words,” for example, if your child gets angry, or “Give your friend a turn.”

  • To achieve intellectual milestones at year 3, provide your child with jigsaw puzzles of up to 5 large pieces and encourage them as they try to place the pieces correctly.
 

 4 - 5 Years

  • To achieve intellectual developmental milestones between 4-5 years, count objects during everyday activities, such as counting how many items are in your grocery shopping cart.

  • For motor skills development, show your child how to write their name. Don’t expect perfection -- even “errors” count as attempts and are common at this age.

  • Find new, interesting books to read together, and your child will likely ask you to point out individual words as you read them.

  • Give your child more opportunities for independence, such as going to birthday parties. The more involved they are, the more they will boost their social development.

 

Want to be sure you don’t miss out on any of your child’s milestones? Join the Enfamama A+ Club today where you’ll be able to access exclusive information on activities that can help boost your child’s development. That’s not all - you can also get your hands on free samples, exclusive vouchers and so much more!

 

 

Expert Resource:
Dr. Raymond Choy Wai Mun
(MCR 18097A)
MBChB (UK), Aviation Medicine (Singapore)

 

REFERENCES:

  1. Zinc in diet, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002416.htm#:~:text=Function&text=Z…., Accessed 16 November 2020
  2. Inulin and Oligofructose: What Are They?, https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/129/7/1402S/4722577, Accessed 16 November 2020
  3. Vitamin E, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/, Accessed 16 November 2020

Help your growing baby develop in the eighth week of your pregnancy

Week 8 of pregnancy sees your growing baby’s first movements. Support both physical and mental development with proper nutrition.

What’s happening in Week 8 of my pregnancy?

By the end of this week, your developing baby could be around 11 to 14mm longi. Now called a fetus, your growing baby is continuing to get nourishment from the yolk sac as the placenta continues to develop.

The body continues to develop as well. Eyes, ears, lips, and nose are becoming obvious while the lungs are forming too. Your growing baby’s fingers will also begin to formii. While your little one’s body is starting to uncurl, his or her head is still very large in comparison to the rest of the bodyiii.

What can you expect in Week 8 of pregnancy?

Back pain, especially in the lower region, is a common symptom of pregnancy at this stage, due to hormonal changes and the strain of your growing bump. Manage the pain and enjoy your pregnancy further with these tips:

  • Reduce the stress on your back. Place a small pillow behind your lower back when you’re seated. When sleeping, lie on your side with a pillow between your knees.
  • Exercise. Stretches for your lower back may help to strengthen those muscles, but talk to your doctor about appropriate prenatal exercises.
  • Watch your posture. Because your center of gravity has shifted forward, you might be overcompensating as you lean back, which could strain your back even more. Practice good posture, choose chairs that support your back, and remember to wear comfortable footwear.iv

Please keep in mind that if the pain is severe, you should consult your doctor without delay.

What can I do to support my pregnancy in week 8?

Around this time neuron (brain cell) production begins.v The cerebral cortex of your growing baby’s brain is beginning to form,vi the brain area that will be responsible for advanced brain activity such as processing information, and cognitive functions like memory and motor skills. DHAvii is still one of your hero nutrients when it comes to supporting your growing baby’s brain development, so do keep up with your intake of it, along with an iron and folic acid supplement.

In addition, mothers can get these nutrients in a glass of milk scientifically formulated for pregnant women that contains DHA, choline, folic acid, calcium and protein at levels recommended by experts.

Your growing baby’s brain is also the center of language, emotions and memories – all important when it comes to his or her overall wellbeing. So when you boost your growing baby’s brain development with essential nutrients, remember that you are also supporting his or her emotional growth.

Be part of the Enfamama A+ Club today to access exclusive content about pregnancy, plus get FREE samples, vouchers and other amazing club benefits!

References:

i    Fetal development: The 1st trimester. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2017, from    

 http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-d…

ii   Fetal development: The 1st trimester. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2017, from

 http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-d…

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