2012-3 Physical and Cognitive Development in Infancy

Cephalocaudal Pattern

Growth starts at the head and moves downward.

Proximodistal Pattern

Growth begins at the center of the body and extends outward.

Newborn Average Length

Newborns average 20 inches in length.

Newborn Average Weight

Newborns average 7.5 lbs.

Infant Weight Tripling

By 1 year, infants nearly triple their birth weight.

Infant Growth in Height

Infants grow about 10 inches by 1 year.

Rapid Brain Development

Rapid brain development occurs in infancy.

Myelination

Nerve insulation that speeds up neural transmission.

Synaptic Pruning

Eliminates unused neural connections.

Plasticity

The brain adapts based on experience.

Newborn Sleep Duration

Newborns sleep 16-17 hours a day.

REM Sleep in Infants

REM sleep is more frequent in infants, possibly aiding brain development.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Risk factors include sleeping on the stomach, maternal smoking, and lack of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Benefits

Better immunity, reduced obesity risk, and lower SIDS risk.

Bottle Feeding Risks

Unsafe water and unsterilized bottles can cause illness in impoverished areas.

HIV Transmission Risk

Breastfeeding may pass HIV from infected mothers.

Dynamic Systems Theory

Motor skills develop through interaction between perception and action.

Reflexes Present at Birth

Rooting, sucking, Moro (startle), and grasping reflexes.

Gross Motor Skills Development

0-12 months: Lifting head, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing; 12-24 months: Walking, running, climbing.

Fine Motor Skills Development

Reaching and grasping develop from crude movements to precise control.

Pincer Grip Emergence

Pincer grip (thumb and forefinger) emerges around 9-12 months.

Object Permanence Development

Develops by 8-9 months (Piaget) but may start earlier.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious memory that develops early in infants.

Explicit Memory

Conscious recall that emerges around 6-12 months.

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

Noam Chomsky's concept of an innate ability to learn language.

Child-Directed Speech

High-pitched, slow, exaggerated speech used by parents.

Poverty and Language Delay

Less verbal input leads to slower vocabulary growth.