Supporting Your Baby's Brain Development
Rapid and essential neurodevelopment happens in the first few years of life. Supporting and encouraging your baby’s development is simple: all motor milestones come from being belly down. There are a lot of products out there that put babies in different positions for prolonged periods which can inhibit natural development. Here are some ways to facilitate brain development and progress your baby towards milestones:
Movement
Allowing your baby freedom of movement helps them integrate certain reflexes based on the connection between the nervous system and motor development. Reflexes are suppressed with products like swaddles and disrupt connections in the brain. Swaddling suppresses the movement they make when they startle. You are at risk of abnormal neurological development when you suppress normal neurological movement. Your baby can sleep without being swaddled.
Tummy time
The goal can be short, frequent moments of being belly down; it does not have to be done for a consecutive amount of time but does require consistency. If this position is uncomfortable for your baby, it can be a sign of neurological stress and you should get them checked by a pediatric chiropractor. Some other ways to get in this position include baby wearing, chest to chest, in your arms, or across your lap.
Avoid containers like swings, bouncers, seats, jumpers, etc.
These products do not support natural movement. Utilizing them puts your baby on their back for too long or in positions they aren't developmentally ready for yet. The simplest (and money saving!) solution is to ditch these products and play on the floor with your babies or wear them.
Babywearing
Your baby feels safer when they are close to you so wearing them can help mitigate stress. It also stimulates their sense of natural movement as opposed to a swing or bouncer.
Pediatric chiropractic care
When babies go through various stressors like birth, chemical/toxic stress, or maternal emotional stress it shifts them into a state of sympathetic fight-or-flight and away from parasympathetic rest and digest. Babies showing signs of stress looks like:
Breastfeeding or latch issues
Tongue or lip ties
Colic or constipation
Ear infections
Reflux or digestive issues
Allergies
Trouble sleeping
Flat spots or head tilting
Get them consistently checked by a pediatric chiropractor to ensure the growth and development side of their nervous system is functioning optimally.
Please reach out with any questions or schedule an appointment below.