There's a Potential Risk of Radiation Babies are also more susceptible, so phone use can potentially damage their DNA structure or brain cells. Some pediatricians may recommend keeping your phone put away not only while breastfeeding, but also when your sweet baby is in the room.
Babies are even more vulnerable to this danger due to anatomical and physiological differences. All cell-phones emit a type of EMF radiation called radiofrequency radiation, also sometimes referred to as microwave radiation. These radiations are harmful for all human beings but babies are at a greater risk from them.
Nonetheless, experts recommend that parents should try to limit cellphone exposure to their babies. The rationale is that a baby's organs and internal systems are yet to be fully developed.
The radiation from the phones can penetrate the babies' bodies easier due to their soft tissues and skulls. 2. How far should I keep my cell phone from my baby? Experts advise holding your phone at least 6 inches away from the body to reduce the risks that radiation brings.
Yes. There's generally no problem with watching TV while holding a sleeping baby or breastfeeding – in fact it can be a prime opportunity for some downtime. When your baby's older, TV may start to distract them from nursing, but that's not a risk at this early stage.
In a 2017 Spanish study, data on more than 80,000 mother-child pairs found that when mothers spent more time talking on their cellphones during pregnancy, their children were more likely to have behavioral and emotional problems, most notably, hyperactivity.
Keep devices in airplane mode
It's best to keep a smart phone in airplane mode whenever possible, but especially when the signal is weak or when you're moving – such as in a car or train. The harder a device has to work to find a cell tower, the more radiation it releases, and the greater the exposure.
Some experts warn parents that a mobile can overstimulate your baby. Baby Center cautions that even the quiet music or reassuring night-lights from mobiles can distract your baby or keep them from falling asleep.
The brand of phones they tested that emit the most radiation can put out 1.68 watts per kilogram, as was the case with the 5T from Chinese manufacturer OnePlus. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States sets the standard for phones at 1.6 W/kg.
As recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children below 18 months of age should not be exposed to screen time, except for when they are video-chatting with family, friends, etc.
A great way to give your baby language skills early on is by talking or reading to them while you're nursing. According to Parenting, babies love hearing the sound of mom's voice, and it helps strengthen the bond between you as well.
Steps to Reduce Radio Frequency (RF) Exposure
Reduce the amount of time spent using your cell phone. Use speaker mode, head phones, or ear buds to place more distance between your head and the cell phone. Avoid making calls when the signal is weak as this causes cell phones to boost RF transmission power.
Keep your cell phone at least 3 feet away from your bed to limit radio frequency exposure. Turn your cell phone off before you go to bed (if you don't rely on your phone's alarm clock) Turn your phone on Airplane Mode.
Multiple studies link addictive relationships with mobile devices to mental health problems in teens, including depression, anxiety, and disrupted sleep. Neuroscience tells us that tweens' and teens' developing brains make them especially vulnerable to both addiction and mental health crises.
Research finds that young children can learn from FaceTime and other types of video chatting to a greater extent than typical screen time. It may be difficult for some young children to initially engage with and understand video chatting.
Foetuses are particularly sensitive to radiation during their early development, between weeks 2 and 18 of pregnancy. Globally, researchers have found that mobile phones emit radio waves, a type of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation which is not likely to affect the health of the mother or of the growing foetus.
Understanding the Role of Prolactin
Interestingly, prolactin levels have a typical 24-hour cycle — just like the human body's circadian rhythm. Prolactin peaks in the early morning hours around 2-5 a.m., while the lowest prolactin levels happen in the late afternoon to early evening.
As a rule of thumb, a truly hungry baby will rarely choose sleeping over eating. So, if your baby falls asleep in your arms without taking a full feeding, it's likely he was tired — not hungry.
There's no hurry to phase out night feeds. You can choose what works best for you and your child. For breastfed children, night weaning might be an option from 12 months. For formula-fed children, you can consider phasing out night feeds from 6 months.
Can you hold a newborn on your period? Since mom herself will be back on her period soon, there's no valid, medically-proven reason that someone's menstrual cycle would cause any harm to a newborn.
Kissing your baby will change your breast milk
When you kiss your baby, you are sampling the pathogens on her skin, which are then transferred to your lymphatic system where you will produce antibodies to any bugs. These antibodies will then pass through your breast milk to your baby and boost her immune system.
Parents usually start kangaroo care once or twice a day for at least one hour each time or as long as it is tolerated by your baby. The longer you hold your baby, the better. Any amount of time is good, but it is best to try for at least 1 to 2 hours each day.
There's a Potential Risk of Radiation
Babies are also more susceptible, so phone use can potentially damage their DNA structure or brain cells. Some pediatricians may recommend keeping your phone put away not only while breastfeeding, but also when your sweet baby is in the room.