Chapter 3: Physical, Perceptual, and Motor Development

Question 1

What are reflexes? What are examples of newborn reflexes?

Answer 1

Unlearned responses triggered by some specific stimulus.
Moro, stepping, rooting, and Palmar

Question 2

What is the Moro reflex?

Answer 2

When the baby throws its arms out and in in response to a loud noise or their head falling
(disappears at 6 months, may help clinging to mother)

Question 3

What is the stepping reflex?

Answer 3

Held up by an adult, baby is moved forward imitating rhythmic stepping.
( 2-3 mo. Precursor to walking)

Question 4

What is the rooting reflex?

Answer 4

When the baby’s cheek is stroked, the baby turns toward the stimulus and opens its mouth.
(Replaced at 3-4 weeks with voluntary head movement
Helps find nipple)

Question 5

What is the palmar reflex?

Answer 5

Baby closes hand in response to something being placed in its palm (3-4 mo.)

Question 6

What are the newborn Behavorial states?

Answer 6

• Alert inactivity: Calm with eyes open and attentive, seems to be studying its environment
• Waking activity: baby’s eyes are open but appear unfocused and arms and legs have bursts of uncoordinated movement
• Crying: cried vigorously with agitated and uncoordinated motion
• Sleeping: alternating between still breathing and regular gentle movements and irregular breathing, eyes closed the entire time

Question 7

What are the types of newborn cries?

Answer 7

• Basic cry: soft cry that gradually intensifies often because tired or hungry
• Mad cry: more intense basic cry
• Pain cry: sudden, long burst of crying followed by long pauses due to gasping

Question 8

What about co-sleeping?

Answer 8

It occurs in America but is more common in less individualized cultures and may even continue into the first years. In crib or basket next to or on parents bed and then sleep in bed when get bigger. Important for parent-child bond but does not show increased dependancy

Question 9

What about SIDS?

Answer 9

When the baby suddenly dies for no apparent reason, most common 2-4 months possibly because poor reflexes. More common premature/low birth weight, parent smokers, sleeping on stomach winter (extra blankets),

Question 10

What about temperament?

Answer 10

The baby’s consistent style or pattern of behavior affected by heredity. 2-6 dimensions (identical twins more similar than fraternal) and environment (parent attentiveness/mood). Remains relatively stable throughout adolescent

Question 11

How do you fill out an APGAR?

Answer 11

Appearance: normal (2), normal except extremities (1), cyanotic/pale (0)
Pulse: >100bpm (2), <100 bpm (1), absent (0)
Grimace (reflex irritability): Sneezes, coughs, or vigorous cry (2), grimaces (1), no response (0)
Activity (muscle tone): Active (2), Arms & legs flexed (1), Absent (0)
Respirations: Good, crying (2), Gasping, irregular (1), Absent (0)