Growth and Growth and Development of InfantsDevelopment of Infants

Patterns of Physical DevelopmentPatterns of Physical Development

Head to toeHead to toe Lift head to see object Lift head to see object Muscle control: pick up Muscle control: pick up Walk towardsWalk towards

Near to far: trunk outwardNear to far: trunk outward Wave armsWave arms Grab with palm of hand Grab with palm of hand Pick up with thumb and fingersPick up with thumb and fingers

Simple to complexSimple to complex Eating with fingers Eating with fingers Spoon and forkSpoon and fork

WeightWeight

Lose some after birthLose some after birth 1-2 lbs/month 1st 6 months1-2 lbs/month 1st 6 months 1 pound/month in 2nd 6 months1 pound/month in 2nd 6 months

Birth weight:Birth weight:• Doubled by 6 monthDoubled by 6 month• Tripled by 1 yrTripled by 1 yr

20-22 lbs: avg. wt. of 1 yr old20-22 lbs: avg. wt. of 1 yr old Heredity, feeding habits, and physical Heredity, feeding habits, and physical

activityactivity

HeightHeight

Avg newborn =20 inchesAvg newborn =20 inches Avg 1 year =30 inchesAvg 1 year =30 inches Heredity: influences height more than Heredity: influences height more than

weightweight

ProportionProportion

Large: head and abdomenLarge: head and abdomen Short/small: arms and legsShort/small: arms and legs Head grows rapidly b/c brain Head grows rapidly b/c brain

developmentdevelopment Soft spots allow head to grow and closeSoft spots allow head to grow and close

11stst Year Physical Year Physical DevelopmentsDevelopments

Sight: Improves RapidlySight: Improves Rapidly

Blurry at first, within week can focus on Blurry at first, within week can focus on object 7-10 inches awayobject 7-10 inches away

1 month, focus on objects 3 feet away1 month, focus on objects 3 feet away By 3 ½ months, vision almost as good as an By 3 ½ months, vision almost as good as an

adultadult Prefer patterns with high contrast and facesPrefer patterns with high contrast and faces

alternating stripes, bull’s eyesalternating stripes, bull’s eyes Prefer color redPrefer color red

Depth PerceptionDepth Perception

2nd month: recognize that 2nd month: recognize that object is three-dimensional, object is three-dimensional, not flatnot flat

Hand-Eye Coordination Hand-Eye Coordination

Develop hand-eye coordination: Develop hand-eye coordination: Move hands and fingers in relation to what Move hands and fingers in relation to what

is seenis seen 3-4 months: reach for what they see3-4 months: reach for what they see

Essential for:Essential for:• Eating Eating • Catching a ball Catching a ball • Coloring Coloring • Tying shoesTying shoes

HearingHearing

develops before birthdevelops before birth At birth, can tell general direction sound is At birth, can tell general direction sound is

coming fromcoming from Prefer human voicePrefer human voice

soothing voice calmssoothing voice calms loud voice alarmsloud voice alarms

Smell and TasteSmell and Taste

Within 10 days can tell mom’s smellWithin 10 days can tell mom’s smell Can distinguish taste by 2 weeks oldCan distinguish taste by 2 weeks old

show preference for sweet tasteshow preference for sweet taste Learn about world by using mouthLearn about world by using mouth

VoiceVoice

Cry becomes softer as lungs matureCry becomes softer as lungs mature Physical growth of throat muscles, tongue, Physical growth of throat muscles, tongue,

lips, teeth, and vocal cordslips, teeth, and vocal cords Tongue and mouth interior change making Tongue and mouth interior change making

speech development possiblespeech development possible

TeethTeeth

Begin to develop in 6Begin to develop in 6thth week of pregnancy week of pregnancy Primary teeth begin to appear between 6-7 months of Primary teeth begin to appear between 6-7 months of

ageage Complete set by 20 months (1 year, 8 months)Complete set by 20 months (1 year, 8 months)

Teething can be painful processTeething can be painful process Can refuse food or drool a lot, increased desire for Can refuse food or drool a lot, increased desire for

liquid, coughing, and feverliquid, coughing, and fever how to help minor teething pain:how to help minor teething pain:

teething biscuits or rubber teething ringsteething biscuits or rubber teething rings rub ice cube on gums to ease pain temporarilyrub ice cube on gums to ease pain temporarily teething medicationteething medication

Motor SkillsMotor Skills

Abilities that depend on use and control of Abilities that depend on use and control of musclesmuscles

Mastering motor skills requires intellectual, Mastering motor skills requires intellectual, social, emotional, and physical social, emotional, and physical developmentdevelopment Control head by 1 monthControl head by 1 month 2-3 months can lift their chest2-3 months can lift their chest By 9 months crawling- adds opportunity for By 9 months crawling- adds opportunity for

learninglearning

Fine motor skills Fine motor skills - development of small muscles and the - development of small muscles and the ability to control use of the hands and feet, and do activities ability to control use of the hands and feet, and do activities that involve the small muscles of the fingers, toes and other that involve the small muscles of the fingers, toes and other parts of the body.parts of the body.

GROSS MOTOR:GROSS MOTOR: growth occurs first in a child's torso growth occurs first in a child's torso

(trunk of the body).(trunk of the body). Rolls from back to side or tummy Rolls from back to side or tummy Sits alone Sits alone Reaches for a parent with arms Reaches for a parent with arms Crawls about on the floor Crawls about on the floor Pulls self to a sitting position Pulls self to a sitting position Pulls self up to stand next to a Pulls self up to stand next to a

support (couch) support (couch) Stands alone with support Stands alone with support Takes steps alone with support, Takes steps alone with support,

then without support then without support -Walks backward -Walks backward Crawls up stairs with support Crawls up stairs with support

Gross motor skills Gross motor skills - development of - development of large muscles and the ability to move large muscles and the ability to move from place to place or do physical from place to place or do physical activities that involve the large muscles activities that involve the large muscles of the body, arms and legs.of the body, arms and legs.

FINE MOTOR:FINE MOTOR: Reaches for dangling objects or Reaches for dangling objects or

toys toys Grasps object using palm and Grasps object using palm and

fingers fingers Passes a toy or object between Passes a toy or object between

hands hands Puts objects in mouth to explore Puts objects in mouth to explore Uses a pincer grasp (thumb and Uses a pincer grasp (thumb and

finger) to hold food or object finger) to hold food or object Grasps and uses toys to play or Grasps and uses toys to play or

keep attention keep attention Reaches for objects, such as a Reaches for objects, such as a

spoon to feed self spoon to feed self

Comparing Emotional and Social Comparing Emotional and Social DevelopmentDevelopment

• Emotional Development is the process of learning to Emotional Development is the process of learning to recognize and express one’s feelings and to establish recognize and express one’s feelings and to establish one’s identity as a unique personone’s identity as a unique person

– Healthy emotional development leads to a person that can Healthy emotional development leads to a person that can handle stress, shows empathy towards others, and has handle stress, shows empathy towards others, and has self-confidence self-confidence 

• Social Development is the process of learning to Social Development is the process of learning to interact with others and to express oneself to othersinteract with others and to express oneself to others

– Healthy social development leads to a person who shows Healthy social development leads to a person who shows tolerance for others, can communicate well with others, tolerance for others, can communicate well with others, and listen to different points of view before actingand listen to different points of view before acting

• Both social and emotional development are connectedBoth social and emotional development are connected– Influences include bond between parent and child, Influences include bond between parent and child,

atmosphere of home, and temperament of childatmosphere of home, and temperament of child

AttachmentAttachment• Babies have a need for physical contact Babies have a need for physical contact • Attachment- bond between parent and childAttachment- bond between parent and child

– Requires more than physical contact, there should be interaction Requires more than physical contact, there should be interaction as wellas well

– A gentle massage can soothe a baby and promote bondingA gentle massage can soothe a baby and promote bonding– A baby who is left alone most of the time except for physical A baby who is left alone most of the time except for physical

care may fail to respond to people and objectscare may fail to respond to people and objects– Research from Baylor University: abused and neglected Research from Baylor University: abused and neglected

children had brains 20-30% smaller than averagechildren had brains 20-30% smaller than average– Infants smiles can fade, cries weaken, and can become Infants smiles can fade, cries weaken, and can become

withdrawn when no attention or encouragement is offered withdrawn when no attention or encouragement is offered • Failure to Thrive- baby does not grow and develop properly Failure to Thrive- baby does not grow and develop properly • How you care for a baby helps build trustHow you care for a baby helps build trust

– Keep fed, dry, warm vs. rigid schedule of feeding and no Keep fed, dry, warm vs. rigid schedule of feeding and no comforting when cryingcomforting when crying

A Baby Who Cries Needs Attention A Baby Who Cries Needs Attention and Care:and Care:

Is there a physical problem?Is there a physical problem? Diaper change or hungry?Diaper change or hungry? Too cold or too hot?Too cold or too hot? If the baby does not need any of these, the If the baby does not need any of these, the

baby needs comfortbaby needs comfort

Comfort Measures to TryComfort Measures to Try

Cuddle with baby in a rocking chairCuddle with baby in a rocking chair Move the baby to a new positionMove the baby to a new position Talk softly to the baby or singTalk softly to the baby or sing Offer a toy to interest and distract the babyOffer a toy to interest and distract the baby Stroke the baby’s back to give comfortStroke the baby’s back to give comfort

Tips for Good Sleep HabitsTips for Good Sleep Habits

Get into a routineGet into a routine A bath helps- try lavender baby lotion A bath helps- try lavender baby lotion

afterwardsafterwards Try swaddling young infants/newbornsTry swaddling young infants/newborns Babies like a dimly lit cool(but comfortable) Babies like a dimly lit cool(but comfortable)

roomroom Try playing musicTry playing music Rocking usually helpsRocking usually helps

Self-Comforting TechniquesSelf-Comforting Techniques

Suck on a pacifier, thumb, or fistSuck on a pacifier, thumb, or fist pacifier safety: pacifier safety: never tie pacifier to a string and hang around never tie pacifier to a string and hang around

baby’s neckbaby’s neck check for cuts and tearscheck for cuts and tears clean oftenclean often

Blanket or stuffed toyBlanket or stuffed toy

Signs of Social Development in Signs of Social Development in InfancyInfancy

• The first days of life- The first days of life- babies respond to human voices babies respond to human voices • One month- One month- usually stop crying when lifted or touched, face brightens when usually stop crying when lifted or touched, face brightens when

sees a familiar facesees a familiar face• Two months- Two months- smile at people, enjoy watching peoplesmile at people, enjoy watching people• Three months- Three months- turn head in response to a voice, want companionship and turn head in response to a voice, want companionship and

physical carephysical care• Four monthsFour months-laugh out loud, look to others for entertainment-laugh out loud, look to others for entertainment• Five months- Five months- show interest in other family members, cry when left alone in show interest in other family members, cry when left alone in

room, start to babbleroom, start to babble• Six months- Six months- love company and attentionlove company and attention• Seven months- Seven months- prefer parents over other family members or strangersprefer parents over other family members or strangers• Eight months- Eight months- prefer to be in a room with other people, can usually crawlprefer to be in a room with other people, can usually crawl• Nine to ten months- Nine to ten months- active socially, love attentionactive socially, love attention• Eleven and twelve months- Eleven and twelve months- friendly and happy, sensitive to emotions friendly and happy, sensitive to emotions

around them, like to be the center of attentionaround them, like to be the center of attention

Learning in the First YearLearning in the First Year

Hear, see, taste, smell, and feel are the Hear, see, taste, smell, and feel are the building blocks of learning for infantsbuilding blocks of learning for infants

A baby’s ability to learn from the senses is A baby’s ability to learn from the senses is called perceptioncalled perception Ex: newborn sees object, 3 month old realizes Ex: newborn sees object, 3 month old realizes

that it’s three dimensional, then develops that it’s three dimensional, then develops hand-eye coordination to grasp and handle hand-eye coordination to grasp and handle objectobject

4 abilities that show a baby’s growing and 4 abilities that show a baby’s growing and thinking power in the first year of life:thinking power in the first year of life:

1. Remembering- information from the senses is interpreted1. Remembering- information from the senses is interpreted– ex: baby stops crying when someone comes in the room ex: baby stops crying when someone comes in the room

because he knows that he is likely to be picked upbecause he knows that he is likely to be picked up2. Making associations- linking two things together 2. Making associations- linking two things together 

– ex: baby associates parent with receiving comfortex: baby associates parent with receiving comfort3. Understanding cause and effect- the idea that one action results in 3. Understanding cause and effect- the idea that one action results in

another action or conditionanother action or condition– ex: baby shuts his eyes, it gets dark; baby opens his eyes, it get ex: baby shuts his eyes, it gets dark; baby opens his eyes, it get

light againlight again• As motor skills develop, cause and effect learning changesAs motor skills develop, cause and effect learning changes

– can pull string on a toy to make it movecan pull string on a toy to make it move– they have an understanding of their own power to make they have an understanding of their own power to make

things happenthings happen• Babies learn by repetitionBabies learn by repetition

– baby drops a bowl on the floor from the high chair to be baby drops a bowl on the floor from the high chair to be sure that every time it hits the groundsure that every time it hits the ground

– parents can become frustratedparents can become frustrated

4. Paying attention- a baby’s attention span grows 4. Paying attention- a baby’s attention span grows longerlonger

– attention span- the length of time a person can attention span- the length of time a person can concentrate on a task without getting bored concentrate on a task without getting bored

– if an object is presented over and over again, the if an object is presented over and over again, the baby’s response will become less enthusiastic baby’s response will become less enthusiastic

– bright babies have a short attention span- they bright babies have a short attention span- they tend to lose interest sooner than babies of tend to lose interest sooner than babies of average or below average intelligenceaverage or below average intelligence• beyond infancy, children with above average beyond infancy, children with above average

intelligence have a longer attention spanintelligence have a longer attention span

Milestones of Language Milestones of Language DevelopmentDevelopment

• 1-6 months1-6 months: coos, gurgles, and squeals; experiments : coos, gurgles, and squeals; experiments different sounds by changing the shape of the mouthdifferent sounds by changing the shape of the mouth

• 7-12 months7-12 months: respond to their name, add actions to : respond to their name, add actions to words such as “bye-bye”; connect words to meaningswords such as “bye-bye”; connect words to meanings

• 13-18 months13-18 months: vocabulary grows and can use words : vocabulary grows and can use words in combinations such as “no nap”in combinations such as “no nap”

• 18 months-2 years18 months-2 years: can learn 12 words a day, use : can learn 12 words a day, use words to express feelingswords to express feelings

• 2-2 ½ years2-2 ½ years: construct 3 and 4 word sentences, use : construct 3 and 4 word sentences, use pronounspronouns

• 2 ½ -3 years2 ½ -3 years: speak in longer sentences, use past and : speak in longer sentences, use past and present tenses, use plurals, understand that order of present tenses, use plurals, understand that order of words can affect the meaning in a sentencewords can affect the meaning in a sentence

ActivityActivity

You are looking for a child care provider for You are looking for a child care provider for your infant. your infant.

What are three things that you will look for What are three things that you will look for when choosing your provider? when choosing your provider? Make a list with three questions that you Make a list with three questions that you will ask the potential caregivers when you will ask the potential caregivers when you interview them.interview them.