1 Physical Development of the Infant Chapter 7

2 Skeletal Growth Made of bones and teeth Skeletal growth refers to the changes in length, weight, and appearance of teeth

3 Length and Weight Changes quickly in first year Length used in place of height (baby lays) After the first year it is height Average length is 20 – 21 inches Double their birth weights in four or five months Triple in one year

4 9 mths infants become chubby Fat tissues under the skin have increased Fat tissues decrease in time Boys have more muscle length and thickness Girls have more fat

5 Rate of growth is more important than actual length and weight Doctor used a growth chart to keep track Looking for any problems like: Failure to thrive – condition in which a child fails to grow at a healthy rate

6 Failure to Thrive Diseases that prevent all or some nutrients from being absorbed or that causes nutrient to be quickly expelled from the body The baby’s food is not providing enough nutrient ( diluted formula or breast milk affected by mother’s malnutrition)

7 Failure to Thrive Feedings are offered too infrequently or last too short a time The baby is abused or neglected

8 Body Proportions Relative size of body parts Infants’ head is about ¼ his or her total length An adult’s head is 1/10 of his or her height From birth to 6 mths infant’s head is larger At 6 mths the chest becomes larger

9 So they have a large head, and long trunk with a pot bellied abdomen and short legs Trunk grows in the first year Legs don’t grow much longer at this point Center of gravity is high on the baby’s body and have poor balance

10 Bones & Teeth Infant skeleton is mainly made of cartilage Don’t easily break Large spaces between their “bones” Can suck their toes easily

11 Infant’s bones can easily become misshapen Lying in one position all the time can flatten the baby’s head in one place Lay baby on back (due to SIDS) Change positions during the day for “tummy time”

12 3 changes in baby’s bones Length of the bones increase Ossification (depositing of minerals calcium and phosphorous) begins Helps skeletal frame become sturdy Helps infant sit and eventually walk Number of bones change Hand/wrist of 1 yr old has 3 bones Adult has 28 bones Ossification of skull so it becomes on (in 2 years)

13 Teeth Part of skeletal system Begin forming in 6 th week of prenatal life All 20 deciduous teeth (nonpermanent) and a few permanent teeth are developing deep in the jaw Cut teeth during 2 nd have of the first year Sequence –(order) teeth is easier to know than WHEN teeth appear (timing) Some are born with 1 or 2 teeth others it takes a year See page 208 figure 7-2

14 Motor Development Use and control of muscles that direct body movements Learning to use and control large muscles (trunk, arms, legs) Gross motor skills Control small muscles Fine motor skills

15 Motor skills develop in 3 main patterns Order of motor development builds upont the order of brain development

16 1. babies move slowly because they must think as they move 2. babies’ reactions develop from general to specific. At first, babies show general reactions to what they see and hear. Later in the year, babies give more specific reactions. Young infants see something they want, they wriggle all over

17 3. motor development occurs in two directions. The first is from the head to the foot. The second is from the center of the body out to the extremities (from the trunk to the hands and feet)

18 Head to Food Development Begins before birth Head first then arm buds and leg buds Babies facial muscles well developed Milestones –sequenced steps and the order these steps is more constant than their timing Age norm– range of ages at which average children reach developmental milestones

19 Head and Neck Control Need to have their heads supported Muscles not strong enough to hold it up 3-4 mth eye muscles are well developed, can focus on objects in any direction By 6 mths head control is almost complete

20 Trunk Control Develops more slowly Babies placed on their stomachs can lift their heads before head and chest

21 Rolling Over 2 nd & 5 th mth can roll over Front to back and then back to front

22 Sitting Takes several months Need to gain strength in neck and back Sit briefly with support By age 7 mths can sit a short time See page 210 Figure 7-3

23 Leg Control Last phase of head to food development Locomotion begins (ability to move from place to place Go through stages of crawling, creeping, standing, and walking

24 Crawling Move by pulling with the arms but not lifting the abdomen from the floor Play with their own feet and toes at about 7 months and begin to crawl around there

25 Creeping Moving by using the hands and knees or the hands and feet with the abdomen off the floor Between 6 & 8 months Movement may become rhythmical, rocking motion

26 Standing & Walking Cruising – walking by holding something for support Babies stand alone and then walk with support Use large objects for balance Stand alone between 12 – 14 months

27 Center to Extremities Development Control begins with the trunk then arms, hands, and fingers Use arms and hands to crawl and lift then use hand and finger control later Control of arms, hands and finger see page 214 figure 7-9 Voluntary grasping- intentional grasping of objects– 4 months

28 Differences in Physical Development Order of physical development is the same for every child Each child develops at his or her own rate Rate is affected by heredity, nutrition, illnesses, and activity May develop quickly in one area but more slowly in another

29 If development seems to be much slower than the norms, parents should talk to a doctor Regular medical care is the best way to find and treat problems that may exist

30 Brochure Develop a brochure that explains at what age parents can expect their children to learn certain motor skills. Find pictures or drawings to illustrate the various skills Find out if the brochures can be used for new parents

31 Technology With a partner visit a Web site designed for parents. Search for information that would help the parents of infants understand their child’s physical development in the first year. Use the computer to write a review of this information.

32 Observations Visit a child day care center and observe various ages. Watch babies and record their activities