At the age of two, babies born during the pandemic exhibit similar behavior and development compared to those born before Covid-19, with one exception – their communication skills lag behind their predecessors. These findings come from a study conducted by researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) that explored the experiences and implications for health and development of babies born during the pandemic. Led by Susan Byrne, a senior lecturer at RCSI, and Jonathan Hourihane, a professor of pediatrics, the study focused on babies born in the first three months of lockdown and compared them to a similar group born before the pandemic. A total of 354 families and their babies participated in the study.
The study revealed some insightful discoveries. At six months, it was found that, on average, babies had only been kissed by three people, including their parents, indicating limited contact with relatives and family friends. Additionally, a quarter of the babies had not met another child their own age by their first birthday. Parents frequently described raising a child during lockdown as “lonely” and “isolating”. However, the study also found that family time and bonding increased.
The lower communication scores of babies born during the pandemic may be attributed to the fact that they heard fewer words due to restricted outings and interactions outside of their homes. However, no decline in performance was observed in other areas such as motor skills and problem-solving abilities. Questionnaires completed by parents indicated no differences in their children’s behavior regarding sleep problems, anxiety, or social withdrawal.
The research team now plans to expand the study and follow the babies until they start school at the age of five to gain a more comprehensive understanding. However, the relatively positive conclusions from this Irish study differ from the academic performance of older children. Recent reports revealed that primary school pupils in England continue to struggle in mathematics and writing compared to pre-pandemic standards. Reading performance has also stalled.
The study’s findings resonate with Alex Thomas, a mother of two children, Maddie, four, and Jacob, three. Both children have been referred for speech and language therapy. Alex noticed that during lockdown, her children lacked exposure to play groups and social interactions, which impacted their language development. Maddie, who is almost four, was not speaking at two, leading Alex to seek therapy sessions, but she believes they did not provide much help. Jacob, on the other hand, is still behind his peers in speech development, which Alex attributes in part to the isolation experienced during the pandemic.
Overall, the study highlights the impact of the pandemic on babies’ communication skills and highlights the need for further research to fully understand the long-term effects.