7 Contents Chapter Physical Development of Infants Section 7.1 Infant Growth and Development Section 7.2 Caring for an Infant Section 7.3 Infant Health and Wellness
Section 7.1 Infant Growth and Development There are four main influences on a baby’s growth and development. An infant’s growth and development follow many patterns.
Content Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary makeup developmental milestone stimulating environment growth chart proportion depth perception reflex gross motor skill fine motor skill hand-eye coordination makeup accommodate
Developmental Milestone A key skill used to check a child’s progress Not all children meet them at the same time An overall guideline Sickness, lack of stimulating environment, malnutrition Examples: Learning to walk, rolling over, saying their first words
Influences on Growth and Development Babies experience a tremendous amount of growth and development in their first year. Growth refers to physical size. Development refers to physical, emotional, social, or intellectual skills.
Influences on Growth and Development The four major influences include: heredity nutrition health environment Stimulating Environment! Makes brain connections! How do you think the environment can influence growth and development? 6
Growth and Development During the First Year During the first year, babies typically triple their birth weight. Weight gain is a strong sign of good health. Proportion: The size relationship between different parts of the body
Growth and Development During the First Year Physical development follows three patterns: head to foot near to far simple to complex Babies’ perception of the world increases using vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
Head to Toe Development What does this mean? The head takes the lead in development. Babies first gain control of their head movement Their sight, hearing, taste, and smell develop more quickly than arms, legs, feet, etc
Growth and Development During the First Year Speech develops with growth of the throat muscles, tongue, lips, teeth, and vocal cords. Babies are born with some automatic reflexes.
Babies Learn Through Their Senses -Vision Newborns have very blurry vision At one week they can focus on object 7 – 10 inches away and can follow object moved across their face By one month babies can focus on objects 3 feet away At two months, they demonstrate depth perception Depth Perception: Perceive objects as 3-D By six months their eyesight is at an adult level
Hearing Babies can hear, even before birth A full-term baby can already tell the general direction that a sound comes from Newborns respond to the tone of a voice Soothing, loving voices are calming to newborns At seven months, babies can recognize their caregivers voices This is how they learn to talk
Touch Newborns last brain development and movement skills in order to explore their world through touch They rely on the touch of others to teach them about their environment Touch builds trust
Smell and Taste Smell does not develop until after birth Within 10 days, they can distinguish their mother’s smell from others Taste develops rapidly They can distinguish the difference between water, sour liquids, sugar solutions, salt, and milk. Babies put everything in their mouth to explore the world. Make sure objects are safe and clean!
Reflexes An instinctive, automatic response, such as grasping or sucking The Sucking Reflex: stimulated when something is put in a baby’s mouth and allows a newborn to feed from the mother’s breast or bottle The Rooting Reflex: This happens when the baby’s cheek is stroked and they turn to that side Moro Reflex: Causes baby to throw the arms back when suddenly released Other Automatic Reflexes: Shutting the eyes under bright lights, grabbing a finger when placed in hand, stepping motions.
Fine and Gross Motor Skills Gross Motor Skills: A skill that involves the large muscles of the body Examples: Hula hooping, playing soccer, swimming Fine Motor Skills: Involves smaller muscles of the body such as those in the fingers Examples: Picking up pieces of cereal, using scissors, cutting paper Hand-eye coordination: Eat and catching a ball
Developmental Milestones – 1 Month Lifts head and turns it from one side to the other when placed on stomach Focuses on objects from about 10 inches to up to 3 feet away Reacts to a parent’s voice (Sometimes)
2 Months Makes sounds such as “ooh” and “aah” Watches objects moved about 6 inches away from their face Responds to more sounds and different pitches of voice
3 Months Opens and closes hands Holds head steadily when held up Lifts head and chest when on stomach Swipes at objects Brings hands together
4 Months Supports upper body on hands when lying on stomach Shows preference for red and blue over yellow May begin to use vowels and consonants in babbling, such as “ah ga” Grasps rattle Puts hands in mouth Rolls from tummy to back
5 Months Rocks on stomach while kicking legs and making swimming motions with arms Reaches out and grabs toys Turns head in direction of sound Knows positive speech from unhappy speech
6 Months Passes a block from one hand to another Puts objects to mouth with hand May begin creeping Recognizes basic sounds of native language Begin teething
7 Months Rolls over both ways Sits up steadily Stands with assistance Knows parents and caregivers by their voices and by sighs Can follow a path of moving objects with eyes Babbles with strings of vowels and consonants, such as “ba, ba,ba” Grabs for objects with raking motion
8 Months Pulls self up to standing Bangs blocks together Propels self by arms, knees, or squirming motion Looks at objects with sustained attention
9 Months Uses index finger to poke Puts objects in containers Leans forward to pick up toy Notices small objects May start associating sounds with objects
10 Months Crawls well Can put objects into containers Uses index finger to start pointing Imitates new word sounds more frequently
11 Months Walks while holding onto furniture or crib rails for support Uses gestures like shaking head for no Releases objects intentionally Grasps with thumb and forefinger
12 Months May walk a few steps alone Stands alone for short time Picks up small objects using thumb and forefinger Puts objects into and takes them out of containers Holds and drinks from cup
Section 7.2 Caring for an Infant Caregivers need to know the proper ways of handling, feeding, and dressing a baby. This knowledge will help keep a baby healthy.
Content Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary shaken baby syndrome antibody weaning malnutrition aggravate curb
Handling a Baby Babies need to be handled to be changed, fed, bathed, dressed, cuddled, and hugged. Remove pillows, fluffy blankets, puffy bumper pads, and stuffed toys from bed.
Handling a Baby Always place a baby face up in the bed to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Check a crying baby for wetness, hunger, cold, or pain. Never shake or jiggle a baby.
Sleep Patterns The amount a time a baby spends sleeping decreases greatly during the first year Newborn sleeps 16 hours a day (4 naps all about 3 to 4 hours) 3 Months sleep 14 to 15 hours a day 4 Months sleep 12 to 14 hours a day (taking naps midmorning and late afternoon) 6 Months sleep 12 to 14 (sleep about six naps at night) 1 year olds sleep 12 hours a day (9-10 hours at night)
Shaken Baby Syndrome 100% Preventable Usually happens because of frustration It is OKAY to put your baby down in a safe place and walk away
Feeding an Infant During the first six months, nutrient needs can be met with formula or breast milk. Feed newborns as often as they want to eat. Overfeeding is not a problem. Babies must be burped after feeding. Some babies have food allergies.
Burping an Infant Infants usually need to be burped twice during a feeding Babies can be burped in many positions Protect your clothing Babies do not always burp each time
Breast Milk vs. Formula Breast Milk Contains all the nutrients a baby needs Contains antibodies to fight off germs Antibodies are a substance produced by the body that boost’s a baby’s defenses against infection Has colostrum The first breast milk, rich in antibodies and nutrients Germ-free and easy to digest Breast-fed babies get fewer ear infections Not all mother’s are able to do this Takes practice and patience
Breast Milk vs. Formula Formula Most often milk-based Can cause digestive problems Everyone is able to use this method Comes in three forms: a concentrated liquid that is mixed with water, powder that is mixed with water, and ready to use Does not contain antibodies
Weaning Changing from drinking from the bottle tor breast to a cup By the age of four to six months babies have usually had solid food for the first time Weaning needs to happen gradually
Nutrition for Babies Babies need: Enough calories to provide activity and rapid growth Foods that provide key nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals Adequate amounts of liquid Malnutrition: Inadequate nutrition that can cause poor brain development
Dressing a Baby Babies are sensitive to overheating. Comfort and ease in dressing are important when choosing baby’s clothing. Dressing and undressing a baby quickly and easily takes practice. Why is it important to be able to dress a baby quickly?
Section 7.3 Infant Health and Wellness Keeping a baby healthy involves bathing, diapering, and taking care of baby’s teeth. A baby needs regular checkups and scheduled immunizations. 42
Content Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary cradle cap diaper rash teething immunization vaccine designate emerge
Keeping Baby Clean Keeping a baby clean helps maintain overall wellness. Guidelines should be followed to safely bathe a baby. Babies can be bathed in a bath or have sponge baths
How to Bathe a Baby 1. Prepare for the baby’s bath. Gather everything you need, put two inches of warm water into the bathtub, use your arm to test the water, and undress the baby 2. Put the baby in the tub Support head and neck 3. Wash the baby’s face 4. Wash and rinse the baby’s hair Use baby shampoo and avoid getting soap in the baby’s face 5. Wash the baby’s body 6. Dry the babies body Wrap baby in a clean, dry towel immediately
Diapering A baby’s diaper must be changed several times a day. Caregivers can choose between cloth diapers and disposable diapers. A home with a baby should have a designated diaper-changing area. Disposable diapers are more effective at keeping a baby dry, but cloth diapers are more environmentally friendly.
Diapering Diaper Rash: A condition that includes patches of rough, red, irritated skin in the diaper area. Controlling bacteria in diapers helps this condition.
Health Care Teething begins at about six months of age. Caregivers must learn how to keep children protected from a variety of safety hazards. teething The process of the teeth pushing their way through the gums.
Health Care Babies and infants should have regular medical checkups. Immunizations are an important way to protect children against certain diseases. Vaccines can be given to protect from disease. immunization A shot of a small amount of a dead or weak disease-carrying germ given so that the body can build up resistance to the disease.
Infant Safety Hazards Choking Suffocation Water Falls Poison Burns Sun Animals Clothing