Growth and Development

of the Infant
 Physiological Development

 Weight and height

 Head growth
 Motor development
 Gross motor: ability to use large muscle groups to
maintain balance, for postural control, and for
locomotion
 Fine motor: ability to coordinate hand-to-eye
movement in an orderly and progressive manner
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 0-12/18 MOS )

• Birthweight doubles @ 6 months

• Birth weight triples @ 12 months

• Baby sits steadily, unsupported @ 8 months

• Baby walks w/ assistance, may attempt to stand, @ 12 mos

• Teething begins @ 3-6 mos

 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 1 MONTH )

FONTANELLE
anterior fontanelle =2 inches (4-5 cm) width ; closes at bet 12-18 mos
posterior fontanelle=0.5 inches (0.5-1cm) width; closes by 2 mos

MOTOR
Holds the head parallel from the body when suspended in prone position.
Can turn head side to side when prone; lifts head momentarily from bed.
Asymmetric posture dominates, such as tonic neck reflex.
Primitive reflexes still present.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 12/18 MOS to 3 Years )

• Birth weight quadraples by 3 yrs

• full set of baby teeth comes in by 30 mos

• blood pressure 99/64 mmHg

• pulse 110 beats/min

• grows 8-10 inches

 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 2 – 3 MONTHS )

SENSORY

Follows a light to the periphery.

Has binocular coordination (vertical and horizontal vision)
Listen to sounds.

SOCIALIZATION

Smiles in response to a person or object; cries less

Laughs aloud and shows pleasure in making sounds.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 4-5 MONTHS)

PHYSICAL
Birth weight doubles.
Drools

MOTOR
Can sit when back is supported; balances the head well
Can sustain a portion of weight when held in standing position.
Reaches for and grasps an object w/ whole hand but misjudges distance.
Can carry hand or object to the mouth at will.
Grasp, Tonic Neck and Moro have disappeared.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 4-5 MONTHS)

SENSORY

Recognizes familiar objects and people.

Accommodation is developing.

SOCIALIZATION AND VOCALIZATION

Coos and gurgles when talked to; enjoys social interaction.

Vocalizes displeasure when an object is taken away.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 6-7 MONTHS)

WEIGHT
90 to 150 g (3-5 oz) weekly during second 6 months of life.

HEIGHT
1.25 cm (1/2 inch) a month.

HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE
0.5 cm (1/5 inch) a month.
Teething may.. two lower central incisors, followed by upper incisors.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 6-7 MONTHS)

MOTOR
• Can turn equally well from stomach or back
• Sits fairly well unsupported, esp. if placed in forward-leaning position
• Lifts head off table when supine
• Can approach a toy & grasp it w/ one hand; can transfer a toy from one
hand to the other and from hand to mouth.
• Plays with feet and puts them in mouth.

SENSORY
• Has taste preferences; will spit out disliked food

• Begins to recognize things are still present even though not seen.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 6-7 MONTHS)

SOCIALIZATION AND VOCALIZATION

• “Stranger Anxiety”.

• Makes polysyllabic vowel sounds.

• Vocalizes “m-m-m-m” when crying; cries easily on slightest provocation

but laughs just as quickly.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 8-9 MONTHS )

MOTOR
• Sits steadily alone; pulls self to standing position; stands holding
onto furniture.
• Has a good hand-to-mouth coordination.
• Developing pincer grasp, w/ preference for use of one hand over the
other.
• Crawls, may go backward at first.

SENSORY
• Depth perception is increasing.
• Displays interest in small objects.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
(8-9 MONTHS)

SOCIALIZATION AND VOCALIZATION

Define social attachments is evident; shows anxiety with strangers.

Responds to own name; is separating from mother by desire to act on

own.

Reacts to adult anger and cries when scolded.

Has imitative and repetitive speech using vowels and consonants such as
“Dada and Mama”

No true as yet but comprehend words such as “BYE-BYE”

 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 10-12 MONTHS )

WEIGHT
Birth weight triples.

HEIGHT
Birth length increases by 50%

Head and chest circumference are equal.

Upper and lower and lateral incisors usually have erupted for total of 6-8
teeth.

Hemotocrit: 29-41%
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 10-12 MONTHS )

MOTOR
Creeps (abdomen off the floor)
Stands alone for short times; walks with help; moves around by holding
onto furniture.
Can sit down from a standing position without help.
Can eat a spoon and cup but needs help; prefers using fingers.
Can play pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo; holds a crayon to mark paper
Helps in dressing (e.g. putting an arm through sleeve)

SENSORY
Visual acuity 20/50
Discriminates simple geometric forms.
 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
( 10-12 MONTHS )

SOCIALIZATION AND VOCALIZATION

Shows emotions such as jealousy,affection and anger.

Enjoys surroundings and will explore away from mother.
Fearful in strange situations or strangers; clings to mother.
May develop “security” blanket.
Can say two words besides DADA or MAMA with meaning
Understands simple verbal requests (e.g. “Give it to me.”
 Psychosexual Development

 Cognitive development: Piaget’s sensorimotor

stage has four substages
 Reflexes
 Primary circular reactions
 Secondary circular reaction
 Coordination of secondary schema
 Psychosocial Development

 Erikson
 Trust versus mistrust
 Health Promotion

 Health screening
 PKU
 Iron deficiency anemia
 Lead poisoning
 Hypothyroidism
 Immunizations
 Vision screening
 Hearing screening
 Dental care
 Health Promotion (cont.)

 Nutrition
 Breast milk or formula
 Solid foods
 Weaning
 Use of pacifier
 Health Promotion (cont.)

 Communication
 Receptive language
 Expressive language
 Health Promotion (cont.)

 Colic
 Recurrent episodes of unexplained crying and
inability to be consoled
 Sleep
 Sleep consolidation
 Diurnal cycle
 SIDS
 Health Promotion (cont.)

 Stranger and separation anxiety

 Alternative child care
 Center-based care
 Family child care
 In-home care
 Health Promotion (cont.)

 Play
 Safety promotion and injury prevention: family
teaching
 Safety checklist
 Hidden dangers
 FEEDING MILESTONES
DURING INFANCY

At birth, the full-term infant has sucking, rooting and swallowing

reflexes.
Newborn feels hunger and indicates desire for food by crying; expresses
satiety by falling asleep.
At 1 month, has strong extrusion reflex.
By 5-6 months, can use fingers to eat teething crackers or toast.
By 6-7 months, developmentally ready to chew solid foods.
By 8-9 months, can hold a spoon and play with it during feeding.
By 9 months, can hold own bottle.
By 12 months, can drink from cup with some spilling at times bottle is
still preferred.
 ACCIDENT PREVENTION
DURING INFANCY

NEWBORN INFANT

Don’t smoke around infants.

Don’t leave infant unattended in a high place or unstrapped in a
safety seat.
Use rear-facing car safety seat.
Make sure furniture is free of lead-based paint.
Crib slats should be no further than 2 3/8 inches; the mattress and
bumper pads should be tight fitting.
 ACCIDENT PREVENTION
DURING INFANCY

2 MONTHS
Don’t hold infant while smoking or drinking hot liquid.
Set water heater at 120ºF-130ºF; Test bath water with inner aspect of the
wrist before immersing infant.

4 MONTHS
Keep small objects and small pieces of food out of infant’s reach.
Don’t use teething biscuits- they may become small and obstruct airway.

6 MONTHS
Child-proof the home,esp. the kitchen and bathroom. Remove all
dangerous items or place out of reach.
Use syrup of ipecac in home for emergency use.
Keep poison control number on phone; use as needed.