Jumat, 04 Maret 2011

What kinds of growth and development occur during ages 12 to 24 months?

Your child's rapid brain development between the ages of 12 and 24 months causes amazing changes to happen-such as talking, walking, and remembering. Your child transitions from babyhood to early childhood during this period known as the toddler years.
The changes that happen in this period are often grouped into five areas:
  • Physical growth. Expect your child to grow about 3in. to 5in. and gain between 3lb and 5lb.
  • Cognitive development. This is your child's ability to think, learn, and remember. Your child will start to remember recent events and actions, understand symbols, imitate, imagine, and pretend.
  • Emotional and social development. Toddlers form strong emotional attachments and often feel uneasy when they are separated from their loved ones. Around the same time, toddlers typically want to do things on their own or according to their own wishes. This sets the stage for conflict, confusion, and occasional breakdowns.
  • Language development. At 15 to 18 months, a typical toddler understands 10 times more words than he or she can speak. By the second birthday, most toddlers can say about 50 to 100 words.
  • Sensory and motor development. Motor skills develop as your child's muscles and nerves work together. Toddlers gain control and coordination and become steady walkers. Climbing, running, and jumping soon follow.

When are routine medical visits needed?

Schedule routine checkups, or well-child visits, with your doctor. Generally these visits happen when your child is 12, 15, 18, and 24 months of age. Talk to your doctor about when to make these appointments.
During a well-child visit, the doctor examines your child to find out whether he or she is growing as expected. Your doctor will ask you questions about the new things your child is doing, such as saying any words or walking. The doctor will also give your child any needed immunizations and may check for signs of autism.

When should I be concerned about my child's growth and development?

Talk to your doctor if your child is not reaching normal growth and development milestones. But keep in mind that every child develops at a different pace. A child who is slow to reach milestones in one area, such as talking, may be ahead in another area, such as walking. Usually it is of more concern when a child reaches developmental milestones but then loses those abilities.
See your doctor if your child has not bonded well with others, especially caregivers; makes repetitive motions or odd movements; or seems not to hear or respond to others. Also, watch for signs of hearing problems, such as not reacting to loud noises.
Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor anytime you have concerns about your child, even if you are not sure exactly what worries you.

How can I help my child during this period?

You can help your child grow and develop by understanding a toddler's need for independence and allowing safe exploration. It helps your child become confident in trying new skills when you are patient and provide unconditional love. Also, recognize that your child can be easily overwhelmed by all the new things he or she is seeing, hearing, learning, and doing. Help your child to get plenty of rest and quiet time. Schedule well-child visits with a doctor to keep track of your child's growth, development, and overall well-being. 

How do babies grow and develop in the first year?

Babies change more in the first year of life than at any other time in their lives. From 1 to 12 months of age, most babies grow and develop in these main areas:
  • Physical development. A baby’s growth is dramatic during this first year. Babies grow taller, and their heads get bigger. At 12 months, most babies weigh three times as much as they did at birth.
  • Cognitive development. Babies make great advances in being able to learn and remember. A baby will start to recognize loved ones and to understand that people and things still exist even when they are out of sight.
  • Emotional and social development. Babies start to show their emotions and how they feel about other people. A smile may mean that your baby is happy. A cry when you leave the room may be a protest about being left alone (called separation protest).
  • Language development. Babies quickly learn language by what is spoken around them. By about 6 weeks, your baby may have different cries for different needs, such as one to tell you it’s time to eat and another to tell you it’s time for a diaper change. By around 2 months, they coo and smile. Later they babble and chuckle. By 12 months, some babies can say simple words like "mama" or "dada," and they understand many more.
  • Sensory and motor development. During this time, a baby starts to control how he or she moves. Babies become strong enough to sit. Some will stand, and others will begin to take their first steps.
Babies usually move from one important area (or milestone) in their development to the next in a pattern. If your child has a slight delay in one area, it may not mean there is a problem. Each baby grows and gains skills at his or her own pace. It is common for a baby to be ahead in one area, such as language, but a little behind in another. Babies who were born early or have health problems may grow and develop at a slower pace.

When are routine medical visits needed?

Between the ages of 1 to 12 months, a baby usually goes to the doctor at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months. These routine checkups are called well-baby visits. These visits are important to check for problems and to make sure that your baby is growing and developing as expected.
During these visits, the doctor will do a physical exam and give your baby any needed immunizations. The doctor will weigh and measure your baby to see how your baby compares to other babies of the same age. The doctor will likely ask you questions about how your family and the baby are doing. This is a good time to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have. Between visits, write down any questions you want to ask the doctor next time.

When should you call the doctor?

Call your doctor anytime you have a concern about your baby's physical or emotional health. Be sure to call if your baby:
  • Hasn't grown as expected or hasn't been eating well for some time.
  • Has lost skills he or she used to have, such as crawling.
  • Shows signs of hearing problems, such as not responding to your voice or to loud noises.
Your physical and emotional health are also important in helping your baby grow and develop. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be depressed or if you feel like you cannot care for your baby.

How can you help your baby during the first year?

The best things for your baby are often the most basic. Loving, holding, changing diapers for, talking to, and feeding your baby are the first things to focus on.
During the first year, other ways that you can help your baby grow and learn are to:
  • Respond to your baby’s cries in healthy ways. Crying is your baby’s way to tell you what he or she needs. If your baby has colic, do what you can to comfort your baby. Remember that colic is normal-and temporary. Your baby will grow out of it.
  • Help your baby learn. Talking, reading, and playing are all important ways to help your baby’s mind grow.
  • Place your baby on his or her tummy for some play. And give your baby plenty of time to explore safely. This can help your baby gain the confidence to try new skills, such as crawling and walking, and to grow into a healthy toddler.
  • Keep your baby safe. Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back to reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Use a car seat every time your baby rides in a car.
  • Know that your baby is curious, but set limits. A baby between 1 and 12 months is too young to understand what is "good" and "bad" behavior. You may need to redirect your baby’s attention. For example, if your baby tries to pull the dog's tail, find a toy to get your baby’s attention and move the dog to another area.
The first year of your baby’s life is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. Some days you may feel overwhelmed. Learning what is normal for babies at this age can help you spot problems early or feel better about how your baby is doing. Ask for help when you need it. Call a family member or friend to watch your baby. If you need a break or don't feel well, ask your doctor or local hospital for some suggestions.

Infant Milestones: The First Six Months

Month 1

Physical
Weight may decrease during first week of life. Lies flexed, like in the womb; barely lifts head while on stomach; leg and arm movement consist of uncontrolled writhing and purposeless hand opening and closing; bears no weight on legs; holds hands tightly fisted; can't hold a rattle.
Language/social
Makes demanding cries, grunting throaty sounds, fleeting smiles, sleep grins; discriminates parents' voices; sees best at 8-10 inches; has blurred vision; has erratic sleep and feeding schedule. Smiles involuntarily.
Cognitive
Displays instinctive behaviors that help develop trust, such as learning that cries will be rewarded with comfort or food.


Month 2

Physical
Limbs relax and stretch partially; lifts head 45 degrees; head wobbly while held sitting; muscle twitches lessen; hands partially unfold; swipes aimlessly; holds rattle briefly.
Language/social
Coos, squeals, and gurgles; smiles responsively; shows emotions, like delight or distress; quiets self with thumb; holds eye contact; studies faces and vaguely mimics facial gestures; tracks moving persons.
Cognitive
Makes associations between behaviors as cues and an elicited response, such as expecting to be held or fed if crying..


Month 3

Physical
Stretches limbs all the way out; holds head about 45 degrees; pushes down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface; supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach; hands open, makes swiping reaches but still misses more than hits; holds and shakes rattle longer; grabs clothing and hair of others; sucks fingers and fists; plays with hands.
Language/social
Begins to babble, coo, squeal, and gurgle; smiles responsively; shows emotions; enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops. Begins to imitate some sounds, draws out vowel sounds, such as aaah and oooh; makes louder sounds; begins to laugh.
Cognitive
Learns that smiles, cries, and body language cause people to react; learns cause and effect, like hitting mobile will cause it to move. Becomes more expressive and communicates more with face and body.


Month 4

Physical
Stands with support; sits propped on arms and lifts head 90 degrees and scans 180 degrees; rests on elbows; rolls tummy-to-side; uses two-handed embracing reach; accurately gathers dangled toy; explores clothing; uses mitten-like grasp.
Language/social
Shapes mouth to change sounds, blows bubbles; laughs hilariously when tickled, makes motions for attention, such as flapping arms to be picked up; develops better depth perception; gazes intently; tracks accurately.
Cognitive
Forms mental images of what to expect when given a cue; becomes aware that people and things have labels, such as cat or mommy or daddy.



Month 5

Physical
Sits propped with pillows on floor or chair; stands, holding on for balance; rolls purposefully from tummy-to-back; rocks on tummy; assumes push-up position; wiggles forward; cranes neck forward to see; reaches one hand with good aim; transfers toys from hand to hand or mouth; begins block play.
Language/social
Babbles to get attention; mimic sounds, inflection, gestures; watches mouth movements; vocalizes sounds for different needs; may show interest in solid foods; interested in colors.
Cognitive
Learns which sounds and gestures get a response; shows decision-making expressions during hand play; figures out objects and changes hand position to touch objects.


Month 6

Physical
Sits briefly by self; sits in high chair; stands briefly while leaning on furniture; rolls over both ways; digs in with toes and hands to move toward toy; reaches precisely; points at toys; manipulates blocks; uses whole hand to pick up small objects with thumb and fingers.
Language/social
Strings out longer and more varied sounds; experiments with pitch and volume of new sounds and notices reactions they produce; reflects moods by sound and body language; mimics facial gestures better.
Cognitive
Shows more intentionality during play, such as trying to figure out how to pick up a third object with one already in each hand.




How Well Do Newborns Hear?

Newborn babies can hear fairly well, but not perfectly. The middle ear of a newborn is full of fluid and this impairs hearing to a small extent. Additionally, the entire hearing apparatus is somewhat immature. That's why newborn babies respond best to high-pitched, exaggerated sounds and voices.
Due to learning in the womb, newborns are born with the ability to distinguish their mother's voice and respond to it above all others.

When to Worry About Your Baby's Hearing

If your newborn does not respond to loud sounds with a startle reaction or never seems to turn toward your voice in the first months, run it by your pediatrician to be sure there is no potential for hearing loss. Many states now require newborn screening for hearing loss, so you will know early on that your baby's hearing is OK.

Lawan Kanker Dengan Tanaman



Tumbuh-tumbuhan di Indonesia terbukti mampu mencegah maupun mengobati kanker. Meski perlu penelitian dan pengembangan lebih lanjut, sejumlah tanaman seperti kunyit putih, tapak dara, daun dewa hingga benalu telah digunakan penderita kanker sebagai ikhtiar mengobati penyakitnya. Banyak yang berhasil sembuh sehingga pengobatan tradisional pun menjadi tumpuan harapan baru bagi para penderita kanker.

Kunyit putih diyakini memiliki khasiat antikanker. Meski demikian cuma kunyit putih jenis mangga (Curcuma mangga) yang tumbuh terbatas di tempat yang bersuhu dingin di Indonesia, yang dapat mencegah atau mengobati kanker. Kunyit putih ini mempunyai ciri tertentu, antara lain bintik umbinya seperti umbi jahe dan berwarna kuning muda (krem). Dalam keadaan segar baunya seperti buah mangga kweni dan bila telah diekstrak atau dijadikan bubuk, warnanya tetap kuning muda (krem).

Sementara tapak dara (Catharanthus roseus) telah teruji sebagai bahan pencegah dan penumpas sel kanker. Tanaman yang masih termasuk keluarga Apocynaceae atau kamboja-kambojaan ini mengandung dua senyawa golongan alkaloid vinka yakni vinkristin dan vinblastin yang berkhasiat menghambat perbanyakan dan penyebaran sel kanker.


Vinkristin digunakan sebagai bahan pengobatan kanker bronkial, tumor ganas pada ginjal, kanker payudara, dan berbagai jenis tumor ganas yang awalnya menyerang urat saraf maupun otot. Tanaman yang di Sumatera disebut rumput jalang itu juga mengandung alkaloid cabtharanthin yang diperkirakan dapat mendesak dan melarutkan inti sel kanker.
Sebagai obat kanker payudara, rebus 22 lembar daun tapak dara dan buah adas (Foeniculum vulgare) serta kulit kayu pulasari (Alyxia reinwardti) dengan tiga gelas air. Bubuhi gula merah secukupnya. Setelah mendidih sampai tinggal setengahnya, saring. Ramuan diminum tiga kali sehari masing-masing setengah gelas. Pengobatan dilakukan paling tidak selama sebulan.


Keladi tikus (Typhonium Flagelliforme/Rodent Tuber) juga telah diteliti sebagai tanaman obat yang dapat menghentikan dan mengobati berbagai penyakit kanker. Untuk menghambat pertumbuhan sel kanker, tiga batang keladi tikus lengkap dengan daunnya (kurang lebih 50 gram) direndam selama 30 menit, tumbuk halus dan peras. Air perasan ini disaring lalu diminum. Di Malaysia, sudah ada uji ilmiah khasiat keladi tikus. Bahkan ekstrak keladi tikus dalam bentuk pil dan teh bubuk yang dikombinasikan dengan tanaman lainnya dalam dosis tertentu, sudah dipasarkan di negeri jiran tersebut.

Air perasan temu lawak (Curcuma Zedoaria) juga mujarab sebagai obat kanker. Menurut Andrew Chevallier Mnimh, herbalis asal London, dalam temulawak terkandung curcumol dan curdione yang berkhasiat antikanker dan antitumor. Di Cina, temulawak telah lama digunakan sebagai obat kanker leher rahim. Tanaman ini bisa meningkatkan efek mematikan sel kanker ketika dilakukan radioterapi dan kemoterapi.

Mengkudu juga tengah populer sebagai tanaman obat-obatan yang manjur. Daging buah mengkudu atau pace (Morinda citrifolia L.) mengandung dammacanthel, zat antikanker yang mampu melawan pertumbuhan sel abnormal pada stadium prakanker dan dapat mencegah perkembangan sel kanker. Sari dari perasan dua atau tiga buah mengkudu dapat dibubuhi madu agar rasanya lebih nikmat. Sebaiknya pilihlah mengkudu yang tidak terlalu masak karena alkohol yang terbentuk akibat proses fermentasi pada mengkudu yang terlalu masak merusak zat-zat penting yang terkandung di dalamnya.

Daun dewa (Gynura divaricata) juga merupakan tanaman yang telah dikenal sebagai tanaman antikanker. Ramuan 30 gram daun dewa segar, 20 gram temu putih, 30 gram jombang yang direbus dengan 600 cc air hingga tersisa 300 cc, lalu disaring dan diminum airnya dapat digunakan dalam pengobatan penyakit kanker. Dapat pula menggunakan bahan lain seperti 30 gram daun dewa segar, 30 gram tapak dara segar, 30 gram rumput mutiara, 30 gram rumput lidah ular direbus dengan 1.000 cc air hingga tersisa 500 cc. Airnya disaring lalu tambahkan madu secukupnya, aduk kemudian diminum selagi hangat.

Daun ceremai (Phyllanthus acidus) juga dapat dapat digunakan sebagai obat antikanker. Segenggam daun ceremai muda, sejumput daun belimbing, bidara upas sejari, gadung cina sejari dan gula aren direbus dengan tiga gelas air hingga tinggal segelas. Ramuan ini diminum tiga kali sehari masing-masing satu gelas.


Sementara senyawa dalam benalu telah lama diperkirakan bekerja sebagai penghambat keganasan kanker. Benalu yang direbus menjadi teh terbukti dapat dipakai sebagai obat penunjang selama menjalani kemoterapi (terapi dengan mengonsumsi obat antikanker).

Bagi Anda yang belum terkena kanker, tumisan brokoli, sawi, kembang kol, wortel, tomat dan daging ikan dengan bumbu sedikit garam dan bawang putih, mampu menjadi masakan yang kaya akan zat antikanker. Penelitian Universitas Harvard terhadap 48.000 orang pada tahun 1995 menunjukkan risiko terkena kanker prostat bagi mereka yang memakan 10 kali hidangan yang mengandung tomat per minggu turun sampai hampir separuhnya.