7 Keys To Promoting A Relaxed Childhood
Stress does not understand ages. For this reason, our children can also be stressed from even before they are born. During childhood, the triggers are usually circumstances that, although they may seem inconsequential to adults, for them are a real challenge. Hence the importance of promoting a relaxed childhood to ensure an anxiety-free adulthood.
The separation of parents when going to school, a scolding from the teacher, fighting with friends at recess, a punishment for not eating what is on the plate or sleeping alone. They are small problems that the child must solve in their day to day with the resources available to them. Which are still scarce. The little ones have not yet reached enough maturational development to deal with this stress.
Stress-free pregnancy
Michel Odent, a well-known French obstetrician, has devoted most of his life to studying how pregnancy and childbirth influence the emotional development of the child. This doctor maintains that the affective state of the pregnant mother influences the child more in the long term than the emotional state of the child himself during his first year of life.
With this statement we realize that any external agent that can generate stress to the mother has a greater or lesser impact on the fetus.
During pregnancy, the woman faces specific moments of nervousness: undergoing tests, discomfort, worries … However, these do not have to harm the fetus if they are occasional. Only when stress is sustained for a long period of time can it physically and mentally harm both of you.
Caution with teratogens
The prenatal environment of the uterus is much more constant than the external world. However, there are many types of environmental factors that can affect the embryo and disrupt a relaxed childhood. They are the so-called teratogenic agents. If they reach the little one, they can cause, directly or indirectly, structural or functional abnormalities, even after birth.
The consequences that teratogens can cause can be really serious. From causing low birth weight and prematurity to causing deformities, physical defects or even death. Therefore, parents and society have much to do to create a safe environment for development before birth.
Some of these teratogens are psychoactive substances. In fact, the best known effect of nicotine from tobacco during pregnancy is low birth weight. But it can also cause an abortion. Likewise radiation, environmental contamination or bacterial and parasitic diseases such as toxoplasmosis, chickenpox or mumps.
Adequate nutrition of the mother
The mother’s balanced and correct diet before and during pregnancy is essential for the child to develop in a healthy way in the womb and to face the moment of birth prepared. In fact, the nutritional status you are in before you become pregnant has more influence on your baby’s weight than your weight gain during the gestation process.
If the pregnant woman has nutritional deficiencies, it will be difficult for the child to enjoy a relaxed childhood. Some effects of this malnutrition are the reduction of the baby’s immune efficiency, prematurity or the interruption of the development of its nervous system.
Natural and respectful childbirth for a relaxed childhood
Birth for the baby is a highly stressful and “traumatic” time (Otto Rank, 1923). The child exchanges a protective and dependent uterine environment for another exterior in which it must breathe on its own. You start to notice a lower temperature, changes in brightness, different sound effects and also, a certain autonomy is required.
Science has shown that natural childbirth is healthier for the baby and the mother. Because that way the administration of synthetic hormones does not take place. For example, synthetic oxytocin that can lead to certain difficulties. But, even if the delivery is not intervened, the baby continues to receive the impact of this new environment.
Thus, to promote a relaxed childhood, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for their development. After delivery, it is important that the neonate adequately adapts its internal regulation system, both visceral and nervous.
The first hour, skin to skin
What a beautiful moment! That moment in which the newborn comes into skin-to-skin contact on the mother’s breast. Early physical contact has been shown to improve breastfeeding and promote a relaxed childhood, since the hours after childbirth are less stressful for the little one.
At that time , the ecological transition also takes place (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). That is, the moment in which the physical coupling of the maternal body and that of the fetus during pregnancy is replaced by another of a psychological nature after childbirth.
The second nine months moments
After the birth, the exterogestation arrives, the second nine months of the baby. It is a stage in which the baby continues to “develop” outside the womb.
The mother becomes her physiological and emotional regulator, so she has to pay attention to everything that she transmits to her. Therefore, if stressed, the baby can reproduce that same toxic response.
Adult safety net
As the child grows, so do his social relationships and his inner circle. Then, it is necessary that you have a series of reference adults who form your network of protection and support.
It does not mean that you are overprotected, but that you have a foothold to turn to to overcome possible difficulties. Instead of manifesting hypersensitization to stress, his childhood will allow him to develop resilience, the ability to overcome adversity.
If for any circumstance the child manages to generate a stress response, his main attachment figure will serve as a buffer. So you will suffer more harm if you do not have that supportive adult who gives you love, care and protection. Only with that restraint barrier will you be able to have a relaxed childhood.
