Infancy and Toddlerhood

 Gain 50% in height from birth to age 1; 75% by age 2  Grow in spurts  Gain “baby fat” until about 9 months, then get slimmer  Girls slightly shorter and lighter than boys

CephalocaudalProximodistal *Head to tail*Near to far *Lower part of body*Extremities grow grows later than the later than head, head chest, and trunk

 Experience- expectant brain development takes place early and naturally as a part of a preschooler’s daily routine.  No evidence exists to support a sensitive period early in life when mastering skills that depend on extensive training can occur. In fact, rushing early learning can overwhelm young brains.

 Sleep moves to an adult night-day schedule during the first year.  Sleep needs decline from hours a day by age 2.  Night wakings often increase between the ages of 1 ½ and 2 years, and then decline.

 Cosleeping is the norm for 90% of the world’s population.  Cultural values of collectivism versus individualism strongly influence infant sleeping arrangements.  Cosleeping is increasing in North America, perhaps because more mothers are breastfeeding.

 Heredity  Nutrition  Breast vs. Bottle feeding  Malnutrition Emotional Well-Being Problems can cause failure to thrive

 Correct fat-protein balance  Nutritionally complete  More digestible  Better growth  Disease protection  Better jaw and tooth development  Easier transition to solid food

 Research shows that there is a relationship between rapid weight gain in infancy and later obesity.  What can you do? -Breastfeed for 6 months -Avoid food loaded with sugar, salt, and saturated fats. -Promote physical exercise -Limit TV viewing “screen” time

 Types- Iron deficiency anemia, Food insecurity, Marasmus, Kwashiorkor  Consequences- -Physical symptoms -Growth/weight problems -Poor motor development -Learning, attention problems -Passivity, irritability, anxiety

 Gross motor development -crawling, standing, walking  Fine motor development -reaching and grasping

 Prereaching  Reaching -with two hands, then one  Ulinar Grasp -Adjust grip to object Move objects from hand to hand  Pincer Grasp

 Provide Safe Toys  Child-Proof all rooms  Continuously monitor the infant or toddler  Use a car seat, following government regulations  Report unsafe toys and equipment

 Toilet training is best delayed until the months following the second birthday.  Effective training techniques include: -establishing regular toilet routines -using gentle encouragement Praising children for their effort

4-7 MonthsSense of musical phrasing 6-8 Months“Screen out” sounds from non-native languages 7-9 MonthsDivide the speech stream into word-like units 10 MonthsCan Detect words that start with weak syllables

 Brain development helps infants reach adult levels of vision skills: * 2-4 months- focus and color * 6 months-acuity, scanning & tracking * 6-7 months- depth perception  Steps in Pattern Perception: 3 weeks- prefer large simple patterns 2 months- Prefer complex patterns 4 months- can detect patterns 12 months- can detect objects even if part is missing