Newborn & Infant Development Georgia CTAE Resource Network Instructional Resources Office Written by: LaDonna Steele Bartmas July 2009

Types of Development Physical – growth in the body’s size and ability Intellectual – maturing of the mind Emotional/Social – expression of feelings and relationships with others

Newborn/Infant Physical Development One Month –Lifts head and turns it from one side to the other when placed on stomach –Focuses on objects from about 10” to up to 3’ away –Responds to parent’s voice Two Months –Responds to more sounds

Newborn/Infant Physical Development Three Months –Opens and closes hands –Holds head steadily when held up –Lifts head and chest when lying on stomach –Swipes at objects –Brings hands together

Newborn/Infant Physical Development Four Months –Supports upper body on hands when lying on stomach –Grasps rattle –Puts hands in mouth –Rolls from tummy to back Five Months –Rocks on stomach while kicking legs and making swimming motions with arms –Reaches out and grabs toys –Turns head in direction of sound

Newborn/Infant Physical Development Six Months –Passes a block from one hand to the other –Puts objects in mouth with hand –May begin creeping Seven Months –Rolls over both ways –Sits up steadily –Stands with assistance –Grabs for objects with raking motion

Newborn/Infant Physical Development Eight Months –Pulls self up to standing –Propels self by arms, knees, or squirming motion Nine Months –Uses index finger to poke –Puts objects in containers

Newborn/Infant Physical Development Ten Months –Crawls well - Uses index finger to point Eleven Months –Cruises- Uses gestures –Grasps with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp) Twelve Months –May walk a few steps –Stands alone for short period of time –Picks up object using forefinger and thumb –Puts objects into and takes objects out of containers –Holds and drinks from cup

Newborn/Infant Intellectual Development One-Two Months –Gains information through senses –Makes eye contact –Prefers faces to objects Three to Four Months –Can tell a smile from a frown Five to Six Months –Is alert for longer periods of time –Studies objects carefully –Recognizes own name –Recognizes basic sounds

Newborn/Infant Intellectual Development Seven to Eight Months –Imitates the others’ actions –Begins to understand cause and effect –Remembers things that have happened –Sorts objects by size –Solves simple problems –Recognizes some words

Newborn/Infant Intellectual Development Nine to Ten Months –Looks for dropped objects –Responds to some words and phrases –May say a few words Eleven to Twelve Months –Can point to and identify objects in books –Fits blocks or boxes inside on another –Says “mama” and “dada” –Understands simple words and phrases

Newborn/Infant Emotional/Social Development One Month –Coos and babbles Two to Three Months –Begins to smile and show excitement –Wants companionship –Makes different crying sounds for different reasons Four to Six Months –Laughs, squeals, babbles –Can tell the difference between family members –Reaches out with hands and arms to play –May cry when left alone

Newborn/Infant Emotional/Social Development Seven to Eight Months –Tries to imitate sounds made by adults –Plays alone and play longer with other people and toys –Enjoys other children –Begins to experience stranger anxiety Nine to Ten Months –Objects if toys is taken away –Crawls around to look for parents –Enjoys playing “peek-a-boo” and sound games

Newborn/Infant Emotional/Social Development Eleven to Twelve Months –Uses gestures as well as simple body language –Shows stronger likes and dislikes –Spends time looking in mirrors

References Information taken from The Developing Child (2006) textbook.