Study finds pandemic babies can display developmental delays; what parents can do to overcome it

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone. Both adults and kids have been seriously impacted by the deadly virus, not just physically but also mentally. What's worse? Recent research suggests that the pandemic may have affected babies born during the first year of the pandemic.

As we know, the first five years in a child's life are especially crucial for their physical, intellectual, and social-emotional development. However, infants born during the pandemic may face some hindrances during their developmental stage, finds study. Let us find out all about it in detail.

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Developmental delays refers to the child's inability to keep up with the predictable developmental phases. It is when a child learns to talk later than he/she is supposed to or does not talk at all or makes use of gestures rather than talking. It also includes less responsiveness, limited eye contact and inability to focus or concentrate.

According to a 2022 study conducted by researchers from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, children born during the pandemic have nearly twice the risk of developmental delays in social and motor skills compared to babies born prior to the health crisis.

The study found that at six months of age, the babies scored lower on social and motor development tests than babies born before the start of the global pandemic.

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As per the researchers, this is due to less interaction with other children, among other reasons. Another factor that could be behind it is maternal stress due to lockdowns and worrying over work and health issues.

“Infants born to mothers who have viral infections during pregnancy have a higher risk of neurodevelopmental deficits, so we thought we would find some changes in the neurodevelopment of babies whose mothers had COVID during pregnancy,” says lead study-author Dr. Dani Dumitriu.

“We were surprised to find absolutely no signal suggesting that exposure to COVID while in utero was linked to neurodevelopmental deficits. Rather, being in the womb of a mother experiencing the pandemic was associated with slightly lower scores in areas such as motor and social skills, though not in others, such as communication or problem-solving skills. The results suggest that the huge amount of stress felt by pregnant mothers during these unprecedented times may have played a role," she adds.

Given the circumstances, it is possible for parents to panic and enter a state of chaos. But with the right strategies, you can overcome all the challenges. That said, to help your little child develop language and motor skills and thrive through their developmental milestones, here are some tips and tricks to consider.

Communication is the solution to most problems and use of language is what facilitates it. Since kids with developmental delays have trouble with their speech and therefore indulge in less talking, as a parent, you must create an environment where they feel encouraged to talk and interact. For instance, fabricate situations where the child has to speak in order to get what he or she wants.

In addition, it is also important that you talk to them and be an attentive part of the conversation. Make sure your interaction is engaging and that your child is not the only one doing all the talking. Be responsive and give detailed answers to what he or she asks.

During the second or third months of the baby's development, they become aware of the things happening around them. This is when parents must excite their senses and expose them to their surroundings. Let them touch, feel, smell, see everything around them. This way they will learn a lot about their environment. Also, it allows them to differentiate between different sensations.

For babies, 'tummy time' is a great way to help them develop a strong body. It is the act of lying on the stomach, facilitating head and trunk control. At the end of your baby's second month, you can help your infant develop strong motor skills by letting them indulge in some tummy time. However, when your child gets uneasy or cranky, that's the time to stop.

Once your child develops good motor skills, meaning he or she can sit up and hold things, introduce them to interactive toys and games. While keeping their attention span intact, it also urges and encourages kids to move around and uses their reflexes.

Additionally, interactive games such as 'show and tell', 'funny faces', 'peek-a-boo', 'feel and grab' can help excite your child to learn.