Infancy, Babyhood and Early Childhood
Infancy, Babyhood, Early Childhood
INFANCY * Covers the 1st 2 weeks of life – time needed for the newborn to adjust to his new environment outside the mother’s womb. * Normal for babies to experience a small weight loss at this time because newborns are unwilling to eat during their 1st few days. * A slight yellowing of the skin around on the 3rd day is natural – adjustment of his liver. It disappears as soon as the infant begins to eat normally. * A baby needs to be put in an incubator if he weighs under 5 ½ pounds, to control the temperature of the environment (tube feeding). * Sensitive to touch * Finds delight & comfort in hearing the rhythm of the mother’s heartbeat. * Holding close conveys warmth and comfort. * An embrace creates a snug, secure world of the womb. * Breast Feeding – best way to meet the nutritional needs of the child, and also the best time to satisfy his need to be touched & cuddled. It promotes a warm, intimate relationship between the mother and the child to promote the latter’s health and growth development. It is also considered as a unique physical and emotional closeness that establishes a very special, satisfying mutual bond between the mother and the child. * Breast Milk – ideal food for the baby for it contains all the nutrients a normal child needs to develop and thrive. It contains Collostrum during the first few days upon giving birth. It is a yellowish fluid that is an important source of antibodies. * 2 Periods of Infancy: a. Partunate – birth up to the cutting and tying of the umbilical cord. b. Neonate – from the cutting and tying of the umbilical cord to the end of second week. * 5 Important Characteristics of Infancy: a. Shortest of all developmental periods; b. Time of radical adjustments; c. A plateau in development; d. A preview of later development; and e. A hazardous period. * 4 Major
INFANCY * Covers the 1st 2 weeks of life – time needed for the newborn to adjust to his new environment outside the mother’s womb. * Normal for babies to experience a small weight loss at this time because newborns are unwilling to eat during their 1st few days. * A slight yellowing of the skin around on the 3rd day is natural – adjustment of his liver. It disappears as soon as the infant begins to eat normally. * A baby needs to be put in an incubator if he weighs under 5 ½ pounds, to control the temperature of the environment (tube feeding). * Sensitive to touch * Finds delight & comfort in hearing the rhythm of the mother’s heartbeat. * Holding close conveys warmth and comfort. * An embrace creates a snug, secure world of the womb. * Breast Feeding – best way to meet the nutritional needs of the child, and also the best time to satisfy his need to be touched & cuddled. It promotes a warm, intimate relationship between the mother and the child to promote the latter’s health and growth development. It is also considered as a unique physical and emotional closeness that establishes a very special, satisfying mutual bond between the mother and the child. * Breast Milk – ideal food for the baby for it contains all the nutrients a normal child needs to develop and thrive. It contains Collostrum during the first few days upon giving birth. It is a yellowish fluid that is an important source of antibodies. * 2 Periods of Infancy: a. Partunate – birth up to the cutting and tying of the umbilical cord. b. Neonate – from the cutting and tying of the umbilical cord to the end of second week. * 5 Important Characteristics of Infancy: a. Shortest of all developmental periods; b. Time of radical adjustments; c. A plateau in development; d. A preview of later development; and e. A hazardous period. * 4 Major