Infant Physical Development

4.01

Notes

• The development of the body and maintenance of its needs

• Ages are birth to one year

• How does one care for an infant in their 12 months of life?

PATTERNS

Head

To

Foot

Notes

• Babies develop control of head and neck muscles first, then control of muscles move down baby and end with control of legs and feet

• Holding his/her head steady before learning to crawl

PATTERNS

Near

To

Far

Notes

• development begins at the trunk of the body and moves outward to hands and feet

• From sitting up and then hold a bottle

PATTERNS

SimpleTo

Complex

Notes

• large muscle development takes place first leading to more fine muscle and complex abilities later

• Reaching toward objects before picking up

small objects

GROWTH

Weight&

Length

Notes

• Most babies lose about 10 percent of their birth weight in the first five days of life

• Gain 1 to 2 pounds per month in the first six months

• Average weight of a one-year-old is 20 to 22 pounds

• Average baby is 20 inches long at birth• Average baby at one year is 30 inches

long

GROWTH

Body

Shape

Notes

• Baby’s head and abdomen are large, and the legs and arms are short and small

• Hold themselves in a tightly secured position with fists clenched

• Body straightens out during the first six months

Growth

Senses

Notes

• Vision is blurry at birth but within a week or so, infant is aware of surroundings (2D) and by 2 months (3D)

• 2 month olds cannot follow with eyes • Can tell the direction of sound• Very early can tell mother by their smell and

taste• Exploring toys through touch• Two-week old babies can taste the difference

between water, sour, sugar, and salt, and milk

Growth

Voice

Notes

• shrill but softens as lungs mature

• Change in tongue and in the shape and proportion of the inside of the mouth” during the first months of life leads to speech development

Growth

Motor

Skills

• at birth babies have little control over their muscles

• Gross motor skills involve use of large muscles such as arms and legs

• Fine motor skills involve use of small muscles such as hands and fingers

Growth

Reflexes

Notes

• Sucking-putting a bottle to the lips• Startle-slamming a door loudly• Grasp-grabbing what is in their hand• Babinski-occurs when baby’s foot is

stroked and the toes fan out and foot twists in

• Rooting: when cheek is stroked, baby turns toward the side stroked with open mouth

Development

Influences

Notes

• Growth is related to good eating habits and exercise.

• An important key to development is experiences.

• A stimulating environment in which the baby has a wide variety of things to see, taste, smell, hear, and touch enhances development

Development

Physical

Care

Notes• Dressing-Keep a baby from being cold while

dressing and undressing.• Handling-An infant’s back and head should be

supported at all times.• Diapering-If a baby has diaper rash, he/she

should be changed more often.• Feeding-The mother has to monitor everything

she eats because it affects the baby.• Sleep-On back and in patterns• Bath-Sponge until cord falls off• Teeth-Wipe gums