Newborn & Infant Development

1. Newborn & Infant Development Georgia CTAE Resource Network Instructional Resources Office Written by: LaDonna Steele Bartmas July 2009

2. Types of Development • Physical – growth in the body’s size and ability • Intellectual – maturing of the mind • Emotional/Social – expression of feelings and relationships with others

3. Newborn/Infant Physical Development • One Month • Lifts head and turns it from one side to the other when placed on stomach • Focuses on objects from about 10” to up to 3’ away • Responds to parent’s voice • Two Months • Responds to more sounds

4. Newborn/InfantPhysical Development • Three Months • Opens and closes hands • Holds head steadily when held up • Lifts head and chest when lying on stomach • Swipes at objects • Brings hands together

5. Newborn/InfantPhysical Development • Four Months • Supports upper body on hands when lying on stomach • Grasps rattle • Puts hands in mouth • Rolls from tummy to back • Five Months • Rocks on stomach while kicking legs and making swimming motions with arms • Reaches out and grabs toys • Turns head in direction of sound

6. Newborn/InfantPhysical Development • Six Months • Passes a block from one hand to the other • Puts objects in mouth with hand • May begin creeping • Seven Months • Rolls over both ways • Sits up steadily • Stands with assistance • Grabs for objects with raking motion

7. Newborn/InfantPhysical Development • Eight Months • Pulls self up to standing • Propels self by arms, knees, or squirming motion • Nine Months • Uses index finger to poke • Puts objects in containers

8. Newborn/InfantPhysical Development • Ten Months • Crawls well - Uses index finger to point • Eleven Months • Cruises - Uses gestures • Grasps with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp) • Twelve Months • May walk a few steps • Stands alone for short period of time • Picks up object using forefinger and thumb • Puts objects into and takes objects out of containers • Holds and drinks from cup

9. Newborn/InfantIntellectual Development • One-Two Months • Gains information through senses • Makes eye contact • Prefers faces to objects • Three to Four Months • Can tell a smile from a frown • Five to Six Months • Is alert for longer periods of time • Studies objects carefully • Recognizes own name • Recognizes basic sounds

10. Newborn/InfantIntellectual Development • Seven to Eight Months • Imitates the others’ actions • Begins to understand cause and effect • Remembers things that have happened • Sorts objects by size • Solves simple problems • Recognizes some words

11. Newborn/InfantIntellectual Development • Nine to Ten Months • Looks for dropped objects • Responds to some words and phrases • May say a few words • Eleven to Twelve Months • Can point to and identify objects in books • Fits blocks or boxes inside on another • Says “mama” and “dada” • Understands simple words and phrases

12. Newborn/Infant Emotional/Social Development • One Month • Coos and babbles • Two to Three Months • Begins to smile and show excitement • Wants companionship • Makes different crying sounds for different reasons • Four to Six Months • Laughs, squeals, babbles • Can tell the difference between family members • Reaches out with hands and arms to play • May cry when left alone

13. Newborn/Infant Emotional/Social Development • Seven to Eight Months • Tries to imitate sounds made by adults • Plays alone and play longer with other people and toys • Enjoys other children • Begins to experience stranger anxiety • Nine to Ten Months • Objects if toys is taken away • Crawls around to look for parents • Enjoys playing “peek-a-boo” and sound games

14. Newborn/Infant Emotional/Social Development • Eleven to Twelve Months • Uses gestures as well as simple body language • Shows stronger likes and dislikes • Spends time looking in mirrors

15. References • Information taken from The Developing Child (2006) textbook.