Monday, May 14, 2012

Infant Development Is Simple To Understand

By Danni Torelle


A lot happens in infant development in the first three months of life. Babies need a lot of nourishment and love in the beginning. They need to be rocked and soothed for a few months in the start of life. The growth spurts will start to emerge quite quickly, though.

For instance, the baby will be able to lift his or head up in a few months, but at birth, their head is quite flimsy and needs to be supported by the parents. It may have difficulty turning over, but will soon be able to do so.

His or her hearing and sight is limited. They can see shapes and colors. It is quite blurry though and improves with time. They are sensitive to sounds and can be startled easily in their sleep. It may be nice to get your daughter or son a colorful mobile in his or her crib so when they are going to take a nap, they can enjoy looking at the shapes and colors on it. This can help develop their maturing capabilities.

Babies rely early on upon imitation. They will mimic the sounds, expressions and gestures exhibited by their primary care giver. For this reason, parents should be very cautious around babies to avoid negative imprinting.

From ages four months to six months, the baby will explore his or her surroundings in greater depth. The child will also roll over. He or she may begin babbling a lot. In addition, he or she will engage in new behaviors like hand clapping. While all these behaviors may seem unfamiliar, they are signs that the baby is maturing naturally.

Each child develops at his or her own pace, so parents should not become too alarmed if their child seems to be progressing at a different rate than other children the same age. While your child may be behind in one area, he or she may be ahead in another. Comparisons between children generally are unnecessary at best and damaging at worst.

Some parents worry way too much about this sort of thing. They will make a visit to a pediatrician to make sure their child is growing normally and if there is any concern at all, the parent will start obsessing about it, talking to their friends about, and other parents. It can go so far as it can hurt a parent's mental health if they worry too much.

Some parents become so worried about their child's rate of development that they end up needing anti-depressants. Parents concerned about infant development should strive to keep matters in perspective. Children are wonderful gifts and each child is unique. Watching a child grow and mature can be a delightful experience. However, it is most easily enjoyed when the parent is not stressed out by demanding expectations or unrealistic hopes for perfection.




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