Infancy Flashcards
What are the 4 reflexes discussed in the module?
Rooting
Moro Reflex
Grasping Reflex
Stepping Reflex
What is rooting?
When the baby turns her head when her cheek or mouth is touched. It aids with feeding because it helps the infant find something to suck
What is the Moro relfex?
Startle response when the infant arches his back and throws out his arms and legs, much like an adult would if we felt we were falling. It’s believed to have survival value. Seen when support for the head and neck is suddenly lost, or in response to a loud noise or sudden movement. Starts to disappear around 5 months. Absence of the reflex at birth, or reappearance after 5 months, may suggest damage to the central nervous system.
What is another name for the grasping reflex?
Palmer grasp
What is the grasping reflex (Palmer grasp)?
Stepping stone to additional motor development. Can be so strong that the baby can support its own weight.
What is the stepping reflex?
When the infant makes stepping motions when held above a surface. Another building block for future motor development. Related to postural control. Disappears around 2-3 months of age, will not be seen again until the baby learns to walk on her own.
How much of a day does a newborn spend sleeping?
16-18 hours
When does sleep become more regular for the infant?
At 6 weeks
What are the two types of infant sleep?
REM and nREM
What is REM sleep?
Aka irregular sleep
Characterized by uneven breathing
Makes up nearly half of an infant’s daily sleep pattern
Infants begin their sleep cycle in REM sleep, unlike adults
What is nREM sleep?
Baby is nearly motionless
Increases as the infant gets older
When does crying peak?
6 weeks
How much crying is normal at 6 weeks?
3-4 hours a day
What are the 5 S’s for soothing a baby?
Swaddling Side/stomach position Swinging Shushing sounds Sucking
What does swaddling do?
Limits overstimulation of the senses. Parents sometimes inadvertently overstimulate the child simply in their efforts to calm him down.
What does side/stomach position do?
In parent’s arms, never meant for sleeping (babies sleep on their backs).
What does swinging do?
Some think this feeling is similar to what the baby experienced in the womb
What do shushing sounds do?
Serves as ‘white noise’ which is calming. Babies also prefer vocal noises to other noises.
What does sucking do?
Breastfeeding or sucking on a pacifier. Pacifiers calm babies for longer, should stop using by 5-6 months. If a child is sucking on his fingers, continue with pacifier.
What age does infancy typically cover?
The first 2 years of life
How tall is a child at 2 years?
32-35 inches
How much does a child weigh at 2 years?
30 pounds on average
What are the 2 types of growth sequences that describe infant growth patterns?
Cephalocaudal and Proximodistal
What is overproduction?
Infants have more synaptic connections than they need. Once they start experiencing things, their brains start changing in response to what they experience.
What is neural pruning?
Where important connections are kept and unimportant ones are discarded.