Pandemic problems may have long-term consequences on babies.

                                            PANDEMIC CHALLENGES

LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES :

Pandemic problems may have long-term consequences on babies in many ways, but the COVID-19 epidemic has been difficult for many people. According to a report published in JAMA Pediatrics, the damage to newborns born during the epidemic could last a lifetime. The brain develops most rapidly throughout the first three years of life. It's not just the health of the babies that matters, but also how they interact with their careers babies must be held, stroked, spoken to, smiled at, and played with. Neural connections are formed in the brain as they receive and respond to those interactions in a "serve and return" manner. When babies don't experience enough of these interactions, their brains don't develop as well as they should, and they can even be physically smaller. It can be difficult to find the time, let alone the energy or interest, to chat to and play with your infant if you are a stressed or depressed parent or caregiver. 

AGES AND STAGES :

Multiple studies have shown that maternal depression, poverty, and other family stressors can permanently alter a child's development. Columbia University researchers looked studied the development of three groups of 6-month-old babies as part of an ongoing study of mothers and babies. Two of the groups were born during the COVID-19 pandemic, with one group's mothers having COVID-19 and the other's not. A historical cohort made up the third group. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire was used by the mothers in the study to track their babies' growth. The researchers found no differences in development between the two groups of newborns born during the pandemic, implying that prenatal COVID-19 exposure has no effect on development, which is fantastic news. However, newborns born during the epidemic had the inferior gross motor, fine motor, and social-emotional development than those born before it. Rolling from back to tummy, reaching for or grabbing a toy with both hands, and acting differently toward strangers than toward parents or known people are all developmental goals for infants this age.

 BABY DEVELOPMENT : 

It's only one study, and additional research is needed to fully comprehend the findings, but given what we know about newborn development, the findings are not surprising. For many families, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a great deal of stress – emotional, financial, and otherwise. It has also had a significant impact on the quantity and type of interactions we have with others. Babies are engaging with fewer individuals on average than they were prior to the pandemic. Even though additional research is needed, this study should act as a wake-up call for society. If we do not act now, the offspring of this pandemic may bear some scars for the rest of their lives. We've seen the emotional and educational consequences on children, but we must also consider the developmental effects on babies. All of these things have the potential to permanently alter their life.

ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES :

We need to figure out how to financially and emotionally help families with small children. We must be energetic and inventive, and we must pursue every possible avenue. While our government should play a part, so should communities and individuals. Parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers should be aware of the studies and seek assistance if necessary. It's easy for parents to believe that their children are too young and naive to be harmed by the pandemic. They are, nevertheless, impacted in ways that may be long-term. Discuss what you can do to aid yourself, your family, and your baby's future with your doctor.