Infancy: Newborn to Age 1

Chapter

5Infancy: Newborn

to Age 1

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Objectives• Describe a newborn and his or her food,

sleep, and other basic needs.• Analyze the physical development of babies

in the first 12 months of life.• Analyze the cognitive development of babies

in the first 12 months of life.

continued


Objectives• Analyze the socio-emotional development of

babies in the first 12 months of life.• Compare and contrast various

developmental theories relating to infants.• Identify developmental milestones infants

achieve during the first 12 months of life.


Neonates• Infancy is the period from birth to the first

birthday• Just after birth, babies are called neonates• This term refers to the time period from birth

to age 1 month• During a normal uncomplicated birth, a

mother is usually able to hold her baby soon after birth

continued


Neonates• After birth, babies are tested to make sure

they are healthy• The Apgar scale is administered at one and

then five minutes after birth• The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral

Assessment Scale is given shortly after birth

continued


Neonates• Babies are born with reflexes, such as the

rooting reflex• Some senses are fully developed at birth,

while others take a bit longer• Newborns can hear months before birth• They can sense, touch, and smell• Only their vision takes longer to develop

continued


Neonates• Although most babies leave the hospital a

day or two after birth, some are not healthy enough to leave the hospital

• Issues such as low birthweight, prematurity, and other birth or congenital complications may require special care

continued


Neonates• Whether becoming a parent by birth or

adoption, bonding is important• A new family member certainly requires the

adjustment of all family members• In the postpartum period, mothers need

time for both physical and psychological adjustment

continued


Neonates• Somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of

women experience postpartum depression, an intense sadness and oftentimes emotional withdrawal from others

• Postpartum psychosis is a rare, but very serious mental condition for a very small number of new mothers

continued


Neonates• New fathers often report feelings of being

overwhelmed with a sense of responsibility• Over one-third of neonates in America live in

a single-parent home• Family adjustments may be much harder for

single-parent families without adequate support

continued


Neonates• Other children in the household have an

adjustment to make to a new family member• Babies take time to care for and nurture• Siblings can feel left out or cheated in what

should be “their time”• Extended family members must also adjust to

the new family member


Infants• In the first 12 months of life, babies undergo

tremendous changes• They are utterly dependent on caregivers• The physical qualities and changes that occur

are sequential and predictable• One principle of physical growth and change

is the proximodistal development pattern

continued


Infants• In the first 4 months, birthweight often doubles• Growth in height is about 1 inch per month• The increase in body weight often makes an

infant appear chubby, soft, and cuddly• A baby’s head is disproportionately large• Cephalocaudal development occurs from

the top of the head down to the extremities

continued


Infants• Many babies do not begin getting teeth until

at least 6 months of age• Once this occurs, teeth eruption continues at

a rapid pace• Newborns can hear, taste, and feel like adults• They can see from birth, too, just not at an

adult level

continued


Infants• The growth and development of the brain and

nervous system continues throughout infancy• Newborns’ brains are perfect for learning

about the world around them• A baby should never be shaken, as the

jostling of the brain can cause tragic injuries, as in Shaken Baby Syndrome

continued


Infants• Babies who engage in physical activity, are

spoken to, and encouraged to verbalize for themselves (cooing, babbling) are more apt to develop strong brain pathways

• Babies who are neglected fail to thrive both physically and cognitively

continued


Infants• During the first 12 months, infants develop

their gross- and fine-motor skills rapidly• By 6 months, babies can balance their heads

while in an upright position• Before long, babies are crawling, creeping,

and pulling themselves to a standing position and “walking” as they lean against a support

continued


Infants• Fine-motor skills development moves in

sequential order• Babies use the Palmar grasp to scrape up

an object with their fingers into the palm of their hands

• Babies next use the pincer grasp

continued


Infants• Babies need well-balanced nutrition• Their needs are quite different from the

nutritional needs of children or adults• Because newborns are learning to swallow,

their nutrition must come in liquid form• Breast-feeding or selection of a nutritious

formula can meet the infant’s needs

continued


Infants• Between 6 and 12 months, caregivers often

start feeding infants solids• Food intolerances are reactions to foods

that are unpleasant

continued©wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com


Infants• Newborn babies sleep most of the day/night• Babies’ sleep needs change over the first few

months of life• Throughout infancy, babies continue to need

both a morning and afternoon nap• Sleep is critically important to an infant’s

growth and development

continued


Infants• Piaget called the first stage of cognitive

development the sensorimotor stage• This stage continues throughout infancy until

about age 2• During the first few months of life, infants

begin to understand object permanence

continued


Infants• Skinner theorized that one way infants learn

is through operant conditioning• Using operant conditioning, a baby responds

to a stimulus• Depending on the result, the baby will learn to

repeat or stop the response

continued


Infants• Vygotsky believed that children develop their

minds through interactions with caregivers, siblings, and others in close relationships

• Babies begin to demonstrate familiarity or memory of certain objects or people

• Their memories, however, are not long lasting

continued


Infants• As infants interact with others, they begin to

associate symbols with their thoughts• These symbols are found in language, which

is learned from interaction with others• Babies understand language much before

they can form words• This is termed receptive language

continued


Infants• Physical and cognitive development are

highly related to socio-emotional growth• In the trust versus mistrust stage, infants

must learn to develop trust relationships with their caregivers

• Trust can be learned at a later stage, but is optimally learned during infancy

continued


Infants• During infancy, the child bonds with the

caregiver, which is called attachment • Stranger anxiety is considered an important

developmental milestone• Infants typically experience separation

anxiety when their caregiver leaves them

continued


Infants• Unoccupied play happens when a baby

observes and focuses on an object or activity• Solitary play happens when an infant plays

alone• Both types of play are milestones in socio-

emotional development

continued


Infants• During infancy, emotions are imitated as

babies learn how to express their emotions through observing others’ reactions to events

• Even at an early age, babies can show some control over their emotions

• Temperament, unique individual differences in the way people interact with the world, is persistent throughout life


Special Needs• Some babies are born with genetic disorders

that require special care• Others have special needs that develop or

are recognized during infancy• When development significantly lags behind

the norms, caregivers should consult a doctor• Interventions, including medical care, special

therapy, and resources, can be helpful

Infancy: Newborn to Age 1

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