Page 7 - Now We're Talking!

The Effects of COVID 19 on My Little Baby

by Iulita

Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, not just adults and
teenagers who had a very active social life are affected, but
children are affected as well by physical distancing, being away
from their grandparents and close relatives, and not being able to
go to school and see their friends. A lot of children and teenagers
feel isolated, anxious, bored and uncertain. Some may feel fear
and grief over the loss of their family members and having their
lives turned upside down.

Social distancing is affecting everyone, including babies under
the age of one. From my own experience, I can say that the
quarantine affected enormously my baby’s behaviour. Before we
were forced to stay at home, we had a very active social life.

We interacted with a lot of parents who have children of similar
age. My daughter was very happy to meet new people, to explore
new places and to experience new sensations. However, now after
two months of lockdown, she has changed a lot. Every time she
meets a new person or somebody who she hasn’t seen for a long
time she begins to cry and to be agitated. She has become fearful
of other babies. She is happy if it’s a new toy or a new book, but
she screams in the company of other babies.

To help my daughter cope with this new way of life, I now have a
daily schedule to make sure my baby has some structure in her
life, for example, getting up, eating and going to bed around the
same time every day. The schedule includes daily activities at

specific intervals like gymnastic time, Montessori activity time,
drawing time and on-line socialising time where we still
communicate with other mums and their babies. These activities
help my baby a lot and give her more confidence.

My baby can’t speak now but if she could, she would probably
say, “You are the best mum in the world!” I try to do and give my
daughter the best there is in this ‘new normal’.

Iulita, Finctional Skills English, KW

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