Year after year, government records show late summer is when most babies are born, with August as the most common birth month. That means – right now – tens of thousands of future parents are planning nursery colors, work leave and childbirth classes.
According to the University of Virginia’s Meghan Puglia, an associate professor of neurology and a researcher in the School of Medicine, it’s also important for expectant parents to plan for the child’s first 1,000 days.
That period from birth to the doorstep of a third birthday is unmatched for the potential of explosive brain development, said Puglia, who made that point recently in a .
Puglia, a mother of two, recently chatted with UVA Today about what’s happening in baby brains during that time, and how parents can maximize a child’s potential.
Puglia, an associate professor of neurology in the School of Medicine, says every interaction with a baby shapes the development of a brain that “builds itself at a breathtaking pace” in the first 1,000 days. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
Q. You talk about the importance of a baby’s first 1,000 days. What’s going on during that time that is so foundational?
A. During the first 1,000 days, the brain builds itself at a breathtaking pace, forming up to a million neural connections per second, while the genes that shape who we will become begin tuning themselves. But these processes aren’t automatic. Every experience strengthens some brain connections, lets others fade and turns certain genes up or down. Even before birth, stress, nutrition and maternal care shape neural circuits and gene expression. After birth, every cuddle, coo and smile continues to sculpt the brain and fine-tune genes, setting up baby for a lifetime of learning, behavior and health.
Q. You also emphasize parents should “turn down the stress” when attending to a baby, but caring for a baby can be incredibly stressful. How should parents balance those two things?
A. It’s not about being calm all the time – that’s impossible and striving for it only adds stress.
What matters is keeping stress from becoming constant or overwhelming.
Biology works best in the middle: not chaos, not perfection. If you’re exhausted or overwhelmed, step away safely, ask for help, take a breath. Caring for yourself isn’t indulgent; it directly shapes your baby’s biology.
During pregnancy, mom’s stress hormones can directly impact the developing baby. But even after birth, a regulated parent is the strongest stress buffer a young child has. Responsive, attuned care can even counterbalance stressful moments. For example, if a baby is struggling with separation at day care, extra attention and warmth when you are together can help regulate their stress response.
