Infancy Growth and Development (Video Notes)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering infant growth, development, senses, safety, and health promotion topics from the notes.

Infancy

The developmental period from birth to about 12 months, marked by rapid physical and emotional growth.

Weight gain in infancy (doubling/tripling)

Birth weight doubles by 4–5 months and triples by 10–12 months.

Weight gain rates (monthly)

From birth to 4 months: about ¾ kg per month; 5–8 months: about ½ kg per month; 9–12 months: about ¼ kg per month.

Height/Length growth in the first year

Length increases ~3 cm per month for the first 3 months, ~2 cm per month from 4–6 months, and ~1.5 cm per month from 7–12 months.

Head circumference growth

Increases ~2 cm per month in the first 3 months; ~0.5 cm per month during the following 9 months; posterior fontanel closes by 6–8 weeks; anterior fontanel closes by 12–18 months.

Posterior fontanel

Fontanel that closes by about 6–8 weeks of age.

Anterior fontanel

Fontanel that closes by about 12–18 months of age.

Chest circumference relation to head

At birth, chest circumference is about 2 cm smaller than head; by end of the first year, chest circumference roughly equals head circumference.

Vital signs in infancy

Pulse typically 110–160 bpm, then 100–120 bpm; respirations 30–60/min, then 20–30/min; air breathed through the nose.

Deciduous (milk) teeth

Also called milk or temporary teeth; first baby tooth usually erupts around 6 months; fluoride supplementation at 6 months (AAP, 2017).

Deciduous teeth eruption pattern

Typical eruption sequence for deciduous teeth (e.g., upper central incisor 8–12 months; upper lateral 9–13 months; first molar 13–19 months; canines 16–22 months; second molars 25–33 months; lower teeth follow similar timing).

Cephalocaudal development

Motor development proceeds from head to toe, with gross motor skills preceding fine motor skills.

Gross motor development

Ability to perform large body movements (e.g., sitting, standing) as opposed to fine motor skills.

Fine motor development

Ability to coordinate small hand and finger movements (e.g., grasp, pincer grip).

Ventral suspension position

Holding an infant in midair on a horizontal plane with support under the abdomen; head initially hangs with little control, then improves.

Landau reflex

A primitive reflex that appears around 3 months and is followed by the emergence of the parachute reaction at about 9 months.

Parachute reaction

Protective extension of the arms when the infant is tilted forward; appears around 9 months.

Prone position

Lying on the stomach; promotes neck strength, neck-righting reflex, and rolling when the head is lifted.

Creeping

By about 9 months, the infant can move with the abdomen off the floor, advancing with opposite hand and knee movements.

Sitting position (development)

Around 8 months, an infant can sit independently with gradual improvement in balance and trunk control.

Head lag

Head lags behind the body in early infancy and typically disappears by about 1 month of age.

Standing position and reflexes

Stepping reflex present at about 1 month and fading by 4 months; tonic neck reflex (fencing) at ~5 months; cruising along furniture around 11 months.

First steps and walking

First step typically between 8–15 months; walking within the normal range by about 22 months.

First step timing range

Take a first step between 8 and 15 months; walking by 22 months is still considered normal.

Fine motor milestones (grasp to pincer)

Grasp reflex present (1–2 months); by 3 months reaches for objects; by 4 months brings hands together; by 10 months develops a pincer grasp (thumb and index finger together).

Pincer grasp

Precise grip of thumb and index finger, typically emerging around 10 months.

Emotional development in infancy

Newborns express emotion mainly through crying; emotions are unstable early on but increasingly recognizable by 10–12 months (anger, sadness, pleasure, jealousy, anxiety, affection).

Social development (trust, stranger anxiety)

Infants learn to trust through caregiver interactions; shows stranger anxiety around 8 months and responds to their name.

Erikson’s stage for infancy

Trust versus Mistrust; development of trust through consistent, responsive caregiving.

Cognitive development milestones

1 month: reflex activity; 3 months: primary circular reactions (grasping/mouthing objects); 6 months: secondary circular reactions (action effects); 10 months: object permanence; 12 months: deliberate repetition and cause-and-effect exploration.

Language development (early sounds)

1 month: cooing; 2 months: differentiate cries; 3 months: laughter; 4 months: babbling and gurgling; 5–7 months: vowel sounds; 9–12 months: first words and additional words with meaning.

Play milestones (infancy)

Play progresses from looking at faces and mobiles (1–2 months) to rattles and simple toys (2–3 months) and more interactive play by 4–7 months (no details listed beyond examples in notes).

Visual development milestones

Vision develops from focusing on midline objects (1 month) to binocular vision (2 months), tracking across the midline (3 months), recognition of familiar objects (4 months), depth perception (6 months), mirror recognition (7 months), and early object permanence (10 months).

Hearing and language stimulation

Birth onward: response to sounds, locating sounds; by 12 months can locate sounds and understand a few words; daily reading and soothing voices promote language development.

Tactile, taste, and smell development

Skin-to-skin contact, soft clothing, and dry diapers support touch; introduction of solid foods around 6 months; preference for familiar smells (e.g., breast milk).

Red flags in infant development

Inability to sit alone by 9 months; inability to transfer objects between hands by 1 year; abnormal pincer grasp by 15 months; inability to walk by 18 months; lack of recognizable words by 2 years.

Nursing role in health promotion (Trust vs Mistrust)

Consistent caregiving and predictable routines foster trust; limiting number of caregivers and encouraging active caregiver–infant interaction support healthy development.

Infant safety: Aspiration prevention

Avoid small, round objects and propped bottles to reduce choking risk.

Fall prevention (infants)

Never leave infants unattended on raised surfaces; lower crib mattresses; secure side rails and keep cords out of reach.

Crib safety

Raise crib sides and ensure they are secure; avoid gaps between mattress and headboard.

Car safety for infants

Use a rear-facing car seat in the back seat until age 2 or until the height/weight limit is reached.

Childproofing and home safety

Cover outlets, remove hazards, install safety gates, and secure furniture to prevent injuries.

S safety with siblings (supervision)

Older siblings under 5 should not be left alone with an infant; maintain vigilant supervision.

Bathing and swimming safety

Never leave an infant unattended in a tub; supervise around water; use appropriate baby-safe swim practices.

Nutritional health (breastfeeding)

Breastfeeding recommended for the first 6 months; ideally continue through the first year if possible.

Formula nutrition

Iron-fortified formula is advised if breastfeeding is not options.

Solid foods introduction

Introduce solid foods starting at about 6 months, beginning with iron-fortified cereal, then vegetables, fruits, and meats.