“You'll spoil the baby,” “You’re letting them manipulate you,” “If you carry them so much, they’ll never learn to self-soothe.” These are just some of the comments many parents and caregivers have heard when they pick up their baby to comfort them. For a long time, these ideas shaped parenting styles that sought to limit physical contact in order to encourage … [Read more...] about Why Holding and Hugging Babies Is Not Just Good—It’s Essential
Inter American Development Bank
Secrets of a First-Time Dad’s Brain
The arrival of a first child sparks a whirlwind of hope and dreams in soon-to-be parents: the vision of a full, stable, and enriching family life intertwines with the excitement of the unknown. In this blog post, we share research that explores how fatherhood impacts men’s brains. The Brain of a Dad Having a child brings physical, … [Read more...] about Secrets of a First-Time Dad’s Brain
Parenting as a Team: The Impact of Sharing Childcare
"It's always better as a team." This phrase, shared by a participant in the Committed Parenting for Early Childhood (PPC, for its Spanish initials: Programa Parentalidades Comprometidas con la Primera Infancia) program in Uruguay, sums up a fundamental principle of parenting: when childcare responsibilities are shared fairly, everyone benefits. During the early … [Read more...] about Parenting as a Team: The Impact of Sharing Childcare
A Decade of Efforts to Reduce Maternal and Neonatal Mortality: The Salud Mesoamerica Initiative
During the summer of 2012, on a visit to the Guna Yala indigenous region in northeastern Panama, we met Iranelda, a 16-year-old girl in labor whose baby was in a transverse position, requiring a cesarean section. She was ready to be transferred to Panama City to receive the necessary medical care. However, her family objected, trusting that the community’s healers, with their … [Read more...] about A Decade of Efforts to Reduce Maternal and Neonatal Mortality: The Salud Mesoamerica Initiative
Closing Gaps in Early Childhood Development: A Renewed Commitment
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, a global commitment to protect and promote children's healthy development and fulfillment of their potential, was adopted 35 years ago. On this World Children’s Day, during the event Challenging Inequalities: How to Close Gaps in Early Childhood Development, we asked ourselves: Have we lived up to this commitment? What challenges do … [Read more...] about Closing Gaps in Early Childhood Development: A Renewed Commitment