A PROJECT ON “INFANT STAGE OF HUMAN GROWTH”

SUBMISSION FOR:
11th CBSE Internal Exam

GUIDE:
Mrs. Manisha Dhone

SUBMITTED BY:
Riya Hanumant Vyavahare

SUBJECT:
English

STREAM:
Class 11th Science

ACADEMIC YEAR:
[2023-2024]

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Riya Hanumant Vyavahare [Roll no. 12] of class
XI-Science

has successfully completed the investigatory project of English on topic “Infant

Stage Of Human Growth” under the guidance of Mrs. Manisha Dhone ma’am
during

the academic year 2023-24.

Mrs. Manisha Dhone

(English Teacher)

Mrs. Sheetal Sapkal Mrs. Mini Pradeepkumar

(Principal) (Vice-Pincipal)

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A project is a golden opportunity for leading and self

development. I consider myself fortunate and privileged to have such a
wonderful mentors to guide me through the journey for the completion of project.

My sincere thanks to Mrs. Sheetal Sapkal, The Principal of

Sinhgad Spring Dale School. Who despite being extraordinarily busy took time
out to address and guide me.

My heartfelt gratitude to my teacher Mrs. Manisha Dhone for her

patience and belief in me. Her exemplary investment in the complete process,
constant encouragement and insightful feedback helped me achieve my objective.

I would also like to thanks Mrs. Mini Pradeepkumar, The Vice

Principal and faculty of Sinhgad Spring Dale School for allowing me to conduct
my research.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family members and classmates

whose support helped me to complete the project within the deadline.

INDEX
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Sr No. Content Page No.
1. Action plan
2. Objectives of
study
3. What do you
mean by human
growth?
4. Infant stage
5. Changes during
infant stage
6.
Behaviour
7. Other
developments

8. Safety measures
9. Positive parenting
tips
10. Infant’s growth
chart
11. Students learning
12. Bibliography

19th DECEMBER Understanding the Project

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20TH DECEMBER Selection of the topic

22th DECEMBER Finalising the topic

24th DECEMBER Understanding the topic

26TH DECEMBER Taking the guidelines from

guide for the project

28TH DECEMBER Starting the research for the

project

29TH DECEMBER Gathering relevant

information for the project

2ND JANUARY Completion of the

information

3RD JANUARY Correction of errors

4th JANUARY Completion of the final draft

of project

5TH JANUARY Print out of the project

ACTION PLAN

OBJECTIVES
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 This project mainly focuses on infant stage of human growth.

 To understand what growth actually means.

 To understand the infant stage of human growth and development.

 Develop a basic understanding of the rapid development occuring in a new

born and development of brain during 1 to 12 months.

 To study changes that occur during infant stage.

 To understand Physical and Sensory development in them.

 To study their behaviour during the time span of 1 to 12 months.

 To know what Safety measures should a parent take while dealing with an
infant.

 To learn the basic idea for positive parenting.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HUMAN GROWTH?

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 Human growth refers to the process of physical, cognitive, and emotional
development and maturation that occurs throughout an individual's lifespan. It
encompasses various aspects, including increases in height and weight,
development of motor skills, cognitive abilities, and emotional and social
capabilities.

During childhood and adolescence, rapid physical growth is often observed,

marked by increases in height, weight, and the development of secondary sexual
characteristics. This period is characterized by significant changes in the skeletal,
muscular, and reproductive systems.

Cognitive growth involves the development of intellectual abilities, learning,

and problem-solving skills. Emotional and social growth include the
development of emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, and the formation of
social relationships.

Human growth is a complex and multifaceted process influenced by genetics,

environment, nutrition, health, and various other factors. It is a dynamic and
continuous journey that extends from birth to adulthood, and it involves different
stages, each with its own set of
milestones and challenges.

INFANT STAGE

The infant stage of human growth refers to

the earliest phase of life, typically spanning from birth
to approximately two years of age. This period is
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 characterized by rapid and remarkable development across various domains,
including physical, motor, sensory, social, emotional, and cognitive aspects.
Infancy is a critical time for laying the foundation for future growth and
development.

The fetus is now in a drastically different environment and further

development depends on how well he/she can adjust. Normal new born lets out a
lusty cry which signals that the newborn now breaths on its own. The lungs that
have been inactive get filled and that makes the baby cry. However,if there is any
delay in the birth cry, it means that the baby is not breathing. This delay can
affect the oxygen supply to the brain and if not restarted, the child may be
retarded or even die. The weight of the new born must be noted. Average birth
weight is around 2.5 kg below which, it is called low birth weight. Consequently
the newborn has to struggle much more to reach normalancy and face life.

During this stage, adjusting to the new non-

uterine environment becomes the major goal or focus in the life of
the neonate. Adjusting to room temperature. I breathing
independently, sucking and swallowing the milk, elimination of
body , waste are prime areas that the new born needs to master.
The newborn goes I through a wake-sleep cycle. It consists of
wakefulness and activity for about t I 50 to 60 minutes followed
by sleep for three to four hours.

CHANGES DURING INFANT STAGE

Infant development is most often divided into the following areas:

 Cognitive
 Language
 Physical, such as fine motor skills (holding a spoon, pincer grasp) and gross
motor skills (head control, sitting, and walking)

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  Social

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

An infant's physical development begins at the head, then moves to

other parts of the body. For example, sucking comes before sitting, which comes
before walking.

SENSORY DEVELOPMENT

 Hearing begins before birth, and is mature at birth. The infant prefers the
human voice.
 Touch, taste, and smell, mature at birth; prefers sweet taste.
 Vision, the new born infant can see within a range of 8 to 12 inches (20 to
30 centimeters). Colour vision develops between 4 to 6 months. By 2
months, can track moving objects up to 180 degrees, and prefers faces.
 Inner ear (vestibular) senses, the infant responds to rocking and changes of
position.

NEW BORN TO 2 MONTHS :

 Can lift and turn their head when lying on their back
 Hands are fisted, the arms are flexed
 Neck is unable to support the head when the infant is pulled to a sitting
position

PRIMITIVE REFLEXES INCLUDES :

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 Babinski reflex, toes fan outward when sole of foot is stroked
 Moro reflex (startle reflex), extends arms then bends and pulls them in
toward body with a brief cry; often triggered by loud sounds or sudden
movements
 Palmar hand grasp, infant closes hand and "grips" your finger
 Placing, leg extends when sole of foot is touched
 Plantar grasp, infant flexes the toes and forefoot
 Rooting and sucking, turns head in search of nipple when cheek is touched
and begins to suck when nipple touches lips
 Stepping and walking, takes brisk steps when both feet are placed on a
surface, with body supported.
 Tonic neck response, left arm extends
when infant gazes to the left, while
right arm and leg flex inward, and vice
versa.

3 TO 4 MONTHS :

 Better eye-muscle control allows the infant to track objects.

 Begins to control hand and feet actions, but these movements are not fine-
tuned. The infant may begin to use both hands, working together, to
accomplish tasks. The infant is still unable to coordinate the grasp, but
swipes at objects to bring them closer.
 Increased vision allows the infant to tell objects apart from backgrounds
with very little contrast (such as a button on a blouse of the same colour).

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 Infant raises up (upper torso, shoulders, and head) with arms when lying
face down (on tummy).
 Neck muscles are developed enough to allow the infant to sit with support,
and keep head up.
 Primitive reflexes have either already disappeared, or are starting to
disappear.

5 TO 6 MONTHS :

 Able to sit alone, without support, for only moments at first, and then for up
to 30 seconds or more.
 Infant begins to grasp blocks or cubes using the ulnar-palmar grasp
technique (pressing the block into palm of hand while flexing or bending
wrist in) but does not yet use thumb.
 Infant rolls from back to stomach. When on tummy, the infant can push up
with arms to raise the shoulders and head and look around or reach for
objects.

6 TO 9 MONTHS :

 Crawling may begin

 Infant can walk while holding an adult's hand
 Infant is able to sit steadily, without support, for long periods of time
 Infant learns to sit down from a standing position
 Infant may pull into and keep a standing position while holding onto
furniture
 Babbles
 Blows bubbles ("raspberries")

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  Laughs

9 TO 12 MONTHS :

 Infant begins to balance while standing alone

 Infant takes steps holding a hand
 May take few steps alone
 Imitates some sounds
 Says "Mama" and "Dada,", but
not specifically for those parents
 Responds to simple verbal
commands, such as "no"

BEHAVIOR

New born behaviour is based on six states of consciousness:

 Active crying
 Active sleep
 Drowsy waking
 Fussing
 Quiet alert
 Quiet sleep
 Yawning

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 Healthy babies with a normal nervous system can move smoothly from one
state to another. Heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, and body movements are
different in each state.
Many bodily functions are not stable in the first months after birth. This is
normal and differs from infant to infant. Stress and stimulation can affect:
 Bowel movements
 Gagging
 Hiccupping
 Skin colour
 Temperature control
 Vomiting
 Yawning

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Periodic breathing, in which breathing starts and stops again, is normal. It is

not a sign of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Some infants will vomit or
spit up after each feeding, but have nothing physically wrong with them. They
continue to gain weight and develop normally.

Other infants grunt and groan while making a bowel movement, but
produce soft, blood-free stools, and their growth and feeding are good. This is
due to immature abdominal muscles used for pushing and does not need to be
treated.

Sleep/wake cycles vary, and do not stabilize until a baby is 3 months old.
These cycles occur in random intervals of 30 to 50 minutes at birth. Intervals
gradually increase as the infant matures. By age 4 months, most infants will have
one 5-hour period of uninterrupted sleep per day.

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 Breast-fed infants will feed about every 2 hours. Formula-fed infants
should be able to go 3 hours between feedings. During periods of rapid growth,
they may feed more often.

You do not need to give water to a baby. In fact, it could be dangerous. An

infant who is drinking enough will produce 6 to 8 wet diapers in a 24-hour
period. Teaching the infant to suck a pacifier or their own thumb provides
comfort between feedings.

SAFETY MEASURES

Safety is very important for infants. Base safety measures on the child's
developmental stage. For example, around age 4 to 6 months, the infant may
begin to roll over. Therefore, be very careful while the baby is on the changing
table.

Consider the following important safety tips:

 Be aware of poisons (household cleaners, cosmetics, medicines, and even
some plants) in your home and keep them out of your infant's reach. Use
drawer and cupboard safety latches. Post the national poison control
number -- 1-800-222-1222 -- near the phone.

 DO NOT allow older infants to crawl or walk around in the kitchen while
adults or older siblings are cooking. Block the kitchen off with a gate or
place the infant in a playpen, highchair, or crib while others cook.

 DO NOT drink or carry anything hot while holding the infant to avoid
burns. Infants begin waving their arms and grabbing for objects at 3 to 5
months.
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 DO NOT leave an infant alone with siblings or pets. Even older siblings
may not be ready to handle an emergency if it occurs. Pets, even though
they may appear to be gentle and loving, may react unexpectedly to an
infant's cries or grabs, or may smother an infant by lying too closely.

 DO NOT leave an infant alone on a surface from which the child can
wiggle or roll over and fall off.

 For the first 5 months of life, always place your infant on their back to go to
sleep. This position has been shown to reduce the risk for sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS). Once a baby can roll over by himself, the maturing
nervous system greatly reduces the risk for SIDS.

 Know how to handle a choking emergency in an infant by taking a certified

course through the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross,
or a local hospital.

 Never leave small objects within an infant's reach, infants explore their
environment by putting everything they can get their hands on into their
mouth.

 Place your infant in a proper car seat for every car ride, no matter how
short the distance. Use a car seat that faces backward until the infant is at
least 1 year old AND weighs 20 pounds (9 kilograms), or longer if possible.
Then you can safely switch to a forward facing car seat. The safest place for
the infant's car seat is in the middle of the back seat. It is very important for
the driver to pay attention to driving, not playing with the infant. If you
need to tend to the infant, safely pull the car over to the shoulder and park
before trying to help the child.

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  Use gates on stairways, and block off rooms that are not "child proof."
Remember, infants may learn to crawl or scoot as early as 6 months.

Positive Parenting Tips

Following are some things

you, as a parent, can do to help your baby during this time:
 Talk to your baby. She will find your voice calming.
 Answer when your baby makes sounds by repeating the sounds and adding
words. This will help him learn to use language.
 Read to your baby. This will help her develop and understand language and
sounds.
 Sing to your baby and play music. This will help your baby develop a love
for music and will help his brain development.
 Praise your baby and give her lots of loving attention.
 Spend time cuddling and holding your baby. This will help him feel cared
for and secure.
 Play with your baby when she’s alert and relaxed. Watch your baby closely
for signs of being tired or fussy so that she can take a break from playing.
 Distract your baby with toys and move him to safe areas when he starts
moving and touching things that he shouldn’t touch.
 Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Parenting can
be hard work! It is easier to enjoy your new baby and be a positive, loving
parent when you are feeling good yourself.
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 INFANT’S GROWTH CHART

Language/
Gross Motor Fine Motor Cognitive Social
1 month Moves head from Strong grip Stares at hands Tracks movement
side to side when and fingers with eyes
on stomach

2 months Holds head and Opens and Begins to play Smiles

neck up briefly closes hands with fingers responsively
while on tummy

3 months Reaches and Grips Coos Imitates you when

grabs at objects objects in you stick out
hands your tongue

4 months Pushes up on Grabs Laughs out loud Enjoys play and

arms when lying objects -- may cry when
on tummy and gets playing stops
them!

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5 months Begins to roll Is learning to Blows “raspberries” Reaches for
over in one or transfer (spit bubbles) mommy or daddy
the other objects from and cries if
direction one hand to they’re out of
the other sight

6 months Rolls over Uses hands Babbles Recognizes

both ways to “rake” familiar faces --
small objects caregivers and
friends as well as
family

7 months Moves around Is learning to Babbles in a more Responds to other

--is starting to use thumb complex way people’s
crawl, scoot, and fingers expressions of
or “army emotion
crawl”

8 months Sits well Begins to Responds to familiar Plays interactive

without clap hands words, looks when games like
support you say their name peekaboo

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 9 May try to Uses the Learns object Is at the height
months climb/crawl up pincer permanence -- that of stranger
stairs grasp something exists anxiety
even if they can’t
see it

10 Pulls up to stand Stacks and Waves bye-bye Learns to

months sorts toys and/or lifts up understand
arms to cause and effect
communicate “up” (“I cry, Mommy
comes”)

11 Cruises, using Turns Says “mama” or Uses mealtime

months furniture pages “dada” for either games
while you parent (dropping
read spoon, pushing
food away) to
test your
reaction;
expresses food
preferences
12 Stands unaided Helps Says an average of Plays imitative
months and may take while 2-3 words (often games such as
first steps getting “mama” and pretending to
dressed “dada”) use the phone
(pushes
hands into
sleeves)

STUDENTS LEARNING

Therefore this project enables readers to :

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 Discuss what does growth actually mean.

 Accurately describe growth in an infant.

 Describe physical development in an infant

 Also describe sensory development in them.

 Describe changes occurring from new born to 12 months.

 Describe the behaviour of an infant.

 Describe other developments in them.

 Discuss what safety measures they should take while dealing with an infant.

 Describe positive parenting and parenting tips.

 Discuss infants growth chart from new born to 12 months.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002004.htm

 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment
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 https://www.vedantu.com/biology/infancy

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_development_stages

 https://www.northshore.org/pediatrics/ages-and-milestones/infant/

 Hornbill textbook class-xi