Early Childhood and Physical Development

Reflex behaviors

________ are automatic, innate responses to stimulation.

Reflexes

________: built- in reactions to stimuli that govern the babys movements, which are automatic and beyond their control.

Babies are born with innate reflexes to

________ prime them to survive and thrive.

Reflexes are controlled by

the lower brain and they govern involuntary process, such as breathing and heart rate.

A(n) newborns head is about

________ one- quarter the total body length; and the proportion continues to change into adulthood.

The average newborn weighs approximately

7.5 pounds (5.8lb - 8.13lb) at full-term

The head is significantly larger taking up

50 percent of body weight when developing in utero, and 25 percent of body weight in infancy

Shaken baby syndrome

brain swelling and hemorrhaging

Examples of infant reflexes

Rooting
Sucking
Moro
Grasping

In the first few days, newborns typically

lose weight as they adjust to life outside of the womb and get used to feeding; however, this is followed by a rapid period of growth.

Body proportions of infancy are also not

evenly distributed

Younger babies need

support for head, tummy time to increase head control and support

The average 2-year-old weighs

26 to 32 pounds

Growth rate is considerably slower in

the second year.

By the time an infant is ~4 months old,

they usually double in weight

By one year an infant’s weight

has tripled

By 2 yrs old, the weight is

4x their original birth weight.

Head should be

protected

The baby should never be

shaken

Shaken baby syndrome

brain swelling and hemorrhaging

As individuals develop from infancy through adulthood, one of the most noticeable physical changes is

that the head becomes smaller in relation to the rest of the body.

At 2 months

the head is about half the total body length

At 5 months

the head is about a third of the total body length