Physical Development in Infancy

This set of flashcards is designed to help students review key vocabulary and concepts related to physical development in infancy, as covered in the lecture notes.

Infancy and Toddlerhood

The period of the lifespan that starts at birth and continues through the first three years of life.

Proximodistal Principle

The development proceeds from the center of the body outward; trunk grows before extremities.

Cephalocaudal Principle

Growth follows a direction and pattern that begins with the head and upper body parts before proceeding to the rest of the body.

Synaptic Pruning

The process of eliminating unused neurons to enhance the communication networks of established neurons.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

A disorder in which seemingly healthy infants die in their sleep, often linked to sleep position and various health factors.

Motor Development

The progression of physical abilities and coordination in infants, including gross and fine motor skills.

Malnutrition

The condition of having an improper amount and balance of nutrients, leading to adverse physical and cognitive outcomes.

Reflexes

Unlearned, organized, involuntary responses that occur automatically in the presence of certain stimuli.

Neurons

The basic cells of the nervous system that communicate through chemical messengers across synapses.

Crawling

The coordinated movement that appears typically between 8 to 10 months, involving the coordination of arms and legs.

Breastfeeding

The ideal initial food for infants that is recommended by pediatricians.

Calories for Infants

Infants should generally consume about 50 calories per day for each pound of their weight.

Cauchy Disease

A severe form of malnutrition that causes swelling in a child's stomach, limbs, and face due to fluid retention.

Depth Perception

The ability to perceive distances, which infants develop around six months of age.

Auditory Perception

Infants' ability to hear sounds, which is well-developed and sensitive to certain frequencies even at birth.