Physical Development of Infants

1. Physical Development of Infants

2. Patterns of Physical Development • Head to Foot • Lifts up head first, then shoulders, then knees to eventually standing • Starts long before birth when the head takes the lead in development • Near to far • They move their arms and legs before their fingers and toes • Simple to Complex • They learn to use their large muscles first then their fine muscles

3. Influences on Growth and Development • Heredity • Genes influence a person’s intellectual potential and artistic abilities • Nutrition • Eating nutritious foods is going to insure that a child develops properly • Health • If babies are born sick they may develop slower • Experiences • Interaction with parents and other family members also influences the way a child develops

4. More Influences • Environment • Making sure that babies have a stimulating environment which means that they have a variety of things to see, taste, smell, hear, and touch enhances brain development

5. Growth in First Year • Weight • A baby usually gains about 10-14 pounds in its first year. • Length • They usually grow about 10-12 inches in the first year • Body Shape • Newborns usually hold themselves in a curled position • As they get older they tend to stretch out more • Proportion • A baby’s head and abdomen are its largest body parts.

6. Development During the 1st Year • Vision • At first, their vision is blurry and doesn’t reach the clarity of an adults vision till around 6 months • Hearing • Babies hearing develops long before they are born. They are able to recognize voices that are heard while in the womb once they are born. • Smell and Taste • From a few days after birth, a newborn can determine its mother’s smell from another persons • Babies usually show a preference for sweet tastes early on • Touch • Newborns usually lack sufficient brain development and movement skills to explore their world through touch. • Voice • Newborns cries are shrills which softens as the baby lungs mature. The tongue and inside of mouth change in shape during the first months of life

7. Motor Skills • Reflexes occur since babies have little control over their muscles • Gross motor skills (large muscles) • Babies learn to control these first: legs, arms, shoulders • Fine motor skills (small muscles) • Babies learn to control these later which include: fingers, toes, and activities requiring precise movements.

8. Reflexes • Sucking reflex • Happens whenever something is put in the baby’s mouth • Rooting reflex • Whenever a baby’s cheek is rubbed a baby usually turns toward the side it was rubbed on • Grasping reflex • Whenever you place something in their hand they usually close it

9. Hand-Eye Coordination • This is an essential skill for many tasks in life. • Newborns hand-eye coordination develops as their motor skills improve. • By the end of the first year, they can move items from place to place with their hands.

10. Conclusion • With a stimulating environment, infants can develop normally and with ample opportunities.