Characteristics of Infancy

 

Meaning

            The word infant has been derived from the Latin word ‘infans’ which meaning ‘unable to speak’ or ‘speechless’.

            The stage of infancy is considered from 0 to 24 months (2 years). During this stage infant learns adjustment to a new environment. This stage has been divided into two sub stages i.e.

(i)        Pre-nascent (first 30 minutes after birth) and

(ii)       Infancy (up to 2 years)

 

Physical Characteristics

 

Physical Development - At birth, infants are helpless in controlling their body. The physical development is rapid during the infancy which include physical and brain changes; development of reflexes, motor skills, sensations, perceptions, and learning skills; and health issues.

Birth weight Range – 2.5 to 4.5 Kg.

Average Height Range – 18 to 22 inches

Birth weight doubles in first 6 months and height increases by 10 to 12 inches.

 

Reflexes -Reflexes are automatic reactions to stimulation that enable infants to respond to the environment before any learning has taken place.

 

 

 

Common Reflexes

Reflex	Stimulus
Blinking	Puff of air
Babinski	Pressing or stoking the side of the foot
Grasping	Object pressed in the palm
Sucking	Finger in the mouth
Babkin	Stoking of forehead, turns forehead and open mouth

 

Motor Skills – Motor development follows cephalocaudal (centre and upper body) and proximodistal (extremities and lower body) patterns.

 

Reflex	Stimulus
1 Month	Lift chin while lying.
2 Months	Raise Chest from prone line position
4 Months	Grasp objects such as rattles
5 Months	Roll over
8 Months	Sit without support
10 Months	Stand with support
14 Months	Learn to walk alone

 

Senses

1.         Vision – New born is near-sighted. Babies are born with the ability to focus only at close range--about 8 to 10 inches. Focus improves over the first 2 to 3 years of life to a normal 20/20 vision. New born can detect light and dark but cannot see all colours.

2.         Hearing – Hearing is fully developed in new-borns. They seem to prefer a higher-pitched voice (the mother's) to a low sounding voice (males). They also have the ability to tune out loud noises after hearing them several times. The problem of hearing loss can prevent the stimulation of the brain's hearing canters which can affect the maturation and development of hearing, and can delay speech and language.

3.         Taste – Taste buds begin forming early in foetal development. It is known that babies prefer sweet tastes over sour or bitter tastes. Babies also show a strong preference for mother’s milk.

4.         Smell – The brain's olfactory (smell) centre forms very early in foetal development. Studies have found that new-borns have a keen sense of smell. Within the first few days they will show a preference for the smell of their own mother.

5.         Touch – At birth, babies are thrust into a new world, where their arms and legs can suddenly move freely. Placing a hand on the baby's abdomen, or cuddling close can help a baby feel more secure. Holding a baby for feedings is also important. Breastfeeding ensures that a baby spends several hours in mother's arms.

Perception – It is the psychological process by which the human brain processes the sensory data collected by the sensory organs. Visually, infants are aware of depth (the relationship between foreground and background) and size and shape constancy (the consistent size and shape of objects). This latter ability is necessary for infants to learn about events and objects.

Learning – It is the process that results in relatively permanent change in behaviour based on experience. (John B. Watson's experiments with 11‐month‐old “Little Albert” in the 1920s). Babies generally respond well to operant conditioning than classical conditioning.  Observational learning is the fastest and most natural means by which infants acquire new skills.

 

References:

1.         https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/   newborn-senses.

2.         https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/    psychology/development-psychology/physical- cognitive-development-age-02/physical-      development-age-02.

3.         NCERT, XI Psychology Text book.

 

 

 

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