Physical Development Infancy/Todderhood (Birth to 2 Years)

Newborn Size

Average size is 20 inches and 7.5 pounds.

Skull Development

Skull not fused for birth canal passage.

Apgar Scale

Screening tool for newborn health assessment.

Smell Discrimination

Newborns can discriminate various smells.

Vision Clarity

Vision best at approximately 18 inches.

Speech Preference

Preference for native language and prenatal sounds.

Sleep Duration

Newborns spend about 70% of time asleep.

Uneven Growth

Different body parts grow at different rates.

Cephalocaudal Development

Growth proceeds from head downward.

Proximodistal Development

Growth proceeds from center outward.

Growth Rate First Year

Infants grow about 1 inch per month.

Weight at 2 Years

Infants weigh approximately 26 to 32 pounds.

Height at 2 Years

Average height is 32 to 35 inches.

Complementary Food Introduction

Solid food introduced around 6 months old.

Pureed Foods

First solid foods are usually pureed.

Childhood Obesity

Linked to early added sugar consumption.

Stunted Growth

Common result of malnutrition in children.

Failure to Thrive

Weight less than 80% of age norm.

Neurogenesis

Neurons born with over 100 billion present.

Glial Cells

Support neurons and form brain structure.

Neuronal Migration

Neurons follow glial cells to brain locations.

Synaptogenesis

Neurons form synapses, increasing connections.

Transient Exuberance

Explosion of connections in early life.

Synaptic Pruning

Loss of unused neural connections.

Myelination

Coating axons with myelin for faster signals.

Cerebral Cortex

85% of brain mass, two hemispheres.

Lateralization

Brain hemispheres begin specialization in womb.

Habituation

Decline in response due to repeated stimulus exposure.

Dishabituation

Recovery of attention indicating stimulus difference.

Imitation

Learning through copying others' actions.

Mirror neurons

Neurons firing in response to observed actions.

Visual Scanning

Development of attention to internal features over time.

Depth Perception

Ability to perceive distance, present at birth.

The visual cliff

Study demonstrating depth perception in crawling infants.

Hearing

Most developed sense at birth, comparable to adults.

Touch

Highly developed sensory system, responds to gentle touches.

Sensation

Detection of stimuli by our senses.

Perception

Brain interpretation and awareness of stimuli.

Skin-to-skin contact

Reduces infants' pain response to stimuli.

Taste preferences

Infants prefer human milk and sugar.

Facial disgust

Infants show disgust at bitter tastes.

Head turning reflex

Infants turn towards sound sources.

Reflexes

Automatic responses to stimuli like touch.

Rooting reflex

Infants turn head towards cheek touch.

Moro reflex

Arms thrust out when neck support is lost.

Palmar grasp reflex

Infants grasp objects placed in palm.

Swimming reflex

Infants attempt to swim face down.

Stepping reflex

Infants try to walk when upright.

Babinski reflex

Toes fan out when foot is stroked.

Gross Motor Development

Control of large body movements.

Fine Motor Development

Control of small finger movements.

Voluntary reaching

Begins around 3 months, aids cognitive growth.

Ulnar grasp

Develops at 6 months for grasping.

Pincer grasp

Develops before 12 months for precision.