03/08/2025

ON SUNDAY August 3, 2025 II theSunday Special

Parents sometimes miss or dismiss the delays in motor, visual, hearing, language and social milestones.”

Things parents overlook the most Raising little ones comes with endless surprises. Let’s shine a light on the most commonly missed health cues for a baby I T begins with a positive pregnancy test and ends with a tiny human wrapped in soft blankets, snuggled in your arms. For many new par ents, especially urban professionals weight gain is adequate. “Some parents do not realise that their babies have inadequate milk intake or slow weight gain,” she explained. That’s why regular check-ups are crucial, not just for vaccinations but to monitor whether the baby is growing on track. If your baby is feeding but not gaining weight as expected, there may be a deeper issue at play. I JQRULQJ WKH UHG ÀDJV LQ development BY ASHRAF WAHAB

Nor Azizah

Misunderstanding what fussiness means We’ve all heard it, “Oh, it’s normal for babies to cry. They’re just fussy.” Sure, VRPHWLPHV WKDW¶V WUXH %XW WKHUH¶V D ¿QH line between normal fussy behaviour and symptoms of something more serious. “Typical fussiness occurs at certain times, such as when babies are tired, hungry or need a diaper change,” she said. They should settle after those needs are met. However, suppose fussiness continues or worsens despite your best efforts, especially if accompanied by symptoms such as fever, poor weight gain or vomiting. In that case, it may indicate allergies, digestive issues or infections.

Sleep safety is still being overlooked

Yes, babies sleep a lot. However, how they sleep can be a matter of life and death literally. Many parents still don’t follow safe sleep practices. “Babies should always be placed on WKHLU EDFNV RQ D ¿UP PDWWUHVV ZLWK QR loose bedding, toys or pillows,” warned Nor Azizah. Sadly, unsafe sleep environments are still a major risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome. Just because a baby sleeps a lot doesn’t always mean they’re okay. “If they are overly sleepy, do not re VSRQG HDVLO\ RU DUH YHU\ GL̇ FXOW WR ZDNH it can be due to a major illness,” she added.

juggling demanding careers and tight schedules, raising a baby can feel like navi gating an emotional and logistical maze with Google as your compass, WhatsApp chats with fellow parents as your guide and late-night panic as your fuel. But even with the best intentions, there are important aspects of a baby’s health that often slip under the radar. According to Dr Nor Azizah Abu, Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics and Consultant Paediatrician at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), many of the issues she sees in her clinic stem from things parents didn’t know they were missing. Here’s a closer look at what Malaysian parents, especially the well-meaning, overworked and often overwhelmed ones, most frequently overlook when it comes to their baby’s health. Feeding and growth blind spot “One of the most common things parents miss is whether their baby is feeding enough,” said Nor Azizah. This might come as a surprise. After all, isn’t feeding the one thing babies always seem to be doing? However, the truth is that not all babies feed well and not all

Regular check-ups are crucial, not just for vaccinations but to monitor whether the baby is growing on track.

Between endless diaper changes and sleepless nights, it’s easy to assume ev HU\WKLQJ LV JRLQJ ¿QH LI WKH EDE\ VHHPV “generally okay”. But that assumption can come at a cost. “Parents sometimes miss or dismiss the delays in motor, visual, hearing, lan guage and social milestones,” Nor Azizah pointed out. For example, a baby should begin to follow faces by around two months, turn to sound by six months and sit without support by nine months. Missed mile stones aren’t always obvious, especially WR ¿UVW WLPH SDUHQWV 7KDW¶V ZKHUH URXWLQH developmental screening comes in. “Routine developmental screening in the first year is essential, ideally done at least once every three months,” she stressed. In short, don’t wait for something to feel “wrong”. Be proactive.