Infancy

Physical Development and

Characteristics
 Characteristics of Infancy

Because some infants are born prematurely and

some post maturely, it is obvious that not all
infants will show the same level of physical
and mental development. There are certain
descriptions of a normal full time infant.
Infancy is the Shortest Time Period

Infancy is the shortest of all developmental

periods as it begins with birth and ends when
the individual is approximately two weeks old.
Infancy is a Time of Radical Adjustment

In the whole of an individual’s life, he never goes

through such sudden and complete changes and
adjustments the way it happens in infancy.
 Infancy is a Plateau in Development

At the time of birth, there is often a slight regression

in development which lasts for several days to a
week. By the end of the infancy period, the
infant’s state of development is usually back to
where it was at the time of birth.
Infancy is a Preview of Development

It is not possible to predict with even reasonable

accuracy what the individual’s future development
will be on the basis of the development apparent
at birth. However, the newborn’s development
provides a clue as to what expect later on.
 Infancy is a Hazardous Period
• Physically it is hazardous
because of the difficulties of
making the necessary radical
adjustments to the totally
new and different
environment. High infant
mortality rate is an evidence
of this.
• Psychologically, infancy is
hazardous because it is the
time when the attitudes of
significant people towards the
infant are crystallized.
Major Adjustments of Infancy

Infants must make four major adjustments

before they can resume their developmental
progress. If they do not make them quickly,
their lives will be threatened.
 Temperature Change

There is a constant temperature of 100 degree F

in the uterine sac, while temperature in the
hospital or home may vary from 60 to 70.
 Breathing

When the umbilical cord is cut, infants must begin

to breathe on their own.
 Sucking and Swallowing

The infant must now get nourishment by sucking

and swallowing, instead of receiving it from
the umbilical cord.
 Elimination

The infant’s organs of elimination begin to work

soon after birth. Previously, it was done through
the umbilical cord.
Indications of Difficulty in Adjustment
 Loss of Weight

Because of difficulties in adjusting to sucking and

swallowing, the newborn infant usually loses
weight during the first week of infancy.
 Disorganized Behavior

Disorganized behavior includes irregularities in

breathing, frequent urinations and
defecations, wheezing and regurgitations.
 Infant Mortality

Even today, the rate of infant mortality during

the first two days of postnatal life is high.
 Conditions that Affect Parental Attitude
towards the Infant

• Preparation of parental duties

• The child birth experience
• The mother’s physical condition
• Concerns about expenses
• Evidence of defect
 Conditions that Affect Parental Attitude
towards the Infant

• Infant postnatal adjustment

• Infantile crying
• Prenatal resentment against work, privation,
and expenses
• Concern about normality
• Concern about survival