1. Growth During 1st Year

2. Weight Babies generally triple their birth weight in the first year
Slight weight loss after birth then a steady gain.
1st 6 mths lbs/mth.
next 6 mths 1 lb/mth
Average 1 year old weighs between 20-22lbs

3. Length / Height - average newborn - 51 cm
- steady growth in the first year a result of rapid bone growth
- average 1 year old – 76 cm
- heredity has more influence on height than weight

4. Proportion The size relationship between different body parts.
Compared to the rest of the body, a baby’s head and abdomen are large and the legs and arms are short and small.

5. A babies head grow rapidly during the first year to accommodate the swiftly developing brain
More than half of the total growth of the head occurs during this time
Fontanels allow the head to grow, they later close up permanently

6. Development During 1st Year

7. Vision Blurry at birth 1 month – can focus
6 months – eyesight reaches clarity and sharpness of an adult

8. Depth Perception The ability to recognize 3 dimensional objects
2nd month
Allows children to track
movement and reach for
objects by judging distance

9. Hearing Develops before birth.
At birth can recognize the direction sound comes from
Soothing voice will calm them
Startled by loud or angry voices
7 mths – can identify voices
Language development relies on hearing

10. Smell and Taste Newborns respond to odors
At 10 days baby can notice smell of mom
At 2 weeks baby can taste differences
At an early age babies show a preference for sweet

11. Voice
Newborn’s cry is shrill, but becomes softer as their lungs mature.
Change results from the physical growth of the throat muscles, tongue, lips, teeth and vocal cords
Babies prepare for speech by making word related sounds

12. Teeth Development of baby teeth begin 6th week of pregnancy.
“Primary teeth” or baby teeth appear at 6-7 months.
Teething is normal but painful.
Some babies refuse food and drool a lot.
Lasts up to two years.
20 primary teeth.
Tooth Care
Infant’s mouth should be cleaned with a damp piece of gauze after each feeding.

13. Motor Skills
The abilities that depend on the use and control of muscles.
Two basic types of motor skills
Gross motor skills
Large muscles – legs, shoulders
Large movements – jumping and running
Fine motor skills
Smaller muscles – fingers
Small precise movements – using scissors

14. At birth, babies have little or no control over their muscles
Most movements are reflexes

15. Reflexes
Newborns are born with reflexes to help them survive their first several weeks
Sucking reflex – stimulated when something is put in their mouth
Rooting reflex – stroking the babies cheek
Others
Shutting eyes under bright lights
Grabbing fingers
Stepping motion when feet touch the floor
Most go away when babies learn to control their muscles

16. Hand Eye Co-ordination
The ability to move the hands and fingers precisely in relation to what is seen.
Very poor in newborns but develops as vision and motor skills improve
At 3 or 4 months, babies can reach, grab and put things in their mouth.