Toddlers of Mothers Who Smoked During Pregnancy May Face Behavior Problems
Toddlers of women who smoked during pregnancy begin to show a pattern of behavior problems as early as 18 to 24 months of age, according to a study in the journal Child Development.
It is the first study to show a link between smoking during pregnancy and child behavior problems in the first years of life.
“We already know that smoking can negatively affect the physical health of children,” says Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “This study tells us we should also be taking a closer look at how it affects development and behavior.”
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), says, “This study highlights the importance of better understanding how prenatal exposure to nicotine affects the development of the fetal brain, and how in turn this disrupts behavior later on in childhood and adolescence.
“If we can pinpoint what areas of the brain might be most affected by prenatal cigarette smoke exposure, we can better tailor prevention or remedial intervention while children are very young,” says Dr. Volkow.
Laura Wakschlag, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Illinois at Chicago followed 93 toddlers between their first and second birthdays. Forty-seven percent were prenatally exposed to cigarettes.
First, the researchers examined whether exposed toddlers’ behavior patterns differed over time from non-exposed toddlers. Then they tested if cigarette exposure was associated with specific types of disruptive behavior.
The study was designed to make a distinction between the normal behavior patterns typically seen in the “terrible twos” and more severe behaviors.
The researchers found that toddlers exposed to cigarette smoke in utero (in the womb, before birth) exhibited higher levels of behavior problems from 12 through 24 months.
The level of behavior problems remained relatively stable over time for the non-exposed toddlers, but for the exposed toddlers the problems increased from 18 to 24 months. Additionally, researchers found that nearly all toddlers with behavior problems in the clinical range at age two had been exposed to cigarette smoke.
They also found that exposure to cigarette smoke was associated with disruptive social behavior. Exposed toddlers were significantly more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior and to stubbornly refuse to follow directions. They were also less likely to seek out and participate in playful social interactions with their mothers.
Researchers also found that exposure to cigarette smoke was associated with social, rather than emotional, aspects of early disruptive behavior.
"Research into the relationship between prenatal smoking and toddler behavior adds a complex new dimension to our portfolio of knowledge of the deleterious effects of smoking,” says Dr. Richard Carmona, former US Surgeon General.
This study does not prove whether or not prenatal exposure to cigarettes causes behavior problems, but it does bring us closer to understanding how that exposure affects fetal brain systems that regulate behavior, the experts say.
Always consult your physician for more information.
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While children may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group:
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understands possession, "Mine"
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can tell his/her own age and name
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knows if he/she is a boy or girl
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counts up to three objects
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may begin to problem solve
While every child is unique and will develop different personalities, the following are some of the common behavioral traits that may be present in your child:
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shows independence from parents
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continues to play along side others without interacting, called parallel play
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acts as if other children are objects or toys
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does not understand sharing
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is negative and says "no" frequently
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temper tantrums may continue
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helps to get him/herself dressed and undressed
Consider the following as ways to foster the emotional security of your 2-year-old:
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Let your child have a choice when possible: for example, say, "Do you want a banana or an orange?"
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Let your child help around the house, such as dusting, sweeping, or sorting laundry.
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Read picture and story books with your child.
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Help your child learn to wash his/her hands.
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Let your child try to take off his/her own clothes and put on some simple clothes (i.e., clothes without buttons or zippers).
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Let your child play with blocks, balls, crayons, and/or clay. Supervise play so that your child does not put objects in his/her mouth, ears, etc.
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Sing songs, play children's music, and dance with your child.
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Look at family pictures with your child and tell a story.
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Make cut-outs in a large cardboard box to pretend it is a house or car.
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Use toys during bath time; have fun pouring water from one cup to another.
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Let your child talk on a toy phone, or say a few words while you are talking on a real phone.
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Play "follow the leader" games.
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Teach body parts while dressing and bathing.
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Count things out loud to teach your child about numbers (i.e., count eggs in the carton, stairs as you go up, or fingers and toes).
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Use toys that sort shapes such as a circle, square, or triangle.
Always consult your child's physician for more information.
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