Research confirms that the first 1001 days – conception to age 2, are widely recognised as a critical period of development for a child.
It is a time of rapid brain development which influences the cognitive, emotional, and social development of babies and young children.
At this age, babies are most susceptible to forming strong bonds of attachment with a primary carer, which will have a lasting impact and set them up for the best start in life.
As the baby grows inside the womb, the foetus is susceptible to the environment around the mother. It hears what the mother hears, it consumes what the mother consumes and may react when the mother is distressed.
The emotional health, physical wellbeing, social skills, cognitive and linguistic capacities that develop in this critical 1,001 days form the foundation for an individual’s success in school and in later life.
This means that the love, care, and nurture babies experience during pregnancy is particularly important for them to thrive and have a positive outcome in life.
