Growth and Development of Infants

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Growth and Development of Infants
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Baby Pictures

• Baby Polar Bear

• Adult Polar Bear

3
Baby Pictures

• Piglet

• Adult Pig

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Patterns of Physical Development

• Head to toe
• Lift head to see object
• Muscle control pick up
• Walk towards
• Near to far trunk outward
• Wave arms
• Grab with palm of hand
• Pick up with thumb and fingers
• Simple to complex
• Eating with fingers
• Spoon and fork

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Weight

• Lose some after birth
• 1-2 lbs/month 1st 6 months
• 1 pound in 2nd 6 months
• Birth weight
• Doubled by 6 month
• Tripled by 1 yr
• 20-22 lbs avg wt of 1 yr old
• Heredity, feeding habits, and physical activity

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Height

• Avg newborn 20 inches
• Avg 1 year 30 inches
• Heredity influences height more than weight

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Proportion

• Large head and abdomen
• Short/small arms and legs
• Head grows rapidly b/c brain development
• Soft spots allow head to grow and close

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Soft Spots
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1st Year Physical Developments
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Sight

• Focus on objects 7-10 inches away
• 1 month focus up to 3 feet away
• 3 ½ months normal
• Prefer patterns, high contrast, faces
• Prefer color red

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Depth Perception

• 2nd month recognize that object is
  three-dimensional, not flat

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Hand-Eye Coordination

• Develop hand-eye coordination
• Move hands and fingers in relation to what is
  seen
• 3-4 months reach for what they see
• Essential for
• Eating
• Catching a ball
• Coloring
• Tying shoes

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Activity

• Make a list of toys and activities that help
  develop hand-eye coordination for infants.
• Provide illustrations for each toy or activity.
• 3-5 colored illustrations

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The Developing Brain
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Structure of the Brain

• The brain receives and interprets messages from
  the body, so it is key for intellectual
  development
• The brain is divided into different sections that
  control specific functions of the body

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Parts of the Brain

• Cerebrum- receives information from senses,
  directs motor activities
• Speech, memory, and problem solving
• Occur in outer layer called cortex
• Thalamus- connect spinal cord and cerebrum
• Expressions and emotions
• Cerebellum- controls muscular coordination and
  balance

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Parts of the Brain continued

• Spinal Cord- transmits info from the body to the
  brain vice versa
• Brain Stem- controls involuntary activities such
  as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure
• Pituitary Gland- secretes hormones that regulate
  growth, metabolism, and sexual development

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How the Brain Works

• Neurons sprout arms called dendrites and axons
• Reach toward other neurons, but never touch
• Tiny gaps called synapses this is where messages
  are sent from one neuron to another
• Neurotransmitters are released by axons to attach
  to other dendrites
• The more times the same axon and dendrite
  connect, the stronger the connection grows and
  messages are sent more quickly

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How the Brain Becomes Organized

• The more arms neurons grow and the more links
  that develop between different neurons, the more
  paths the brain has
• More paths equal more power and flexibility
• Organization of brain grows on childs
  experiences
• The group of neurons becomes linked together and
  controls a particular task

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How the Brain Becomes Organized continued

• Connections of neurons can be broken
• Connections can be lost and others added at the
  same time
• Developments have an impact on the appearance of
  the brain

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Speeding the Brains Work

• Myelin makes it easier for axons to transmit
  signals, it speeds their work
• All axons are not coated when a baby is born,
  only those that control basic instincts
• Axons become coated as a child grows
• Axons that control motor abilities, vision, and
  hearing receive coating first

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Rules to Build a Brain By

• Keep it simple and natural
• Rich environment- lots of loving interaction and
  talking
• Match experiences to the childs mental
  capacities
• Learn by physical experiences
• Practice makes perfect
• Repetition

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Rules to Build a Brain By continued

• Make sure the child is actively involved
• Learn by doing
• Provide variety, but avoid overloading
• Give range of experiences, avoid being
  overwhelmed
• Avoid pushing the child
• Learn better if emotionally involved

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Is the Brain Only Organized Once?

• 1st year of life is not the only time that the
  brain can become organized
• Children who have suffered brain damage can learn
  to speak
• Older people who have a stroke- where neurons die
  in one part of the brain- can relearn skills by
  using another part of the brain

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Brainstorming Activity

• Name some activities that promote the growth of
  connections in the brain of infants.
• Next, draw a picture of the brain using page 261.
  Label each part of the brain and their function.

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Handling and Feeding Infants
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Gentle Handling of an Infant

• Never shake a baby
• Shaken baby syndrome- when someone severely
  shakes the baby usually to make them stop crying
• Damages the brain
• Learning problems
• Mental retardation
• Blindness
• Deafness
• death

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Gentle Handling of an Infant continued

• Safe ways to handle a stressful situation with
  crying
• Put baby down in a safe place and calm down
• Ask a friend or relative to care for the baby
• Take deep breaths
• Talk out your problems

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How to Handle a Newborn Safely

• Refer to diagram on page 269 of The Developing
  Child

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Feeding Methods
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Feeding a Baby

• First few weeks, 6-8 times a day
• Breastfed babies tend to eat more often
• 2nd or 3rd month, once every 3-4 hours
• When a baby reaches 12 pounds, he will sleep
  through the night because the stomach can hold
  more food

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Feeding Methods

• Breast milk or formula during the 1st year
• No cows milk until 1 year

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How to Feed with a Bottle

• Hold baby is semi-upright position
• Support neck and head with the head held above
  the stomach
• Hold the bottle at an angle
• Prevents swallowing air
• Never prop a bottle
• Choking hazard, tooth decay, digestive problems

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Bottle Warming

• Formula does not have to be served warm
• Never heat a bottle in the microwave
• Can cause hot spots
• Heat bottle in a pan of water on the stove
• Run under hot water
• Use a bottle warmer
• Check the temperature by shaking a few drops on
  your wrist

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Sanitation

• Throw left over formula in the bottle away
• Wash and sterilize all bottles and bottle parts
  after each use
• Boiling water
• Dishwasher
• Both eliminate bacteria contamination

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Burping a Baby

• Burping helps expel air the baby swallowed
• You should burp a baby once during feeding and
  once after

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Types of Formula

• Powder, concentrate, ready to feed (RTF)

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Powder

• Mix with water
• 1 scoop per 2 oz water
• Make on needed basis

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Concentrate

• Dilute with water
• 1 can formula with 1 can water
• Use within 24 hours

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RTF

• No mixing required
• More expensive
• Use within 24 hours

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How much formula?

• 55 calories/pound each day
• Standard formula 20 calories per ounce
• Example How many ounces does a 12 pound baby
  need each day?

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Breastfeeding Basicshttp//video.about.com/breast
feeding/Breastfeeding.htm
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Why Breastfeed?

• Healthy
• Free
• Bonding
• Natural
• Builds immune system
• Mom burns more calories and loses weight quicker

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How long should you breastfeed?

• Recommend 1st 6 months
• First milk- colostrum
• High in fat, protein, antibodies
• 20 minutes on each breast
• Feed on demand
• 5-6 wet diapers
• 3-4 dirty diapers
• http//video.about.com/breastfeeding/Breast-Feedin
  g-Positions.htm

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Nutrition

• Avoid gassy foods
• Broccoli, green leafy vegetables, spicy foods
• Avoid alcohol
• pump and dump
• Moms diet becomes babys diet

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Video Clips and Pictures

• http//www.ameda.com/breastpumping/videos/popup_vi
  deo.aspx?idLatchOnEnglish
• http//www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_video_4
  _bf_positions.html
• http//www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_videos/
  18_how_baby_sounds_bfing.html
• http//similac.com/feeding-nutrition/diaper-decode
  r

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Breastfeeding vs Breast Pumphttp//video.about.co
m/breastfeeding/Breast-Feeding-Positions.htm

• Pumping is an alternative to breast feeding
• Use manual or electric pump
• Hand express
• Some babies cannot latch on
• Mother feels uncomfortable

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Storage

• Room temp 6-10 hrs
• Refrigerator 5-7 days
• Freezer 3-6 months
• http//video.about.com/breastfeeding/Storing-Breas
  t-Milk.htm

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Sanitation

• Clean breasts with warm water and dry towel after
  feeding
• Soap will remove natural oils
• Cause drying or cracking
• Can use a breast cream

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How to stop breastfeeding

• Slowly wean the baby
• Milk will eventually dry up
• Could experience engorgement
• Hand express to relieve discomfort

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New Foods
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Weaning

• Introduce sippy cup around 6 months
• Put fruit juice in a cup, never in a bottle

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Introducing New Foods

• Introduce solids around 4-6 months
• Cereal first
• Mix with breast milk or formula to make it runny
• Feed with a spoon, never in a bottle
• Vegetables, then fruits
• 1 new food at a time for at least 3 days
• Feed with a spoon, never in a bottle
• Never feed straight from the jar
• 8-10 months, start using fingers eventually move
  to spoons

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What Infants Need to Stay Healthy

• Enough calories to provide rapid growth
• Protein, iron, vitamins B, C, and D
• Food that is easy to digest
• Adequate amounts of liquid

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Other Infant Care Skills
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Bathing a Baby

• Sponge baths for the first two weeks while the
  navel heals
• Soft bath towels
• Soft washcloth
• Diaper
• Mild soap
• Baby shampoo
• Warm room for the bath
• Lukewarm water test with elbow

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Bathing a Baby continued

• Support the baby with your hand and begin washing
  the face
• Never rub, the face is very tender
• Wash each part of the body one at a time
• Creases of skin should be thoroughly dried after
  washing

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Bathing a Baby continued

• Wash the scalp using tear-free baby shampoo once
  or twice a week
• Can just use water other days
• Cradle cap- patches of yellowish crusty scales
• Apply baby oil or lanolin at night
• Gently loosen scales with washcloth or soft
  hairbrush and shampoo the hair in the morning

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Bathing a Baby continued

• Baby powder and lotion are not necessary
• Powder safety- apply to your own hands and rub
  together then rub on babys skin
• Baby can be bathed in a tub once the navel heals
• Never leave a baby unattended in the bath

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Dressing a Baby

• Sleeper- one piece stretchy garment with feet
• Cotton clothing helps skin breathe
• More durable clothes for crawlers
• Pants, padded knees, cotton shirts
• Pants with snaps for easy diaper change

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Dressing a Baby continued

• Shoes are not needed until the baby is walking
  outside
• Best to learn walking barefoot so baby can grip
  floor with toes
• Nonskid socks are good for hard floors
• Clothes should be flame retardant
• Clothes are sized by age and weight
• Babies grow rapid
• Avoid loose strings and long ties on clothing

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Diapering a Baby

• Cloth diapers- least expensive
• Wash separately in hot water
• Disposable diapers offer more convenience
• Babies need about 12-15 diaper changes a day
• Newborn wets several times an hour, but not
  enough to be changed each time
• Older babies will let you know

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Supplies Needed to Diaper a Baby

• Changing table or sturdy surface
• Wet washcloth or wipes
• Powder

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How to Diaper a Baby

• Remove the diaper and clean the baby
• Put on a fresh diaper
• Slide under bottom
• Bring diaper up between legs and fasten
• Dispose of used supplies
• Wash hands
• Diaper rash- change more frequently, expose
  infected area to air as much as possible, special
  creams

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Sleep

• Newborns sleep 12-20 hours a day
• By 1 year has 2-3 sleep periods including naps
• Preparation for sleep
• Change diaper and clothes, wash face/hands
• Rock to calm the baby
• Put the baby in the bed on its back
• Follow the same routine to provide comfort each
  time