Development in Infancy

Development in Infancy

0-1month physical development • Reflexes-moro, rooting, grasping, stepping • Swallowing, sucking, coughing, yawning, blinking, and elimination • Maintains fetal position when sleeping • Holds hands in fist • Eyes do not always work together and may appear crossed at times • Attempts to track objects

0-1 monthSpeech and Language • Crying and fussing • Reacting to loud noises • Shows preference for certain sounds (voices)

0-1 monthSocial-emotional • Short periods of alertness • Sleeps 17 to 19 hours a day • Likes to be held close and cuddled when awake • Individuality • Establishes an emotional bond with caregivers • Infant maybe tense with individual not comfortable with infants

0-1more information • May enjoy bath • Express displeasure when clothes are pulled over head • Enjoys being swaddled • Enjoys face to face position

What to do with 0-1month old baby? • Read baby’s cues • Make eye contact when baby is in alert state • Talk and sing to baby in normal voice when feeding changing, bathing • Recognize and show delight in baby’s responsiveness. • Show baby simple pictures-faces, stuffed animal and have them track them

1-4 month old physical • Stepping reflexes disappears • Rooting and sucking reflexes are well developed • Drooling continues • Grasp reflex gradually disappears • Hold hand in open or semi-open position • Raises head and upper body on arms when in prone position • Turns head side to side when in a supine (face up) position • Upper body usually move active • Can be pulled to sitting position

1-4 months cognitive • Continues to gaze in direction of object after it disappears • Exhibits some sense of color, shape (bottle) • Does not search for object out of sight • Watches hands intently • Reaches for objects • Bats at objects in front of baby • Can distinguish parents’ faces • Begins to mouth objects

1-4 months language • Infant will reacts to sounds • Babbles and coos • Coos single vowel sounds (ah, eh, uh) • Laughs out loud • Gurgles coos and squeals when awake

1-4 monthssocial • Smiles • Enjoys playing with hands and toes and fingers • Needs familiar routines • Reaching out for familiar objects • Stops crying when caregiver is near • Enjoys being held

1-4 monthsother • Not ready to eat solid foods • Begins to sleep through the night • Likes being talked and sang to.

What do I do with a 1-4 month old baby? • Smile with baby • Imitate vocal sounds of baby • Sing songs • Read to baby play peek a boo • Gently encourage motor activity “bicycle” • Walk around with baby • Get unbreakable mirrors, soft toys , musical toys rattles

4-8 monthsphysical • Teeth begin to appear • True eye color is establishing itself • Blinking reflex • Moro reflex disappears • Parachute reflect appears toward end of this stage • Pincer grasp is beginning • Transfer objects from one hand to another • Palmer grasp • May hold own bottle

4-8months physical • May sit alone with or without support • May pull self to crawling position • Rolls over from front to back and back to front • May scoot backwards when placed on stomach • Enjoys being in standing position

4-8 monthscognitive • Turns toward familiar sounds and voices • Reaches for objects • May wave • Depth perception is evident • Looks over side of crib if something is dropped (will drop things over side) • Searches for toy that has been hidden (object permanence) • Bangs and shakes objects • Puts everything in mouth • Attachment to caregiver

4-8 months language • May respond to own name • May express some vowel and constant sounds • Responds to variations in others voices (anger, playfulness and sadness) • Babbles • Reacts to different noises (vacuum cleaner, phone, dog)

4-8 months social • Watches people and activities • Can tell the difference between strangers and familiar people • Responses differently to facial expressions • Enjoys being held • Laughs out loud • Becomes upset if toys is taken aware • Seeks attention using body movements

4-8 months other • Reaches for cup or spoon when feeding • May accept small amount of strained solid foods • Closes mouth firmly when not hungry or turns head • Enjoys pulling of clothes, socks and plays with velcro or string • Likes to kick, arch back, and bring feet to mouth • Likes to be bounces and swayed • Enjoys soft squeaky toys, rattles • Puts everything in mouth

What can I do with a 4-8 mouth old baby? • Use baby’s name • Provide toys-rattles, plastic keys, shakers, teethers, • Remember fist rule • Allow plenty of time for bathtime when possible • Play “This Little Piggy” • Play radio and taped music • Read and talk to baby • Name body parts, look in mirror, sing to baby

8-12 monthsphysical • Reaches with one had • Transfers object from one hand to another • Explores objects and environment • Uses pincer grasp • Beginning to pull to standing position • Beginning to stand alone (may be walking) • Crawls and creeps • Combat crawls Walks with adult support

8-12 monthscognitive • Watches people, objects in environment • Follows simple instructions • Reaches for toys out of reach but visible • Puts everything in mouth • Hits two blocks together • Drops toys intentionally and repeatedly • Shows some spatial relationships • Shows awareness of everyday objects-toothbrush, turns pages in book

8-12 months language • Says ma-ma and da-da • Babbles and jabbers • Shakes head for no • Responds to name when called • Babbling in sentences • Waves bye bye • Imitates sounds • Enjoys music, rhymes and songs • Hand adults objects

8-12 monthssocial • Definite fear of strangers • Wants parents to be in sight • Social • Enjoys new experiences • May exhibit some assertiveness • Offers toys to others • Attached to favorite toy or blanket • Understands no • May look and smile at person saying his/her name

What do I do with a 8-12 month old baby? • Play games with music and song • Provide safe floor space close to parent or caregiver • Talk about activities • Give baby simple instructions • Accept new activity as game • Be patient • Give baby push-pull toys, balls , toys with wheels

Development in Infancy