infant development – how a baby develops
Infant Development – How a Baby Develops
An infant is typically the younger or more formally dressed version of the older adult species, the baby. The word baby can also be used to describe minors of other animals. A baby girl is referred to as a princess, while a baby boy is commonly called a joy bundle. Because the literal meaning of the word “baby” is literally” unborn child,” people use the term in several different contexts that have nothing to do with pregnancy or the baby’s growth.
Most people envision a newborn baby in its crib, lying asleep until it can be weaned off the mother’s milk and fed by its father. This is usually around two to four months old. From this point, most babies begin to toddle, cling to their mother, and begin to explore the world. By six to nine months old, most babies sit up, crawl, and generally interact with adults in some fashion. A typical newborn is not quite a toddler and is not sitting up, walking, or playing with other babies yet.
By three to six months old, most babies sit on their own and begin to explore the environment. By seven to nine months old, most infants sit upright, with their chests up and their eyes open. By ten to fourteen months old, most infants are sitting up, walking, and developing their sense of walking and, of course, exploring the environment. By sixteen to eighteen months old, most infants sit down, their chests down and their eyes closed. An infant will often sit perched on the arm of its parent or sit on its lap or sit in a cradle. And while some babies will begin crawling later on in life, most will not start to walk until they are at least two years old.
Every infant has personality traits and characteristics that will develop as it grows and matures. Infants will learn through observation, repetition, and experience. This is one reason parents and caretakers will frequently create a play space for their babies. The infant will imitate the activities and the sounds that it sees and hears in its environment. This is especially true with a newborn child who experiences its first months within the amniotic fluid of its mother’s womb.
All babies will enjoy some form of touch. Touching is something that all babies enjoy, regardless of gender. Most infants cry when touched, but this is only because they are trying to receive love and attention. Some infants will want to be felt in other ways, such as patting the back or head. Touching differently from a mother or caretaker might make a newborn more comfortable in its new environment.
Some infants will start eating solid foods at four to six months of age. Some will start with soft foods and introduce them to solid foods at a later time. It all depends on the parent and the type of food. Babies will be introduced to various foods, including cereals, fruits, vegetables, and meats from three months to six months of age.
After six months of life, most newborns are ready for solid foods. One choice that many new mothers choose is to bottle-feed their newborns. The feeding process is usually done using an infant-proofed nursing station. A nipple is placed on the baby’s mouth, and a bottle is inserted using a plastic tube. Most nipples are made out of latex, but some mothers do use other types of material. Breast milk can also be used if the baby is not nursing.
Another thing that is important in infant development is getting enough sleep. Most babies need twenty-four hours of sleep each night. An infant development book can help with this. It can include tips on sleeping, like putting the baby down after sleep for a minimum of fifteen minutes so that he or she has had time to settle down.
