In the first 1,000 days of a baby's life - from conception to age 2 - many things can happen that will affect their health and wellbeing throughout their lives. In the first 1,000 days of a child's life, their brain, body and immune system grow and develop significantly from the moment they are conceived until they are 2 years old (24 months). According to research, a pregnant mother's health, nutrition and stress levels can have a significant impact on her baby's future health and well-being. As the baby grows up, so can the child's physical environment, nutrition and relationships, all of which can affect the baby's health and wellbeing for the rest of their lives. As a baby grows, they need: Healthy environments - even in the womb Relationships full of love A safe and secure environment Nutritional food Playtime First 1,000 days of your baby's brain: During the first 1,000 days of a baby's life, its brain develops at a rapid rate unlike any other time in a baby's life. The way the baby's brain molds and adapts to the environment in which the baby lives, therefore, determines the sort of person the baby will be. A baby's learning capacity, physical skills, and emotional development will be facilitated when the right diet (nutrition) is consumed during pregnancy and in early childhood.  A child's development can be affected lifelong if he or she is starved or exposed to stress or abuse during this time. An unsafe or unhealthy environment in the first 1,000 days of life can affect a child's physical health later in life as well since the brain is closely linked to the rest of the body. A healthy diet during the first 1,000 days of life: A child's future health depends on receiving adequate nutrition in the womb and throughout their early years. The research shows that the diet, weight, and lifestyle of the mother can influence how the baby's metabolism, immune system, and organs develop when the mother eats well, weighs well, and has a healthy lifestyle. In the future, poor nutrition during pregnancy and early life could result in obesity, heart disease, and strokes. It is important to eat a healthy diet during your pregnancy so that you can give your baby the best possible start to life. You should also nurse your baby for at least six months if you can so that he or she can develop healthy eating habits for the rest of their lives.   Here are some tips to make your baby's life as healthy as possible: Make sure you eat a healthy diet during pregnancy. Maintain a healthy diet for your baby. Breastfeed for at least six months, if possible. Smoking, drinking, and using drugs should be avoided. Consider seeking help if you have experienced violence or trauma. Love and attention are essential to making your baby feel safe.   The first 1,000 days of safety and security: In order to be able to think, understand, communicate, show emotions and behave properly, a child needs loving, secure relationships. It's through these relationships that babies learn to think, understand, communicate, show emotions and behave properly. Relationships have a profound impact on how they see the world and how they fit into society. There are a number of things that you can do to help your baby to feel safe and loved, such as playing, singing, reading to them and talking to them. The effects of stress and trauma during the first 1,000 days of life: It has been shown in research that if a pregnant woman has a lot of stress, as well as a lot of stress during pregnancy, this can affect the baby's nervous system and growth, which has been shown to lead to health problems later on in life, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.  ​​​​​​​ Violence in the family can have a damaging effect on a baby's development. Parents who are experiencing family (domestic) violence may find it difficult to form a loving attachment with their baby. I think we all agree that sometimes stress and trauma are unavoidable, it is not your fault, and there is help available. If you are pregnant or if you have a young child and you are experiencing a very stressful situation, please talk with your doctor or child health nurse. Read this related article: 30 Fun Facts About Babies, Understanding Typical And Atypical Developments In Babies and Understanding Your Baby's Brain

Powdered milk was often given to newborns before 3 months of age. After 6 months, most babies ate beans and rice or whatever the family ate. Adult foods were broken into small bits and fed from the mother's hand. Mothers normally chose suitable food from among what the family was eating. Baby food is any soft easily consumed food other than breastmilk or infant formula that is made specifically for human babies between four and six months and two years old.  Baby food looks very different in certain parts of the world. Countries like Japan and India have different variations on the traditional porridge. Other countries like France and Kenya like to stick with simple fruits and veggies. Take a look at some foods that "babies eat around the world", below:  Spanish Babies Eat Paella A Spanish dish which is full of flavour and also provides you with some fantastic vitamins and minerals. Spanish paella is full of lovely seafood which will give baby lots of nutrients.When mealtime rolls around, Spanish children usually dig in to whatever the adults are eating. While there are some foods that seem to be kid favorites (white rice with tomato sauce, anything with pasta, and croquettes, just to name a few), Spanish kids scarf down meals that would seem downright exotic to most. Mexican Babies Eat Achiote Although less likely to be eating non-infant cereals and baby food vegetables, 6- to 11-month-old Hispanics were more likely to be eating fresh fruits, fruit-flavored drinks, baby cookies, and foods such as soups, rice, and beans that are common in many Hispanic cultures. Some of the first foods that Mexican moms feed their babies are soups, fruits (such as papaya), and avocadoes. Older tots chew on soft tortillas too. Some mamas favor sprinkling a touch of chili powder on the foods as a way to get their little picky eaters to try new foods. Chinese Babies Eat Steamed Fish China's breastfeeding rates are low for a variety of cultural and societal reasons. Long working hours, short maternity leaves, the prevalence of mothers who migrate from their villages for work and leave infants with their families and scarce nursing facilities. Chinese babies are weaned on congee, a watery rice porridge. Congee is a great base to mix with other foods, such as puréed pulses and vegetables. Chinese mums often include ginger and garlic. Some use soy sauce, although we wouldn't recommend it because it's salty. Steamed, deboned fish is abundant in China, and this healthful protein-packed meat is often prepared in a dish called congee. Congee is the rice cereal of the Asian world; it's a neutral comfort food that can be easily altered with any ingredients you have on hand. Korean Babies Eat Seaweed The majority of Koreans start baby food with purees, but in the form of rice porridges or otherwise known as juk. The practice of eating seaweed soup after giving birth is believed to date to the Goryeo Dynasty and started because people noticed whales eating seaweed after giving birth. Traditionally the soup symbolizes and honors Samsin Halmoni, a goddess who helps women through pregnancy and childbirth. Unsalted and crushed seaweed can be given to babies as soon as they start eating solid food, usually at the age of 6 months old. Seaweed is an excellent source of iodine, which helps the functioning of the thyroid gland, but it can also affect it, if consumed in larger amounts. Japanese Babies Eat Octopus In moderation and ideally after 12 months of age. Octopus is an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. However, as you'll soon learn, Japanese babies are fed Japanese foods like rice, tofu, and dashi from an early stage. Most Japanese parents spoon-feed their babies these foods until they are able to use utensils much later. Do you know other foods that babies eat around the world aside from this list? Let us know in the comment section below!

Generally, newborns sleep about 8 to 9 hours in the daytime and about 8 hours at night. But they may not sleep more than 1 to 2 hours at a time. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until they are about 3 months old, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. It's always okay to hold an infant under four months old, to put them to sleep the way they need it, says Satya Narisety, MD, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Rutgers University. Always put him or her on his or her back on a flat mattress in the crib or bassinet after he or she falls asleep. Most babies are receptive and able to start a bedtime routine at around 6 to 8 weeks. Having a newborn bedtime routine helps to calm your baby and eases them into a good night's sleep. Put your baby to sleep on his back every time until he's 1 year old. It's not safe for a baby to sleep on his side or tummy. If your baby can roll from his back to his side or tummy and back again, it's OK if he changes positions while sleeping. Dress your baby in light sleep clothes. If you notice that your baby is sleeping longer than usal is because they may be experiencing a growth spurt or developmental leap, they may have a minor illness, such as a cold or they may have a serious infection.  Young babies are restless sleepers because they spend half the time in REM sleep (rapid eye movement) – a light phase of sleep when dreams occur. As they get older, they spend less time in active REM and more time in quiet, deep sleep. Baby's cry is a reaction of their body getting used to the sleep cycles since that seems out of the ordinary for them right at the beginning. A variety of bodily processes and organs, right from the heart to the bladder and the digestive system, all need to fall in line with the sleep system of the body. If your baby is sound asleep, even if they have a dirty or wet diaper, there's no need to wake him up to change his diaper. This will disturb his sleep cycle, cause sleep inertia, and cascade through the rest of the day because his sleep window will be lengthened. Research shows that a baby's health can improve when they sleep close to their parents. In fact, babies that sleep with their parents have more regular heartbeats and breathing. They even sleep more soundly. And being close to parents is even shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. Physical contact, in close cosleeping, helps babies to "breathe more regularly, use energy more efficiently, grow faster, and experience less stress," says McKenna. Babies, too, who are not necessarily breastfed, as in the case of adoption, will also naturally reap the many other benefits of such close contact. Babies like and respond better to what they're used to, and tend to be held very much early on when parents aren't sure of what other soothing methods may work." In other words, the way you sooth your baby when they're awake is the way they get used to being soothed in general. Newborn babies don't yet have a sense of day and night.

You might assume it's best to choose classical music or lullabies, but almost all music is baby-friendly. "If you play music that you enjoy, you'll have more fun listening and singing along with your baby," says Dr. Trainor. Super simple songs are perfect for these times. But children's brains can continue to make connections and grow while watching if they can build off of their previous knowledge that was made by singing, doing motions, talking about pictures, and being silly with their parents. Studies have shown that classical music brings down a newborn's heart and breathing rates and soothes their stress, and that listening to a waltz or concerto might help promote brain development, especially in premature babies. If you want to start playing music for your baby, the best time is around 24 weeks which is when your baby can begin to hear. It's no secret that babies and toddlers love music and playing tunes as well as dancing and listening to them are an important part of early child development. Combine gestures, actions, movement and use finger play while singing (such as, “Itsy Bitsy Spider”). Use song-based picture books. Encourage your baby to sing with you. Pause in the middle of a song your baby is familiar with and wait for them to “fill in the word” with a gesture, sound, word, or phrase. Top 10 Most Popular Songs/Nursery Rhymes for babies: Baby Shark London Bridge is Falling Down Chugga Chugga Choo Choo Jingle Bells Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Row, Row, Row Your Boat Humpty Dumpty Wheels On The Bus Old Mac Donald Had A Farm Incy, Wincy Spider   Why does the baby have such an emotional reaction to the mother's singing?  Psychologist Siu-Lan Tan theorizes that it has to do with the emotional contagion that causes human begins to “absorb and reflect the intense emotions of those around them.” How do you sing a baby to sleep? Keep the lullaby simple by using repetitive words and melodies sung in a soft tone. Pair the lullaby with rocking or jiggling to offer more of a womb-like experience. Make the lullaby the final part of a consistent night-time ritual.   The best music for babies should be quiet and soothing like classical and lullabies, so you should avoid loud and upbeat music. The soothing and calming effect of this type of music help reduce stress and the extremely high heart rate of babies so they can sleep more and grow faster. Let your child listen to whatever he likes. Try out your favorites, or classical music (the old standby), or spice things up with Brazilian or African tunes. Anything with a good melody will do, although slow songs may work best for bedtime and fast ones for play.