04 - Development in Infancy

Neonatal Period

A time of transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life

TRUE

T or F: In Neonatal Period, boys tend to be longer and heavier than girls. There is also a distinctive features which include a large head and a receding chin

Fontanels

Area on the baby’s head where bones do not meet to allow easy passage (gradually close in the first 18 months).

Lanugo

Fuzzy prenatal hair

Vernix Caseosa

Cheesy varnish, protects the baby against infection

Witch’s Milk

Secretion that leaks from newborn’s breasts, believed to have magical properties

Bodily systems and Regulation

Mostly were accomplished by the mother prior birth

First 4-6 hours

At birth, the baby’s systems and functions begin to separate during the ____

TRUE

T or F: Most babies start to breathe as soon as they’re exposed to air

Anoxia

Lack of oxygen

Hypoxia

Reduced oxygen supply

Limited air sacs

Most premature babies are susceptible to respiratory problems due to _____

Meconium

Infants excrete this during the first few days and have no control over sphincter muscles

Body temperature

Typically maintained via increase of activity

Neonatal Jaundice

Infant jaundice caused by immaturity of the liver

1. Preterm birth complications

2. Childbirth complications

3. Sepsis

The chief causes of neonatal death worldwide are:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden death of an infant under age 1; will occur only if a vulnerable infant is exposed to a stressor during the critical period

Triple Risk Model

SIDS is the result of 3 overlapping factors

Apgar Scale

First physical assessment that is administered a minute after delivery and 5 minutes after birth

• 7-10 (within 5 minutes): excellent condition

• < 5-7: need help establish breathing

• < 4: needs immediate lifesaving treatment

• 0-3 (10, 15, and 20 minutes after birth): associated to cerebral palsy

APGAR Scale determinants

Brazelton Scale

First neurological and behavioral test that measures the neonate’s responses to the environment

• Identifies strengths and possible vulnerabilities in neurological functioning

• Helps predict future development

• Administered to infants up to 2 months old

• Takes about 30 minutes, and scores are based on a baby’s best performance

1. Motor Organization

2. Reflexes

3. Attention and Interactive Capacities

4. Central Nervous System Instability

BRAZELTON NEONATAL BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT SCALE

Motor Organization

Activity level and the ability to bring a hand to the mouth

Reflexes

State changes, such as irritability, excitability, and ability to quiet down after being upset

Attention and Interactive Capacities

General alertness and response to visual and auditory stimuli

Central Nervous System Instability

Tremors and changes in skin

States of Arousal

Infant's physiological and behavioral status at a given moment in the periodic daily cycle of wakefulness, sleep, and activity

• Inborn and highly individual

Multiple areas of the brain

Changes in state are coordinated by ____ and are accompanied by changes in the functioning of virtually all body systems

Youngest babies

Sleep the most and wake up most frequently

0-2 months

Sleep 14.5 hours/day, waking 1.7 times/night

0-5 months

Nap 3 hours/day

50% active (REM-like)

Newborns' sleep cycles include_____ sleep

5.7 hours ; 8.3 hours

sleep cycle:

2 months - _____ :: 6-24 months - _____

12.6 hours/night with 0.7 wakings

By 1 year, babies sleep ____

1 hour/day

By 1-2 years, naps reduce to

13 hours/day, including naps

2-year-olds sleep

Less than 30%

By age 3, REM sleep decreases to ___ and continues to decline

1st year of life

Rapid growth in occurs during the

2nd and 3rd years

Rapid growth diminishes during the

Genes and the environment

Influences the size and appearance

Teething

Begins at 3-4 months with the first tooth appearing between 5-9 months

6-8 teeth

Babies generally have____ by their 1st birthday

20 teeth

Number of teeth that appear by age 2 ½

Breast milk or iron-fortified formula

Babies should only consume ___ for the first 6 months

Iron-enriched solid foods and water

Can be gradually introduced in the 2nd half of their 1st year

Central Nervous System

Consists of the brain and the spinal cord

The Brain

Spurts that begin at the 3rd trimester to 4th year is important to the development of neurological functioning

Formative period of early life

During this time is when the brain is most plastic and especially vulnerable

Cerebellum

Grows the fastest during the 1st year of life

Corpus Callosum

Grows dramatically during childhood and reaches adult size by age 10; Tough tissue that joins that left and right hemisphere (Cerebrum) together

Lateralization

Specialization of the hemispheres

Regions of the Cerebral Cortex

Grow rapidly in the first few months after birth and are mature by 6 months

Frontal Cortex

Remain immature for several years

Integration and Differentiation

As neurons multiply, they undergo complimentary processes of

Unused neurons

Pruned (natural process where the brain removes extra or weak connections between brain cells, called synapses) away to calibrate the developing brain

Only half

____ of the neurons produced survive and function in adulthood

Myelination

Begins halfway through gestation and peaks during the 1st year

Reflex

Automatic, innate response to stimulation

27

Infants have an estimate of ___ major reflexes

Primitive

Related to instinctive needs for survival and protection

Sample: A mother gently touches the corner of her newborn baby's mouth with her finger. The baby immediately turns their head toward the touch and opens their mouth, as if looking for something to suck (rooting).

Postural

Reactions to changes in position or balance

Sample: A baby is learning to sit independently. While sitting, the baby suddenly leans to one side and begins to lose balance. The baby automatically extends their arm toward the floor to support themselves and prevent falling.

Locomotor

Voluntary movements that do not appear until months after the reflexes have disappeared

Sample: A parent holds a newborn upright with their feet touching a flat surface. The baby automatically moves one leg forward and then the other, making movements that look like walking.

First 6 to 12 months

Most early reflexes disappear during

Moro

Baby is dropped or hears loud noise. The baby extends legs, arms, and fingers, arches back, draws back head.

Darwinian (grasping)

Palm of baby's hand is stroked. Baby makes strong fist; can be raised to standing position if both fists are closed around a stick.

Tonic neck

Baby is laid down on back. Turns head to one side, assumes fencer position, extends arm and leg on preferred side, flexes opposite limbs.

Babkin

Both of baby's palms are stroked at once. Mouth opens, eyes close, neck flexes, head tilts forward.

Babinski

Sole of baby's foot is stroked. Toes fan out; foot twists in.

Rooting

Baby's cheek or lower lip is stroked with finger or nipple. Head turns; mouth opens; sucking movements begin.

Walking

Baby is held under arms, with bare feet touching flat surface. Makes steplike motions that look like well-coordinated walking.

Swimming

Baby is put into water face down. Makes well-coordinated swimming movements.

Vision

Least developed at birth; becomes more important as infants become active and alert; Focus best from about 1 foot away

Peripheral vision

Very narrow; It doubles between 2-10 weeks but well-developed by 3 months

Cortical Maturation

Ability to follow a moving target develops rapidly in the first months

Vibrant colors

Infants are particularly perceptive to

Binocular vision

Does not develop until 4-5 months

Formal vision screening

Should begin by age 3

Touch

The first to develop and mature sensory system

32 weeks of gestation

By this time, all body parts are sensitive to touch

Sensitivity

Increases during the first 5 days of life

Skin-to-skin contact

Infants show a decreased pain response with

Senses of smell and taste

Begin to develop in the womb

Amniotic fluid and breast milk

Flavors from food the mother has consumed are found in

Utero

Preference for certain tastes and smells can be developed in

Innate

Certain taste preferences are largely

Sweet tastes

Newborns much prefer ____, such as breast milk

2 day old infants

Are able to recognize a word they heard up to a day earlier

At 1 month

At ____ babies can distinguish sounds as close as ba and pa

By 11 to 17 weeks

Infants are able to both recognize and remember entire sentences after a brief delay

4 months

By ____, infants respond preferentially to speech and music, especially that or their native language

Systems of Action

Increasingly complex combinations of motor skills, which permit a wider or more precise range of movement and more control of the environment

Denver Developmental Screening Test

Screening test given to children 1 month to 6 years old to determine whether they are developing normally

Gross Motor Skills

large muscles

Fine Motor Skills

small muscles

TRUE

T or F: Girls have better fine motor control compared to boys