Child neurologist Anna Gorskaya - about fontanel, swaddling, walkers, enuresis and tantrums

According to statistics, every tenth inhabitant of our country has one or another neurological disease. And many problems come from childhood. When suddenly a cheerful and active child becomes weepy, irritable or withdraws into himself, when he has incomprehensible habits, fears or even physical (for no apparent reason) nudes of agania, many parents blame it on age, fatigue, bad behavior. But often behind such changes is neurosis - a reversible mental disorder that requires not punishment, but professional help. About this and much more - our conversation with the neurologist of the 18th City Children's Polyclinic of Minsk Anna Gorskaya.

First reception

The first appointment with a pediatric neurologist should be in one month. Then at 3, 6 and 12 months. After scheduled examinations are less frequent: before entering kindergarten, school and already in adolescence. In the first reception, the doctor evaluates the reflexes of the newborn, the ability to fix the eye on the subject, monitor it. Each infant (ideally up to a month) is ultrasound of the brain through the fontanel. This helps rule out congenital neurological pathology or remove suspicions of increased intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, or related conditions. The fontanelle can be both small (0.5 cm) and large (2-3 cm). But it does not affect how the baby grows up. Grow a fontanel can both by six months and by two years. Both are the norm.

Even with a newborn, you need to talk. The child must constantly hear the speech of loved ones in order to form a close connection and verbal skills. He looks at his mother's lips, sees her say Oh, Oh, Oh, He begins to repeat these movements, and at some point he makes these sounds.

A child begins to walk and grunt at 2-4 months, and by 5-6 already recognizes relatives in the face. Babble (type "ma", "ba", "ta") we hear at 6-7 months. The first conscious logoforms appear from 9 months to a year. By one year, a child should know about 10 words. No, he doesn't say "tractor," "cow." But clearly realizes that "ki" is a kite, "bibi" is a machine. In his name, the baby begins to respond clearly at about 9-10 months, and by the year - already fulfill the simplest requests: give a pen, bush, wave

If by the year the child does not say anything and does not react in any way to the appeal of others, this is an alarm bell. Possible hearing impairment. It happens that, learning to walk, the child who used to talk suddenly falls silent. It'll pass. It is much more dangerous if he actively forgets the meaning of words.

Television is no substitute for live communication. On the contrary, it is too much of a burden for the child's brain. In addition, this pastime inhibits the development of speech: the baby ignores the quiet and measured conversation of relatives. The child grows step by step, and each skill is a kind of confirmation of his health. As new "skills" appear, reflexes begin to disappear. Thus, the grasping reflex, which so pleases parents in the first month of life, almost disappears by three, giving way to the opportunity to independently capture the object.

The swaddling is also controversial. Its necessity is due to the spontaneous Moro reflex, which occurs in a child in the first months of life. He is afraid of his own movements and often wakes up. Helps swaddling, but it should not be either rigid or very wide. Perfect cocoon.

In 2-3 months, the child is more contact, sleeps less, looks closely and listens, smiles at the speech addressed to him. By three months, the baby like a swan keeps his head lying on his stomach. Gradually begins to rely on the forearms and elbows. Coup skill is one of the basics.

You don't have to crawl. The most important thing (from the point of view of a neurologist) is that the child learns to get up on all fours. At about 9 months, he should kneel and, using the support, rise. You have to go to 1.3 years.

Forced seating and putting on the legs of the baby is not worth it, as well as using walkers or jumpers. They, of course, greatly facilitate the care of the child, but for the health of the musculoskeletal system this is not the best solution.

They should be alerted to the moments if, for example, the baby grabs an object only with the right handle, and ignores the left one. It is important that the child was symmetrical, equally well turned his head to the right and left.

Many mothers complain that the child does not want to chew, refuses hard food. And not because I'm sick. "Blender kids" is a big problem. The reason is that my mother did not offer a piece of food in time. A liver or apple can be given at 6-7 months, when the baby is already able to convey something to his mouth. Feeding a child from a spoon to 5-6 years, you inhibit the development of its motor functions. And the consequence can be poor handwriting, mistakes and difficulties with writing and reading. The main thing is calm

We often hear from parents: the child threw a tantrum, lying on the floor, demanding his own. In some cases, this is pedagogical neglect. The child, manipulating the feelings of his mother, tries to get personal benefits. Children's tantrums are both a manifestation of character and an opportunity to relieve emotional tension. Experts advise in such situations not to give up and wait for the end of the tantrum. Many mothers prefer to give in as long as the child is silent. But it's a dangerous path. Next time, the hysteria may be even stronger. Don't argue or shout. By raising your voice and losing your temper, you seem to recognize the correctness of his method. Whoever shouts louder is right. No place for corporal punishment. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the once established prohibition - in no case should one parent abolish the taboo of the other. Catch, "fish" The reason to contact a neurologist - enuresis. If we talk about nocturnal episodes of urinary incontinence, then there are many methods of working with this. You can start a calendar and put your marks every morning. For example, three green circles, get a prize. If you wake up wet, wash your bed linen. In any case, you can not scold the child, this will only consolidate the fear and aggravate the situation.

There is no need to look back anxiously at every awkward movement of the baby or run for every stroke of the eyelashes. You just have to celebrate every moment. But if something is alarming, going to the doctor is mandatory. Neurologists called the main symptoms of ADHD in children

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is detected in about one in ten children. Parents should be alerted by frequent mood changes, increased irritability, anxiety, fear, impaired attention, speech, stuttering, as well as obsessive movements and habits: biting the nails, squeezing-expressing the fingers, nods, unreasonable movements of the head or trunk. ADHD does not affect the mental abilities of the child, but makes him inattentive.