Why it’s called the golden window
During the first 1000 days of life, your baby’s brain is forming neural connections at the fastest pace of their lives (1000 per second). Factors such as adequate nutrition, stimulation, and stress, among others, shape your baby’s potential for intellectual and social-emotional development.
How parents can help fulfill their baby’s potential
While the brain needs a variety of nutrients for growth, iron is essential to fulfill your baby’s full development potential. A study by Unicef emphasizes the importance of sufficient iron supplementation in motor, social-emotional, mental, and neurophysiological function.
Another Bangladesh-based study explored how nutritional supplements affect physical and neurological development in babies. They found that babies who took lipid-based nutritional supplements had more advanced motor skills and language development compared to the babies who did not.
Neurological stimulation (0 – 12 months)
Neurogenesis (the process of creating new neurons and forming connections to each other) happens at an accelerated rate. The first 6 months of your baby’s life is critical for developing vision. During this time, your baby has a cataract over their left eye because their visual neurons are still in the process of connecting to the retina. Your baby will need sufficient visual stimulation for their optic nerve to form a stable connection with visual neurons. Insufficient visual stimulation can lead to visual impairment or blindness in the left eye.
Before your baby turns 1, their brain forms billions of synapses. Forming synapses is a precursor of mental and language skills development. Researchers also found that consistently reading, talking, and playing music to your baby (even before they can speak) can help language development.
Limit stress
When your baby is stressed, their body produces high levels of cortisol as a fight-or-flight response. Sustained high levels of cortisol causes toxic stress- this limits the brain’s ability to perform and form new connections.
One last word
Although there are many changes during your baby’s first 3~ years, parents should remember to enjoy the time they have with their children. Parents should address the three factors above, but also remember that the ultimate goal is their children’s happiness.
Sources
https://opinion.inquirer.net/63987/golden-window-to-have-a-happier-smarter-child
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/boosting-babys-health-during-golden-window
https://blogs.unicef.org/blog/first-1000-days-singular-opportunity/
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