INFANCY

INFANCY

- muscular/nervous systems are very immature at birth

  • Develop rapidly so protect from falls/head injuries
  • Shaken baby syndrome: rapid movements = swollen/damage to brain (veins break bc they don’t have strength to control shaking)
  • (4m) pathways/synapses peak; physical activity/talking = stronger pathways
  • Infant’s brain has more neurons than adult brain & less after brain pathways are more sophisticated

- reflexes help it respond to environment:

  • moro/startle w/ loud sound
  • Sudden movement
  • Rooting reflex (touch its cheek = mouth opens & head turn)
  • Sucking when touch of lips
  • Grasping

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

(Infancy): slightly lift head

(2-4 months): roll side to side, support on forearms, & reach for objects

(4-6m): turn around, hold objects, & hold head while sitting

(6-8m): sit unsupported, grasp moving objects, transfer objects hand to hand, & crawl on stomach

(8-10m): crawl w/ knees/hands (creeping), pull up to sit/stand, & put things in mouth (palmar grasp)

(12m): walk w/o help, grasp w/ fingers (pincer grasp), throw small objects

٭ Proximodistal development: infants learn to control muscles at core before furthering out

EMOTIONAL

(Infancy): shows excitement

(4-6m): distress, delight, anger, disgust, & fear

(12m): elation/affection for adults -> events where these show can affect adulthood

SOCIAL

٭ progresses from egocentric (newborn) to recognizing others in environment

(4m): infants recognize caregivers, smile readily, & stare intensely at others

(6m): watch activities of others, show signs of possessiveness & shy around strangers

(12m): shy w/ strangers but socialize w/ familiar people, imitate/mimic sounds, & gesture faces

LANGUAGE

  • Learned through interactions with others
  • Receptive language: babies understand more language before they can even form words

(0-1m): crying

(2-5m): coo (response to something pleasurable)

(5-10m): babbling (more w/ interactions)

(7-12m): communicate thru gestures & single words

NEEDS & CARE

- healthcare provide should give parents/guardian reassurance & involve them in infants’ care

- provide information on nutrition, growth, development, sleep patterns, needs, & creating healthy environment = wellness

INFANCY: Newborn to Age 1 (LD NOTES)

- neonates: babies just after birth

- vernix caseosa: white/creamy naturally occurring biofilm covering the skin of baby after birth

- APGAR (APPEARANCE, PULSE, GRIMACE, ACTIVITY, & RESPIRATION) scale: tests baby’s health 1 then 5 minutes after birth

  • Rates heart/respiratory rates, muscle tone, body color, & reflex irritability
  • 6-7 @1 minute & 8-10 @5 = healthy
  • 7 or less @5 is tested again @10 = special attention & medical care

- Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment scale: tests baby’s reflexes & responses to lights, sounds, & touch; ability to catch their attention/be soothed

- Reflexes: involuntary movements/actions that occur spontaneously

- NICUs & ICUs care for prematurity, low birthweight, & other birth complications

- Bonding: emotional connection that a parent/caregiver develops w/ the baby

- Postpartum period (6 weeks): mothers adjusting physically/psychologically after birth + hormonal shifts + fatigue/stress + depression/overwhelming

- Postpartum depression (10-20%): depression & emotional withdrawal from others = need psychological/medical treatments or baby will be affected

- Postpartum psychosis (RARE): depression + delusions, hallucinations, hyperactivity, paranoia, & rapid mood swings

BODY PROPORTIONS: 7.5lbs & 20in long

  • Lose about 5% of weight after birth but comes back after learning how to eat/drink
  • (1st 4m) 2x in birth weight & +1in a month in length/height
  • (1 yr) 22lbs & 30in long
  • Cephalocaudal development:babies develop from head down = head is ¼ of total body length & very big

FACIAL FEATURES: usually teeth come in @ 6m

  • 1st tooth = rapid teeth eruption & more teeth break thru gums (fussy infants)

SENSORY SKILLS: @1 yr can see as far as adult/teen

  • (1st 1-2m): see high contracts of black/white instead of colors bc retinas are fully formed
  • (8 weeks) can discriminate colors
  • (2m) eyes focus on center of face between eyes/nose instead of tracking outer edges of face

NUTRITION: (1st 6m) should be breast fed or w/ formula

  • (6-12m) start feeding small amounts of solid food one at time (wait several days before new food to look for food intolerances)

SLEEPING**: sleep for 3 hrs, awake for 1 & REPEAT (need morning/afternoon naps or they’ll be cranky)**

  • SIDS (SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME): (2-4m) caused by irregular sleep pattern or buildup of CO2 in bloodstreams + other factors:
  • Exposure to drugs/alcohol during pregnancy, lack of care, & prematurity
  • Stranger anxiety: (9-12m) distress of being left w/ a stranger peaks = separation anxiety (8m)
  • Unoccupied play: baby observes/focuses on an object/activity
  • Solitary play: baby plays alone
  • Temperament: unique individual differences in the way people interact w/ the world (environment will mold)