As a couple, both you and your spouse of course desire a smart and healthy baby. However, the term healthy should not stop at physic. Why? Because, as you know, health includes mind and soul as well.
It’s actually not very hard for you to have a healthy and smart baby. There are some things you need to complete.
Well, I think most of parents have already accomplished these ideas, but I guess it is great to unveil them to bear in mind… Here they are…
1. Preconception Planning
It is best for both of you to make a preconception counseling before you are trying to get pregnant. There should be a discussion between you and the doctor about your health, your family’s health history, your dietary habit, and many more. If there are risks that may harm you or your baby later, you still have time to treat them first before you get pregnant.
2. Prenatal Care
When you become pregnant, you must take care of your body and, of course, the baby carefully. You must eat right and quit smoking (if you smoke). Reduce caffeine, too, and have a regular exercise. Walking is actually a perfect one. However, it is best if you consult your doctor about the best exercise for you.
3. Stimulations through Playing
When you pass the nine months of pregnancy, and then the baby arrives, you know you don’t stop there. For a healthy and smart baby, you need to stimulate her. The best way to do it is by playing. Develop your baby’s motoric skill by having a mild “exercise” based on her age. For example, by the time your baby reaches 3 months old, you can roll her over from lying-on-her-tummy position to lying-on-her-back position and the other way around. Talk to her and smile a lot while doing it. Stimulating her senses are important, too. She will enjoy the moment!
4. Safe & Nutritious Foods
Your baby absolutely needs healthy foods. In the early months of her life, she needs to get proper and nutritious foods which can also enhance her motoric skill. The perfect foods for this are finger foods. Finger foods are good for your baby to learn biting and chewing. If she is teething, finger foods help her deal with the teething pain. Moreover, these foods will enhance her soft motoric skill as both her hands become more skilled in holding her own foods and putting them into her mouth. Some of safe finger foods are cheese, cookies, fruits (pear, banana, mango, avocado), vegetables (broccoli, carrot, potato, sweet potato), nugget, bread. Those foods are cut in fingers or in small sizes to fit in her tiny hands.
Are you ready to step on those stages? They are not hard to complete, right? Good luck with your pregnancy and baby!
Very nice post. Now that Little Guy is a toddler (16 mos old), I am looking for good playtime ideas for him. Do you have a book you recommend for parents to get ideas on around-the-house activities to do with their toddlers by any chance?