Infant Growth and Development Section 7.1 Infant Growth and Development

Influences on Growth and Development Babies experience tremendous amount of physical growth and development in the first year While babies typically follow same development patterns, they do so at their own rate Growth and development are not the same thing Growth refers to changes in size, such as weight and length Development refers to increases and changes in physical, emotional, social, or intellectual skills

Influences on Growth and Development Heredity Genes provide a blueprint for the development of the human body and how it functions throughout life Nutrition Body needs essential nutrients to grow and develop Health Staying healthy is closely linked to other factors that influence growth and development Environment A stimulating environment promotes brain development A stimulating environment is an environment in which a baby has a wide variety of things to see, taste, smell, hear, and touch

Growth During first Year From birth to age one, babies typically triple their birth weight Usually increase their length by about 50% Weight One of the best signs of good health Length In first year, physicians talk about length of baby rather than height Steadily grow in the first year Body Shape Tend to hold themselves in a tightly curled position with their fists clenches, legs bent, and feet curved inward Proportion Compared to the rest of the body, a baby’s head and abdomen are large The legs and arms are short and small

Development During first Year Patterns of physical development Three basic patterns Head to foot Control of body Near to far Close to the body and move outwards Simple to complex Large muscle groups to smaller

Development During first Year Senses Vision At first eyesight is blurry and only sees world in two dimensions By 6 months, has clarity and sharpness of the adult level Hearing Voices can dictate their emotions and reactions Language development begins with hearing spoken words first, and then imitating and understanding them Touch At first, a baby may begin to notice different textures As the ability to reach and grab objects develops, a baby uses touch for exploration Smell and Taste Does not have the opportunity to develop until after birth Sense of smell develops within 10 days Taste is one of the main ways they learn about their world

Development During first Year Reflexes A reflex is an instinctive, automatic response, such as grasping or sucking Begin life with many reflexes to help them survive in the first weeks of life The sucking reflex The rooting reflex Motor Skills Gross motor skill is a skill that involves the large muscles of the body such as shoulders and legs Turning their head, moving their arms, kick their legs Fine motor skill involves the smaller muscles of the body such as those in the fingers Clenching fists, picking up objects

Section 7.2 Caring for An Infant

Holding a Baby http://www.babycenter.com/2_how-to-hold-a-baby_10368219.bc http://www.babycenter.com/2_how-to-pick-up-and-put-down-a-baby_10379781.bc

Bedtime Routines and Sleep Patterns http://www.babycenter.com/2_baby-sleep-bedtime-routines_10414036.bc

Shaken baby Syndrome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgHRWH4USmw

Feeding an infant Provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow and develop, but so much more. Opportunity for babies to interact with others, learn more about their world, and practice skills. Great opportunity for parents to bond with child

Introducing solid foods At about six months, solid foods can be introduced Watery rice cereal first, then thin cereal and baby food of fruits and vegitables After about eight months they can have half solid and half formula By first birthday, most nutrition usually comes from solid foods

Infant Health and Wellness Section 7.3 Infant Health and Wellness

Keeping Baby Clean Bathing a baby Regular baths keep baby clean and healthy Two types: sponge bath and tub bath Infants should have sponge bath until the navel heals Many parents use a portable bath in the sink Around age two to three months, babies should have baths two to three times a week By age seven to eight months, when most babies can sit up steadily in the bath, they tend to enjoy bath time

How to Bathe a Baby Prepare for the baby’s bath Gather everything needed: towels, washcloths, shampoo, and other supplies. Fill about two inches with warm water and test water first Put the baby in the tub Support baby’s head and neck with one hand and arm while holding body with the other. Lower in feet first Wash the baby’s face Wash and rinse the baby’s hair Wash the baby’s body Dry the baby’s body Wrap baby in clean towel immediately. Pat the baby dry, then diaper and dress baby right away Cradle cap is a skin condition known for yellowish, crusty patches on the scalp. Most cases disappear after few weeks or months. Can treat with baby shampoo.

Diapering a Baby Most essential part of a baby’s wardrobe Young baby may need diaper changes 12 to 15 times each day Newborn wets several times an hour but in small amounts that don’t require changing each time Common problem that occurs is diaper rash Condition that includes patches of rough, red, irritated skin in the diaper area

Diaper Options Personal choice whether to use disposable or cloth diapers Some parents do both Disposable diapers More convenient More effective at keeping babies dry and comfortable Some babies develop sensitivity to disposable Add significantly to environmental waste Cloth diapers Most economical choice if washed at home Cost more than disposable if provided and cleaned by commercial diaper service More environmentally friendly

How to Change a Diaper Diaper changes are an opportunity for positive interaction by talking and laughing with the baby while changing diaper Three basic steps Remove the diaper and clean the baby Put on a fresh diaper Hold the baby’s ankles and lift body to slide diaper underneath. Then, bring the diaper up between the baby’s legs. Dispose of used supplies

Teeth Development of baby’s teeth begins about sixth week of pregnancy Baby’s teeth begin to break through the gums at about six months or later First set of teeth called primary teeth Complete set comes in by the time child is 20 months old Can start teething as early as four months Teething is the process of teeth pushing their way through the gums Gums around the new teeth swell and become tender During teething baby may become cranky, fuss during meals, drool a lot, develop a low-grade fever, and want to chew on something hard Once baby’s teeth emerge it is a good idea to begin cleaning regularly

Infant Safety Concerns Safety guidelines for infants Choking: Keep floors clear of small objects such as buttons, coins, and safety pins. Do not feed solid foods until doctor says is safe Suffocation: Soft, flexible objects that can cover infants nose and mouth may cause suffocation. Keep all plastic bags away from infants. Don’t leave stuffed animals or blankets in crib Water: Never leave a baby alone near or in water. This includes water in a bucket, bathtub, or wading pool. Baby can drown in as little as one to two inches of water

Infant Safety Concerns Safety guidelines for infants (continued) Falls: Do not leave a baby alone on any raised area, including an adult bed or a changing table Poisoning: Babies put everything into their mouths. Keep all medicines, household cleaners, paints and other poisonous substances in locked storage area Burns: Never leave child alone around hot liquids, ovens, or iron. Use safety covers on all electrical outlets Sun: Infants should wear sunglasses and hats with brim when outdoors. Avoid direct sunlight. Older than six months can wear sunscreen Animals: Never leave child alone with an animal Clothing: Very important clothes is flame resistant. Especially true for sleepwear. Check labels for information

Regular checkups First checkup usually occurs within a day of birth Checkups often scheduled 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months During exams doctor continues to track the baby’s growth and development, thoroughly examine and measure the baby, and respond to parents’ questions and concerns

Importance of immunizations Immunization: A shot of a small amount of dead or weakened disease-carrying germ given so that the body Vaccine: disease carrying germ that usually is injected in the body One of most important ways caregivers can protect children against certain disease Once immunized, body produces antibodies to fight off the germs for that disease

Watching for Illness Babies cannot say when they are not feeling well Signs may include Irritability Important to watch for signs Lack of energy Constipation Many illnesses do not require medication Nasal congestion Persistent coughing Experts now feel that infants should fight off on their own to build stronger immune system Diarrhea Rashes Vomiting Fever

Videos Baby Proofing How to Change a Diaper Bath to a Newborn