The First 1,000 Days

Tasmania's Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy 'It Takes a Tasmanian Village' has a specific focus on the first 1,000 days (pregnancy to baby's first 2 years) because we know that this time is critical for future wellbeing.

The first 1,000 days refers to the average full term of a pregnancy to when your baby is two years old.
Experts tell us that if babies receive constant and secure responses when they are upset, and have trusted relationships very early in life, this makes a big difference to whether children grow up healthy and well. This starts from the mother and her healthy eating, safety and security during pregnancy and extends to the attachment between a parent or caregiver and a newborn immediately after birth.

We used to think that babies could only concentrate for moments, a bit like goldfish, but we now know (based on video micro analysis research) that infants have their own non-verbal communication, especially from around 400 days. We also now know that a developing foetus can process language and recognise the voice of its mother and surrounding caregivers. The experts now know that the first 1,000 days is a far more critical phase of human development than we had previously realised.

There’s so much already happening to support mothers and babies in the first 1,000 days. For example, the Child Health and Parenting Service has 72 sites across Tasmania and visits every new parent in their home.

Read more about what’s already happening across government and the community to help improve wellbeing during the first 1,000 days.