7 wellness principles

The seven principles of Baby Wellness

In collaboration with the Baby Wellness Foundation

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01
His well being begins long before birth

A healthy lifestyle and a calm pregnancy, supported by a positive relational environment, are the foundations for ensuring the best possible starting conditions and greater opportunities for a child's well being.

Becoming parents begins long before the birth of a child. It happens when you discover you are expecting a baby and sometimes even earlier, when the desire or even just the thought of having a child first appears. It is precisely there, in the mind and heart of a mother and a father, that the idea of the baby begins to take shape, through imagination, dreams and plans. Pregnancy is a time of deep reflection, allowing parents to lay the foundations of the attachment bond with their baby.

For some, this is a slow and almost imperceptible process. For others, it is an overwhelming emotion. Fantasies and emotions are an integral part of the journey. Taking time to listen to the baby's movements in the womb, imagining what they are doing, how and if they are moving, and even what their emotions and mood might be, is not just daydreaming. It is already a way of building a relationship, using the waiting period to begin getting to know the baby, so that birth is not a first meeting, but a reunion. This process, made up of listening, imagination and dialogue through touch and body positions, is known as prenatal bonding.

02
The best nourishment from the very beginning

Breast milk is not only an irreplaceable biological element, but also a powerful way to strengthen a unique bond with the mother, helping the child grow with confidence and trust in their own abilities (empowerment).

From the very first steps into complementary feeding, it is important not only to choose fresh and natural ingredients, but also to share meal preparation and spend time together at the table. This helps reduce the child's learning curve and promotes family harmony and well being.

From early childhood, nourishment has not only a biological value, but also a psychological, social and cultural one. As soon as a baby is born, they are placed on the mother's chest to encourage attachment and support the start of breastfeeding. In this way, the baby receives the best possible nourishment and the deep bond between mother and child, known as bonding, is strengthened. As the months go by, moments related to breastfeeding and first solid foods continue to play a fundamental role in relationships and in psycho physical development. Even during intrauterine life, the baby experiences and gradually refines their ability to feed and swallow.

03
A good night’s sleep

Day after day, the newborn grows and gradually gains control of their body, becomes stronger, builds immune defences, learns to manage emotions, recognise the voices of loved ones and communicate with them.

Sleep plays a crucial role in activating the physiological processes and mechanisms that are essential for harmonious growth and the development of a child's abilities. Ensuring the right conditions for safe and restful sleep is therefore fundamental to promoting overall well being.

There is a direct correlation between the number of hours a child sleeps and bone growth. Through specific mechanisms, such as the release of somatotropin, a hormone that signals cells to multiply, bones lengthen and the skeletal structure expands. This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, located at the base of the skull, which is most active during sleep.

04
Health, the most precious asset

A child's present and future health is strongly influenced by lifestyle and by the choices made before and during pregnancy, as well as during the first years of life.

From the very first moments of a baby's life, the staff at the birth centre carry out a rapid assessment of the newborn's health conditions. Heart rate and breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin colour are the five parameters evaluated to assign the baby a score from 0 to 10, known as the Apgar score. Apgar is an acronym for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration, referring to skin colour, heart rate, response to stimulation, muscle tone and breathing.

05
Care and loving attention

Caring for a baby also means surrounding them with attention, cuddles and hugs, and responding to their needs with awareness. A baby does not have "tantrums", only needs.

Caring for a baby does not simply mean feeding them properly, watching over their health or ensuring the best conditions for healthy sleep. It means filling them with attention, cuddles and hugs, and responding to their needs with awareness. It also means creating a welcoming and serene family environment in which the baby can feel protected and safe. Through small yet fundamental daily gestures, parents can do a great deal to support their baby's well being and psycho physical development.

In the first weeks of life, nothing makes a baby feel more comfortable than a hug. Feeling held and embraced in their mother's arms, recognising her scent, heartbeat and voice, recalls the pleasant sensations experienced in the womb. Now, as the baby adapts to their new life and learns to discover themselves and the world around them, they need their parents more than ever.

06
The harmonious development of the child

By adopting behaviours and habits that support a child's motor, emotional and social progress, mothers and fathers, along with everyone who cares for the child, play a decisive role in fostering happy growth.

The first years of a child's life are a whirlwind of discoveries and achievements. From the very moment they come into the world and seem to do little more than sleep, eat, cry or look around with wide eyed wonder, the child grows stronger, sharpens their senses, completes the development of an still immature nervous system and absorbs information about the world around them. They are nourished by the love of those who care for them, learn to interact with objects and people, to move and to communicate. Now more than ever, mothers and fathers are a fundamental point of reference.

According to Thomas Berry Brazelton, paediatrician and child psychiatrist, "the task of parents is not to compare their newborn's characteristics with those of another child, but to observe, listen to and support the unique lifestyle of their own child".

07
Choosing early childhood products correctly

When leaving the maternity facility, just a few days after birth, the newborn will face their very first journey. The family's return home is a moment of great emotion, long imagined and often carefully prepared, even though it is sometimes experienced with anxiety and concern.

The choice and correct use of early childhood products play an important role in supporting the child's physical and cognitive development and in promoting their well being. Car seats, carrycots and nursery furniture are usually chosen well in advance, based on advice from friends and retailers but, paradoxically, without the real end user ever being consulted.

The range of early childhood products is extremely wide and varied, designed to meet different tastes and the many functional needs of those who will care for the child. But are parents truly aware of the impact these products can have on their child's physical and psychological development?