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PROVIDING FOR THE INFANT’S

DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS

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Physical Development

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Length and Weight

Average length of baby at birth is 20-21 inches. During the first year, they increase their

length 1.5 times (about 9-10 inches)

By the 9th month, infants are rather chubby because the fat tissues under the skin begin to increase.

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Age in Months Length in Inches Weight in Pounds

Birth 20 7 ½

3 23 ¾ 12 ½

6 26 16 ¾

9 28 20

12 29 ½ 22 ¼

Average Length and Weight During First Year

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Length and Weight Cont… Failure to thrive: their rate of growth

slow considerably over time.Possible causes:

○ Diseases that prevent all/some nutrients from being absorbed

○ Baby’s food is not providing enough nutrients○ Feeds are offered too infrequently, or don’t

last long enough○ Baby is not held, touched, talked to, or

abuse/neglect is taking place

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Teeth

Teeth begin forming during the 6th week of prenatal life. By birth, all teeth are developed deep in the jaw.

Most babies begin cutting teeth during the second half of the first year.

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Teeth Cont…

Some babies are born with one or more teeth.

Other children are more than one year old when their first teeth appear.

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Motor DevelopmentThe use and control of muscles the direct body movements.

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Gross-motor skills: Learning to use and control large muscles, such as the trunk, arms, and legs which helps the babies crawl and walk.

Fine-motor skills: being able to control the small muscles, such as the hands and fingers.

Motor development increases as the brain develops

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Center-to-Extremities Development

Control begins with the trunk, then arms, hands, and fingers.

Babies can use their arms to hands to crawl and lift objects before they can use the hand and finger control needed to tack blocks.

When babies are born, their Palmar reflex makes babies automatically grasp whatever is placed in the hand.

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Voluntary grasping: baby grasping with the intention of actually grabbing something.6-7 month olds usually bring any grasped item to

their mouth to explore it.

At 7 months babies can grab for two separate items.

A month or 2 later, babies can use the thumb and forefingers to pick up objects. (called princer grasp)

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Physical Needs: Feeding

The most basic needs of humans.

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Feeding Most basic physical need

The baby grows 3 times faster in the first year than in the second or third year.

Babies may experience physical pain when they are hungry.

Nutrients: the substances in food that gives babies energy and help them grow.

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First Foods

Start out with an all-liquid diet of milk (breast milk or formula).

Between 6 months to 1 year, the baby begins to eat cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, and breads. (these are called solids)

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Why babies shouldn’t be fed solids before 6 months Not born with ability to swallow solids. Babies do not need the nutrients offered by

solids.Digestive system cannot process the complex

nutrients Physical problems Solids have too much sodium for babies May be too high in calories Spoon-feeding does not allow for close physical

bonding like holding a baby to breast feed or bottle feed.

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Introducing New Foods Parents should introduce one food at a

time, feeding only one bite or two per time. Parents should not add another new food

for at least 5 days.This helps the parent see if the baby has an

intolerance for the food.○ Intolerance: a negative physical reaction that

eating certain food can cause.○ If baby shows an intolerance for a food, parents

should wait until after 1st birthday to try the offending food again.

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Foods to Avoid

Small or hard foods may cause baby to choke.

Some food/beverages may be too sugary, high in sodium, or artificial flavors.

Stimulants and depressants should be avoided.

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The Feeding Schedule

Some babies like smaller, more frequent meals. Others eat more food less often.

When the babies growth rate slows

toward the end of the first year, his or her appetite will decrease.

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First-Year Daily Feeding Schedule

Months Hours Between Feedings

1 to 3 3 to 4

3 to 5 5 (nutritious snacks of baby food should be offered about halfway between feedings if baby is awake)

6 6 (nutritious snacks of baby food should be offered about halfway between feedings if baby is awake)

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Homemade vs. Store-bought Baby Foods When buying store bought:

check the sell-by date for freshness.Make sure containers are sealed properlyCheck safety button on unopened jarsBabies should not be feed straight from the

jar because bacteria in the saliva from the baby’s spoon can spoil the food.

Should be served at room temperature.If not using the whole jar, refrigerate

leftovers and eat within two days.

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Advantages of Baby Food MethodsCommercially Prepared Homemade Food is easy to buy and

use. May be more economical Many foods are available

in all four seasons. Foods are sold in the right

texture for certain ages. Foods are sterile Unopened foods can be

stored for a long time w/out refrigeration.

Packaged in small amounts

No worry about harmful additives

Usually less expensive to prepare

No special appliances are needed to make it

Saves on storage space Can cater to baby’s food

allergies Recipes are easy to find Can be creative with

foods

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Weaning

Weaning: taking a baby off the bottle or breast.Parents should consult baby’s doctor about

what age to wean.

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Weaning from the Breast

It is recommended mothers breast-feed for at least 12 months.Most babies are completely weaned from

the breast by 18-24 months. Babies weaned before 1 year should be

given formula for the remainder of the first year.

Babies weaned after 1 year should be fed whole milk until the age of two.

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Weaning from the breast cannot be abrupt or it will be stressful for the baby. It can also cause blockage of the milk ducts and possible depression in the mother.

Weaning should start with part of one feeding, then gradually become a whole feeding.

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Weaning to the Cup

Recommended at 12 monthsShould be offered whole milk

Ways to teach drinking from a cup:Give baby a cup with two handlesPraise baby when trying to use cupAt 6 months offer baby 1 tablespoon of

liquid in cup

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Spoon Feeding

Baby should be 6 months old before being introduced to solids.Baby’s body is ready for the nutrients of

solid foods and the baby developmentally can start learning how to handle a spoon.

Pediatricians recommend the first food be a iron-enriched rice cereal.At first few feedings, it should be able to

pour from spoon.

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Spoon Feeding Cont…

As cereal and other solids are introduced, the baby will need water for proper kidney action.

Baby should be held on adult’s lap in an upright position for the first couple of spoon feedings, then moved to a high chair.

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Self-Feeding

Finger foods: foods a baby can self-feed using the fingers.Babies usually begin this around 12 months.Babies are at a high risk of choking so

should be supervised at all time while finger-feeding.

Examples of foods to finger-feed with:Soft toast, crispy crackers, bagels, fruits and

vegetables that have been cooked and diced.

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Clothing

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Style and Color

All styles have advantages and disadvantages.Two piece outfits (tops and bottoms) often

can be worn longer because they do not get as tight in the crotch as one-piece outfits. They also make changing a diaper easier.

One-piece outfits look neater on crawlers because they do not separate/bunch up. They are also warmer.

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Shoes

Shoes are not needed until the baby begins to walk.

Indoors, babies should walk without shoes to prevent flat-footed walking.

Most shoes worn in the first year are for decoration.

Most baby shoes have a soft, cloth sole.

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Caring for Baby Clothes Before cleaning, read labels and tags. Pretreat stains before washing. Mend any tears before washing to prevent

them from getting larger. Infant’s skin is very sensitive, so babies

clothes is often rinsed extra to help remove the extra detergent.

Do not use fabric softener-it reduces the effectiveness of the flame-retardant material.

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Diapering a Baby

Older babies wiggle more when diaper is being changed, in order to keep baby’s interest, talk, sing, or play with baby while changing the diaper.

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Tub Bathing

Can begin as soon as navel and circumcision have healed.

Fill water about 3 inches deep, with comfortably warm water.Check with your wrist

Make sure everything needed is nearby.Shampoo, washcloth, towel, diaper, etc.

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Establishing Routines

Routines help children feel secure because it teaches them what to expect.

Although babies do not know clock time, they do have sense of rhythm when it comes to time.

Schedules change as babies mature.Feedings become more widely spaced out,

daytime naps grow shorter, and more playtime is needed.

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Rest and Sleep

From 1-3 months, babies need a total of 14-16.5 hours of sleep.

For the remainder of the year, babies need 14-15 hours of sleep.

Many babies begin sleeping through the night at 12 weeks.

If baby is not sleeping through the night, the parents can restrict day time naps to four hours or less, to increase likelihood of sleeping through the night.

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Rest and Sleep Cont…

Some babies that do sleep through the night may begin to cry during the night around 5-6 months due to awakening and feeling lonely.

By 9-15 months, most babies only take one nap a day, in the afternoon.

The afternoon nap may continue until 3-5 years of age.

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) In many cases, seemingly healthy babies

simply stop breathing in their sleep. Cause is unknown. Some experts think it

may be a virus or bacterial infection that attacks the brain stem (where breathing is controlled) before or shortly after birth.

Most commonly happens between 2-4 months

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SIDS Cont… Risk factor: Babies sleeping on their stomachs Preventative Measures:

Place baby on firm mattress Do not use fluffy blankets, comforters, throws, stuffed toys,

or pillows in bed/crib Make sure baby doesn’t get too warm while sleeping. Offer a pacifier for sleep Avoid sharing bed with parent Make sure baby is getting enough sleep Have regular doctor visits Breast-feed for at least 7 months if not 1 year Place baby on back when sleeping Breathing monitor is available if doctor recommends

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Places for Sleep and Play Babies may sleep in parent’s room, or in a

bedroom with older sibling, or a room all his/her own.

Children usually sleep in a crib until 3 years old.

Playpens should only be used for short periods of time.No more than 2 hours a dayBabies need to be able to move freely in order

to develop crawling, creeping, and walking skills

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Intellectual Needs

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Enriched environment: an environment that offers babies a chance to learn.The earlier adults provide activities, the

more babies want to learn.

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Activities to Stimulate the Senses Sensory stimulation: involves using the

senses to learn about the environment.

For a baby to develop fully, all five senses must be stimulated

Examples:Mobiles: SightTracking Object: SightWind Chimes: Hearing and sight

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Problem-Solving Activities

Games and activities can help babies begin to organize and understand their world.Peek-a-boo helps a baby realize that even

though they cannot see the other person, he/she is still there.

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Motor Activities

Coordination: is the working together of muscles in movements, such as walking.

Gross-Motor Games:Crawling in/out of boxes/cartonsDancing to music

Fine-Motor Games:Stacking blocks, hitting blocks together, etc.

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Language Activities

Babies learn language by hearing people talk.

Examples of statements/questions adults can use:I’m putting on your green shirtIsn’t this a pretty shirtAre you ready for the shirt to go over your

headHere’s a button on your shirt

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Language Activities Cont… The actual words do not matter, but it does

matter that they are pronounced correctly. Changing pitch or singing also adds

interest. When babies babble, encouragement

should be given because it is the way for a baby to respond to an adult.

Babies benefit by being read to even if they cannot comprehend, because they are hearing new words.

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Social-Emotional Needs

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Baby-Adult Interaction

Babies react to adults; feelings and actions. If adults are tense, the baby may become

fussy and difficult.If an adult is relaxed, the baby is more often

quiet and cooperative.

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Helping Babies Develop Self-Awareness Self-awareness: understanding of

himself or herself as a unique person.They develop self-awareness and form a

mental picture of themselves.Babies begin to learn what is part of their

body and what is notThey learn that their actions can make

things happen.

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Handling Special Problems Decide if problem is temporary. Talk to doctor if the problem continues. Get help when needed.

Babysitters can watch baby to parents can get out of the house for a while

Give in to a baby’s demands sometimes. Remain calm

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Recognizing Developmental Delays A child’s development falls far behind

typical children of his or her age in one or more areas.A larger gap indicates a more serious delaySeeking help early can keep some problems

from worsening.