Infancy and Toddler development Flashcards
Changing Proportions
Infants weigh an average of 7.5 pounds at birth. The head makes up 25% of length, this decreases to 20% by adulthood
Toddler Brain Development
Formation of dendrites (branches). Synaptogenesis (connections between neurone). Allows toddler cognition, social and motor skills to specialize more
Early Brain Development
All neurons are present at birth but not fully developed
Synaptic Pruning
Getting rid of extra connections/allows for specialization. Some autism theories revolve around synaptic pruning/either too much or too little pruning.
Frontal Lobe
Planning and decision making (remember FAS). Motor Planning
Parietal Lobe
Sensation/touch and motor skills
Occipital Lobe
Vision
Temporal Lobe
Hearing
Brain development
Pre-frontal cortex is last part of brain to develop: planning, self-regulation, decision making. Continues into mid 20’s.
Hemispheres of Brain
Left side of brain lateralized for language in most adults. Right side lateralized for visual-spatial skills.
Sleep
Infants sleep an average of 16 hours a day. By age 2 this average is about 10 hours a day.
Sleep P.2
Infants spend up to half of their time asleep in REM. This decreases to slightly less than a third of sleep time in REM by childhood. For the first 6 months, sleeping in the same room with parents in a seperate bed is safest for babies.
Sleep P.3
Infants should sleep on their backs on firm mattress. No pillows or crib bumpers and no blankets for first year.
Nutrition
Breastmilk is ideal food fror baby. Babies get antibodies from mother to protect from infections. Lower risk of various health conditions (diabeties). Exclusive breastfeeding recommended until 6 months should be part of diet for up to 2 years.
Infant malnutrition: Kwashiorkor
Lack of protein/adequate calories. Swelling of the abdoment tries to obtain protein from organs.
