Understanding Infants What is Typical?

At no other time in life are growth and development so dramatic. Growth: refers to an increase in size or weight Development: is the increase in physical, intellectual, emotional, and social skills. Moral awareness is also part of development.

Newborns Face and head at birth

Physical Development Is the increasing ability to control and coordinate body movements. This occurs as muscles grow stronger. Most newborns triple their weight and grow 50% taller during the first year.

Reflex Behaviour  Infants are born with these reactions to sensory experiences. Rooting ( sucking) = cheek stroked with finger or nipple and head turns; mouth opens; sucking movements begin. Ends at 3-4 months

Rooting Reflex

Moro Reflex = loud noise or sudden change in baby’s position. Extends legs, arms, and fingers; arches back; draws head back. Ends 4-6 months

Palmar Grasp: palm of hand stroked = makes a very strong fist. Ends 3-5 months

Swimming Put in water on stomach= well coordinated swimming movements. Ends at about 6 months

Babinski Reflex Sole of foot stroked = toes fan out; foot twists in. Ends at 6-24 months

Walking Reflex Held under arms with bare feet touching flat surface. Makes steplike motions that look like well coordinated walking. Ends at 2 months

Motor Skills Motions of newborns are very general because they can’t focus on selected muscles. They lack motor skills ( abilities that depend on the use and control of muscles) Motor skills develop quickly but unevenly as reflexes disappear

Body Development 1) Head: soft spots or fontanels. They keep the skull flexible  Very wobbly  3 months most infants can hold their head up for a short time.  Not until 6 months that infant can fully control the head.

2) Vision: Newborns can focus clearly on objects only between 5-13 inches away. Just about the distance to a parent’s face when infant held during feeding. By 3-4 months baby’s vision expands beyond 13 inches. 3 dimensional vision develops around 2 months and fully achieved by 7 months. Vision continues to develop to the age of 7 years.

3) Hearing: can hear even before birth. Healthy babies born with excellent hearing  Favourite sounds is the human voice, especially parents or moms  6 months start to investigate sounds around them  9 months listen to sounds they know and search for sounds out of sight

4) Taste and Smell: Have more taste buds than an adult, therefore sense of taste good.  Until they learn to use hands put things in mouth to feel. This is why small objects are choking hazards  Also have a good sense of smell. 6 days old can recognize smell of mother’s breast milk.

5) Teeth: teething usually begins when the baby is 6-10 months. Born without teeth.  Baby teeth not permanent. Fall out.