New Study Reveals A Concerning Link Between Low-Birth-Weight Toddler And Development

While all babies are born at different weights, some could also be heavier than the standard weight which is seven pounds and six ounces (or 3.3 kg) according to the World Health Organization for a baby boy and seven pounds 2 ounces for a baby girl. It is also common for a baby to lose 10% of its weight during the first week of birth due to loss of fluids and it is nothing to worry about. But what happens when the baby is born weight less than the standard? While there are medical complications and high chances of long term health problems for them according to Stanford Children’s Health, a new study reveals a concerning link.

Published in the journal Academic Pediatrics, this new report suggests that when babies are born very small, it can make it harder for them to be ready for school. Many of these little ones struggle to learn new things, control their feelings, and get along with other kids. Babies born with low birth weight (under 5.5 pounds) aren't ready for school when they're 3 to 5 years old. This means they might have trouble paying attention, understanding lessons, or making friends. It's important to help these children early so they don't fall behind. If they struggle early on, it can make school and life harder for them later. It is like they need extra help to catch up to the other kids.

What Is An Important Factor That Helps Their Development?

According to the research, the support the kids as well as they parents get matters a lot! For the study, researchers looked at medical records of over 1,400 children and the survey included questions that will indicate the school readiness children showed. School readiness only helps researchers understand how well the child will fair in school but also other future prospects like long-term financial and health prospects.

According to the Annual Status Of Education Report (ASER), the objective of the school readiness study is to understand the quality of early childhood education and the lasting impact on children’s cognitive, character, education, health and economic indicators.

How Can You Help Your Child’s Development?

The school readiness among children with low birth weight study suggests that there are a few more factors that help development a lot more. Having regular routines, like meal times and bedtimes, helps children feel safe and secure. Spending time together, like playing games or reading books, helps children learn and feel loved. It is like the parents are the main role models, and need to be supported to be the best role models they can be. The study showed that parents who gave them lots of emotional support and limiting their screen time to less than one hour a day, helped the kids a lot.

Why A Parent’s Well-Being Matter For Child’s Development

In a study published in the Frontiers 2023, researchers examined how time spent with parents affects children's well-being, using data from the 2017 China Time Use Survey. The findings revealed that increased parental time, particularly life and leisure activities, significantly improved children's well-being. Specifically, both mothers' and fathers' time contributed positively, with fathers' educational interactions showing a notable impact. Furthermore, the study found that the relationship between parental time and children's well-being varied depending on the children's academic performance.