COMMUNITY PANDEMIC PARENTS ENCOURAGED TO CHATTER WITH THEIR BABIES

MASKS, SCREEN TIME IMPACT BABIES' DEVELOPMENT, SAYS SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

Researchers have discovered the pandemic has impacted babies born during the last few years.

"Infants are vocalizing less on average," said Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre's children's developmental services speech and language pathologist Lauretta Tulipano. "We don't know why, the research isn't telling us why, but the pandemic has changed so much about our life."

"My younger one definitely has started showing interest in speaking with babbling, but is nowhere near where his brother was," Barrie mom Lisa Salati said.

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Having limited contact with friends and family over the last 14 months has also impacted the socialization of her second son, she added.

"My younger son was a bit more apprehensive at looking at/interacting with people in the public than my first was," she said. "This for sure was due to the mask situation. While it's been removed, I have noticed a change in his overall demeanour when we're out and he can see most peoples' faces, versus when he was a younger baby and could only see people's eyes, so he was less 'facially' aware."

With May being Speech and Language Month, Tulipano has her own theories why there may be delays in general with speech and language skills.

First, there are face masks.

Tulipano said it doesn't matter what kind of masks were used, as even clear face shields made it challenging to see a mouth clearly, depending on the room's lighting.

And the speaker would have to be very close to the child in order for them to hear clearly, she added.

"But people have been told to keep their distance."

Second, Tulipano has seen an increase in passive screen time.

"When a little person is in front of a screen, there's no back and forth," she said.

Parents might be tempted to give a tablet to a child to advance their tech skills, but it's not the best answer, she said.

"The research is clear about passive screen use. Any time I talk to new families, I tell them the guidelines."

Kids under two shouldn't have any screen time, she said. And children under five should only get one hour a day.

"Chatting with grandma, or aunts or uncles, that is different. You could be talking to the baby, cooing with them in real time," Tulipano said.

She said it's about the basics of taking turns during the conversation.

"The baby coos, then you copy them, or they do a raspberry and you do it back," she said. "It's an imitation and response within five seconds."

Singing and reading to a baby are also important during the time between birth and 18 months.

Children between 18 and 24 months old need 40 of those back and forth conversations an hour to develop on track, Tulipano said.

One tip to interact is to go for a walk and talk about what you see — birds, butterflies or grass.

"You are your little person's best teacher."

For an assessment of your child, contact Tulipano's team at 705-739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979.