Infant development is most often divided into the following areas: Show
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT An infant's physical development begins at the head, then moves to other parts of the body. For example, sucking comes before sitting, which comes before walking. Newborn to 2 months:
Primitive reflexes include:
3 to 4 months:
5 to 6 months:
6 to 9 months:
9 to 12 months:
SENSORY DEVELOPMENT
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT Crying is a very important way to communicate. By the baby's third day of life, mothers can tell their own baby's cry from that of other babies. By the first month of life, most parents can tell if their baby's cry means hunger, pain, or anger. Crying also causes a nursing mother's milk to letdown (fill the breast). The amount of crying in the first 3 months varies in a healthy infant, from 1 to 3 hours a day. Infants who cry more than 3 hours a day are often described as having colic. Colic in infants is rarely due to a problem with the body. In most cases, it stops by 4 months of age. Regardless of the cause, excessive crying needs a medical evaluation. It can cause family stress that can lead to child abuse. 0 to 2 months:
2 to 4 months:
4 to 6 months:
6 to 9 months:
9 to 12 months:
BEHAVIOR Newborn behavior is based on six states of consciousness:
Healthy babies with a normal nervous system can move smoothly from one state to another. Heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, and body movements are different in each state. Many bodily functions are not stable in the first months after birth. This is normal and differs from infant to infant. Stress and stimulation can affect:
Periodic breathing, in which breathing starts and stops again, is normal. It is not a sign of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Some infants will vomit or spit up after each feeding, but have nothing physically wrong with them. They continue to gain weight and develop normally. Other infants grunt and groan while making a bowel movement, but produce soft, blood-free stools, and their growth and feeding are good. This is due to immature abdominal muscles used for pushing and does not need to be treated. Sleep/wake cycles vary, and do not stabilize until a baby is 3 months old. These cycles occur in random intervals of 30 to 50 minutes at birth. Intervals gradually increase as the infant matures. By age 4 months, most infants will have one 5-hour period of uninterrupted sleep per day. Breast-fed infants will feed about every 2 hours. Formula-fed infants should be able to go 3 hours between feedings. During periods of rapid growth, they may feed more often. You do not need to give water to a baby. In fact, it could be dangerous. An infant who is drinking enough will produce 6 to 8 wet diapers in a 24-hour period. Teaching the infant to suck a pacifier or their own thumb provides comfort between feedings. SAFETY Safety is very important for infants. Base safety measures on the child's developmental stage. For example, around age 4 to 6 months, the infant may begin to roll over. Therefore, be very careful while the baby is on the changing table. Consider the following important safety tips:
CONTACTYOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF:
Onigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22. Olsson JM. The newborn. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 21. Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Which statement by the student nurse indicates an understanding about children who engage in associative play?Which statement by the student nurse indicates an understanding about children who engage in associative play? "Children play together and are engaged in a similar activity."
Which would the nurse recommend to overwhelmed new parents to prevent shaken baby syndrome?Rock the baby gently or go for a walk. Take the baby for a ride in a stroller or car. Try a wind-up infant swing. If you're feeling overly tense or angry and you think you may shake or hit your baby, lay them in a safe place such as the crib and walk away for a short break.
Which aspects of the self do children assess while forming self esteem?Rationale: A child's self-esteem is based on certain aspects of the personality. Moral worth helps develop self-esteem when children question if their actions and behaviors meet the established moral standards. Children assess their competence to understand the adequacy of their cognitive, physical, and social skills.
Which reflex would the nurse assess in a newborn to determine auditory ability?To assess auditory ability in a newborn, the nurse makes a sudden loud sound, which causes the newborn's arms to abduct. This reflex is called the startle reflex.
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