Infants Child Development: Read About the Stages
Child development can be defined as the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood.
During this process a child progresses from dependency on their parents/guardians to increasing independence. It can also be referred to as the theoretical milestones of child development, some of which are asserted in nativist theories.
According to Wikipedia, Child development involves the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and the conclusion of adolescence. The main 3 stages of life include early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Early childhood typically ranges from infancy to the age of 6 years old.
Our today’s topic which centers on the different stages of infants child development will be adressing the following questions below:
- What are developmental milestones for infants?
- Where can I find tips for caring for an infant?
- How can I ensure my infant’s safety?
Different milestones characterize each stage of infant (0 to 12 months) and toddler (12 to 36 months) development.
Although most healthy infants and toddlers reach each milestone within a specific window of time, there is much variation as to how wide that window may be.
For example, culture, environment, socioeconomic status, and genetic factors can influence when an infant or toddler will begin to crawl, walk, or talk.
Children who suffer from undernutrition, who lack social stimuli, or who lack access to proper health care may develop more slowly than children in more enriched environments.
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Infants Child Development: Read About the Stages
(1) Developmental Milestones for Infants
Cognitive development for your baby means the learning process of memory, language, thinking and reasoning. Your baby is learning to recognize the sound of your voice.
She is also learning to focus her vision from the periphery or the corner of her eyes to the center. Language development is more than uttering sounds (“babble”), or mama/dada.
Listening, understanding, and knowing the names of people and things are all components of language development. During this stage, your baby is also developing bonds of love and trust with you.
The way you cuddle, hold, and play with your baby will set the basis for how he will interact with you and others.
(2) Positive Parenting Skills
Below are some of the positive parenting skills:
- Talk to your baby. It is soothing to hear your voice.
- When your baby makes sounds, answer him by repeating and adding words. This will help him learn to use language.
- Read to your baby. This helps her develop and understand language and sounds.
- Sing to your baby.
- Play music. This helps your baby develop a love for music and math.
- Praise your baby and give him lots of loving attention.
- Spend time cuddling and holding your baby. This helps her feel cared for and secure.
- The best time to play with your baby is when he’s alert and relaxed. Watch your baby closely for signs of being tired or fussy so that you can take a break.
- Parenting can be hard work! Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is easier to enjoy your new baby and be a positive, loving parent when you are feeling good yourself.
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(3) Child Safety First
Now that your newborn is at home, it is time to make sure that your home is a safe place. Look around your home for household items that might present a possible danger to your baby.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that you create a safe environment for your baby. It is also important that you take the necessary steps to make sure that you are mentally and emotionally ready for your new baby. Here are a few tips to keep your baby safe during her first year of life.
- It is important that you never shake your newborn baby. Newborn babies have very weak neck muscles that are not yet able to support their heads. If you shake your baby you can damage his brain and delay normal development.
- To prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), it is recommended that you always put your baby to sleep on her back. For more information on SIDS, visit National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
- Place your baby in a car safety seat every time he rides in the car. The safest place for his safety seat is in the back seat of the car. Children who are less than one year OR are less than 20 pounds should be placed in a rear-facing care seat.
- To prevent your baby from choking, cut her food into small bites. Don’t allow your baby to play with anything that may cover her face or is easy for her to swallow.
- Never carry hot liquids or food near your baby or while holding him.
- Immunizations (shots) are important to protect your child’s health and safety. Because children are susceptible to many potentially serious diseases, it is important that your child receive the proper immunizations. Please consult your local health care provider to ensure that your child is up-to-date on her childhood immunizations. You may visit the CDC immunization website, to obtain a copy of the recommended immunization schedule for U.S. children
On our subsequent topics, we are going to be discussing about the best infant car seat, infant mortality rate, enfamil infant and many more…. Always check us back for updates and please don’t forget to kindly share this information with your loved ones if found useful enough as we cannot reach everyone at the same time. Thank you.
Source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
