Page 5 - LESSION 8.pmd

Stages of Child Development : –Prenatal; and –Birth to Three Years

• • • • • Height

The baby’s length will change much more slowly than the weight.
Whatever be the baby’s length at birth, approximately 2 cm (3/4") will be Notes
gained each month or just over 5 cm (2") in the first three months.
• • • • • Sleeping Patterns

Most newborn babies wake up every two to three hours throughout the day.
Short stretches of sleep alternate with short period of wakefulness which
is mainly for feeding and keeping babies dry and warm.
• Reflexes

A reflex is an inborn, automatic or reflexive response to a particular form
of stimulation. Reflexes are a neonate’s organised pattern of behaviour.
Infants rapidly shut and open their eyes on exposure to direct light, suck
at things that touch their lips, grasp when an object is placed in their hands.
All of these are some of the reflexes that babies are born with.

The table below highlights major reflexes of newborns:

Reflexes in Newborns

Rooting Infants turn the head towards things that touch the cheek
Stepping Infants move their legs when held upright with feet
touching the floor

Swimming Infants paddle and kick in a sort of swimming motion when
lying face down in a body of water

Moro Activated when support for the neck and head is suddenly
removed. Infants thrust their arms outward and appear to
grasp onto something
Babinski Infants fan out their toes in response to a stroke on the
outside of her/his foot

Startle Infants fling out their arms, arch the back and spread the
fingers in response to a sudden noise

Eye Blink Infants rapidly shut and open their eyes on exposure to
direct light
Sucking Infants suck at things that touch their lips

Palmar Grasp When an object is placed in the infant’s hand and strokes
the palm, infants close the fingers and grasp it

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION 107