Here are some quirky baby facts you may well be interested to know!
Gestation survival
The very best chance a baby has of surviving gestation is when its mother is aged 22, an age which has been described as “the age of fecundity” in humans.
Childhood memory
Children don’t remember much before the age of 3, due to what psychologists call “infantile amnesia”. Neuroscientists believe that early experiences never make it into long-term memory banks because the brain’s recording machinery isn’t functional yet or because memory is tied to language acquisition.
STD’s
Babies can suffer serious health effects if their mothers have an STD, including death, low birth weight, conjunctivitis (an eye infection), pneumonia, neonatal sepsis (infection in the baby’s blood stream), neurologic damage, blindness, deafness, acute hepatitis, meningitis, chronic liver disease, and cirrhosis. Many of these problems can be prevented if the mother receives prenatal care that includes screening for STDs.
House dust
Regular dusting is one of the best ways to stop babies and children becoming exposed to toxic chemicals. Researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada say that house dust is one of the main sources of toxins including lead, which is dangerous to the developing brain even at low levels.
Chemicals in the home
Learning and behaviour disorders, asthma, cancer and some birth defects have all been linked to toxic chemicals in the home.
Vacuuming and mopping
The research recommends frequent vacuuming or wet mopping, and dusting with a damp cloth as two of the main ways to limit the dangers. It also recommends parents switch to non-toxic cleaners, and be aware of the potential toxins in plastic (BPA) and fish (mercury).
