Infant Physical Development
What is a "Milestone" in child development?
A skill that a child should learn or master by a certain age.
Example: Being able to roll tummy-to-back by 6months
In substage 1 of sensori-motor stage how is the infant learning new intellectul skills?
Everything learned is mostly accidental, as the infant is only responding to their reflexes (sucking, grasping)
Although we can help skills like strenghtening vision by providing stimulation to sight.
What is attachment?
The bond between an infant and their parent/caregiver
How many temperament traits are there?
9
What does the acronym SIDS stand for?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
What are gross motor skills?
What are 3 examples of gross motor skills that an infant would learn in the first year?
Gross motor = gaining control and coordination of large muscles (arms, legs, neck and core)
Examples: Holding head up, learning to roll, learning to sitting, etc.
When helping our infant develop during the sensorimotor stage... What is our job as a parent?
To provide a SAFE and STIMULATING environment!
Let the baby fail and attemp things, no helicoptor parenting!
What is the primary form of communication for infants?
CRYING!
What is temperament?
A baby's unique nature that determines how they react to others and the world
Breastfeeding or Formula feeding are a personal choice. Fed is best, and we should always respect a families choice in what works for them.
However, breastmilk does have 1 MAJOR advantage that formula feeding does not have... what is it?
When a mother breastfeeds, her bodies passes a unique set of antibodies through her milk and onto her infant.
Thus, helping to boost the babies immune system and decreasing the likelyhood of baby contacting illnesses that their formula-fed peers are more suseptible to.
What is one of the best indicators of healthy growth in the first year?
Weight Gain! = Obtaining enough good nutrients
What stage of Jean Piaget's theory is applicable to infants?
The Sensori-Motor Stage
How do infants demonstrate that they are forming an attachment?
Through eye contact, or tracking your movment with their eyes. As they grow, they may communicate through smiles as well!
What are some examples of infant-led soothing techniques?
rubbing hair
sucking on thumb
stuffed animal
soft blanket
sucking on pacifier
What is "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome" When is it most likely to happen?
When an infant suddenly dies in their sleep with no direct cause or understanding of why.
An infant is at risk of SIDS until the age of 1. They are at very HIGH risk within the first 6 months.
What are fine motor skills?
What are 3 examples of fine motor skills that an infant would learn in the 1st year?
Fine motor = developing strength and coordination to use muscles of hands, fingers and wrists.
Example: grasping objects, learning to drink from a cup, developing the pincer grasp (using finger and thumb to pick up objects)
Just like how the name sounds!
They are using stimulation of their 5 senses, and their new motor skills that help them explore the world, to make connections about how things work
Two wire mothers. One provided milk, the other provided soft terrycloth fabric. The baby monkey preferred the mother who provided him with comfort, and only utilized the mother with milk when he had to.
This taught us that physical touch and comfort is ESSENTIAL to infants
What are some examples of adult-led soothing techniques
holding baby close to chest
rocking in a chair
bouncing baby gentle
rubbing back or belly
singing songs or talking gently
What is shaken baby syndrome?
How are some ways we can COPE to ensure we always keep our baby safe.
Shaken baby syndrome is when a baby is vigerously shaken to the point of causeing brain damage that cannot be reversed. This will impact the child their whole life.
Coping mechanisms could be: Putting the baby somewhere safe and walking away, putting in headphones, taking a long relaxing shower, asking a trusted friend to watch your baby, going on a run, etc.
What is a "reflex" when talking about newborns, and why do they have them?
A reflex is something that the baby instincutually does. All reflexes have something that stimulates them, causing the baby to react in a certain way
Example: For the rooting reflex... When the babies cheek is stroked, baby will turn head and open mouth wide attempting to latch.
We think that most reflexes infants are born with are a survival instinct. Doctors can test reflexes to get an understanding of how well the babies nervous system is responding and developing.
Continuing development of motor skills is important to Piaget's cognitive theory because they help the infant.....?
EXPLORE their environment. Make connections through the repeated attempt and failure at new skills.
What happens if the infant is crying, either becuase they have a need that must be met or they simply want contact, and they are not given comfort by their caregiver.
They learn that they cannot trust their caregiver, nor their world.
Infants who face this consistently develop "failure to thrive" and no longer cry to get their needs met. They truly believe no one in the world cares about them, or the needs that they have.
For Emotional Development:
What is the first positive emotional regulation skill an infant will learn?
How to self-soothe!
When should a baby be introduced to solid foods?
When does a baby develop their taste/smell? And what is their preferance?
Both are being developed within the first 1-2 weeks. Baby prefers the sweet taste of breastmilk, and baby prefers the smell of mom
What is the name of the man who created the Theory of Cognition (How we learn through exploration)
Jean Piaget
Briefly explain Erik Eriksons theory, in relation to infants
Eriksons theory revolves around humans having a psychological crisis at different stages. For infants, the crisis is:
Trust vs Mistrust - In the first year of life, the infant must learn to trust their surroundings. If they do not positively overcome this stage, they will carry mistrust with them throughout their life.
Why is it important to recognize a childs temperament and view it in a positive way?
You can foster self-esteem in the child by teaching them positive ways to utilize their natural temperament.
When a baby is introduced to solid foods, does that mean they are done drinking milk? (either breastmilk, or formula)
No! A baby should continue intake of some breastmilk or formula through the remainder of the 1st year.
Slowly increase the amount of solid food they are consuming, while decreasing the amount of milk they are consuming.
At the end of year 1 the infant should be done consuming formula. Breastfeeding can also end at year 1, however some women prefer to continue feeding longer.
What are the 3 general stages of speech/voice development in the first year?
Starts as only cries but changes as babies lungs develop and gain control over mouth/tongue movements:
-Around 3 month: Cooing begins ("oooo" and "ahhh")
-Around 6 months: Babbling begines ("ga" "da" "ma")
-By 12 months: Should be able to use simple words (with purpose) or a simple phrase! ("Baba" for milk")
By the end of the 1st year, infants are in Substage 4 of the sensori-motor period. What intellectual skills are they working on devleoping now...?
Infants are working on problem solving, goal setting, mastering cause-and-effect, and the new skill of object permanence (understanding objects exist even when out of view)
List 5 "Safe Sleep" tips that should be followed to prevent SIDS
-Baby on Back
-Baby should sleep in crib
-No blankets, stuffies, pillows
-Do not overheat the room/over dress baby
-No Smoking around baby