Growth & Development (Normal Infant)

Taif University Department of Nursing

Normal Infant
Infancy period: is the period that

starts from the end of the first month up to the first year of age.

Weight of infant
From birth to 4 months : kg per month.
From 5 to 8 months : kg per month. From 9 to 12 months: kg per month. The infant will double his birth weight by 4 -6

months and triple by 10 -12 months of age.

Weight = (age in months + 9) / 2

Height
Length increases about 3 cm per month

during 3 months of age.

Then it increases 2 cm per month at age of 4

-6 months.
Then at 7 12 months it increases 1.5 cm

per month.

Head circumference
It increases about 2 cm per month during the first

three months.
Then it increases 0.5 cm per month during the

second 9 months of age.

Posterior fontanel closes by 6 -8 weeks. Anterior fontanel closes by 12 -18 weeks.

Chest circumference

By the end of the first year, it will

be equal to the head circumference.

1st month of age

The child can lift slightly when placed on

stomach. The child can pushes with toes. Head lag when pulled from lying to sitting position. The child can stares at surroundings.
The child can make small throaty noises. The child cries when hungry or

1st month of age

The child sleeps about 20 hours per day, and

usually awake for 2 a.m feeding. Put the child on his back for sleep and dont use pillows. The child receives first dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Allow freedom from the restraints of clothing before bath. Provide colorful hanging toys for sensory stimulation.

2nd month of age

Posterior fontanel closes.
Tears appear. Can hold head erect in midposition.

Follow moving light with eyes.

Hold a rattle briefly. Legs are active.

2nd month of age

Smiles in response to mothers voice.
Knows that crying will bring attention. May sleep from feeding to feeding.

Will receive DPT vaccine.

Provide a safe, flat place for baby to kick

and be active, do not leave his\her alone, particularly in any raised surface.

3rd month of age

Stares at hands.
Carries hands to mouth. Can follow an object from right to left and

up to down when it is placed in front of face. Supports head steadily. Hold rattle.

3rd month of age

Cries less.
Can wait a few minutes for attention. Enjoy responding to people talk.

Yawns, stretches, naps in mothers arms.

Enjoy playing with hands.

4th month of age

Lifts head and shoulders when on abdomen and

look around. Turns from back to side. Sits with support. Coos, chuckles, laughs loud. Responses to others. Like an audience. Sleep 8 10 hours at night. Play with hand rattles and dangling toys. Should receive the second dose of DPT vaccines, and second dose of hepatitis B.

5th month of age

Sits with support.

Hold head well.

Puts everything into mouth. Plays with toes. Talks to himself. Seems to know whether the persons are familiar

or not. Tries to hold a bottle of juice at feeding. Takes two or three naps daily in crib. Makes jumping motions when held upright in lap. Check toys for loose buttons and rough edges

6th month of age

Sit alone momentarily.
Moves backward when sitting. Chewing more mature. Approximate lips to rim of cup. Cry loudly when interrupted from play. Increased interest in surrounding world. Suck food from spoon. Awakes happy.

6th month of age

Should be moved from parents room, otherwise,

with age may become unwilling to sleep away from parents. Introduce first solid food, usually rice cereals fortified with iron. Grasps feet and pulls toward mouth. Receive the third dose of DPT vaccines, and second dose of Hepatitis B. Note: remove toxic plants from babys reach.

7th month of age

Begin to crawl, moves forward, using chest, head

and arms; legs drags. Can grasp objects more easily. Transfer objects from one hand to the other. Interested in standing and hold adults hands actively while standing. Shifts moods easily crying one minute, laughing the next. Shows fear of strangers. Anticipate spoon feeding.

7th month of age

Sleep 11 -13 hours at night.
Disturbed sleep due to teething may appear, and

this accompanied by lack of appetite, and in most cases merely soothing and offering a cup of water is sufficient. Add fruit and finger food as toast zwieback.
Exercise: begin to get around.

8th month of age

Sits steadily alone.
Uses index and thumb a pincers. Enjoy family life. Reserved with strangers. Indicated need for sleep by fussing or sucking

thumb, impatient, especially when food is being prepared. Takes two naps a day.

8th month of age

Takes two naps a day.
Note: add vegetables , and continue to add new

food slowly. Enjoy jump chair, ride in stroller. Note: remains with baby at all times during bath in tub, protect from chewing paint materials, close doors to ovens, dishwashers, washing machines. Do not leave standing water in tub, buckets, and s on.

9th month of age

Show preference for the use of one hand.
Can raise self to a sitting position. Hold bottle. Creeps, more advanced than crawling. Tries to imitate sound, e.g. : says ba ba for bye

bye. Cries if scolded. Drop food from high chair at meal time.

9th month of age

Falls sleep after 6 pm feeding.
Introduce mashed foods, use unbreakable

dishes, allow baby to pick up pieces of food and put into mouth. Exercise: is busy most of a day exploring surroundings. Provide safe material and area for play, avoid excessive : nos. Avoid tablecloth overhangs that baby can reach.

10th month of age

Pull self to standing position in playpen.

Walk around furniture while holding on to it.

Knows own name. Play simple games. Cry out in sleep. Take juice and water from cup. Soli food in general are taken well. Exercise: tours around room holding adults hand. Day-time clothing should be loose so as not to

interfere with movement.

11th month of age

Stands upright holding on to adults hands.
Understand simple instructions. Impatient when held. Enjoy playing with empty dish and spoon

following meals. Still spills from cup, enjoy blowing bubbles. Plays with toys. Cover electric outlets with tap, put cleaners and medicines out of reach if not previously done.

12th month of age

Pulse : 100 -140 beats/minute.
Respiratory rate: 20 -40 breathes /minute. Stand alone for short periods. May walk. Drink from cup; eat with a spoon with a

supervision. Pincer grasp is well established. Child is friendly. Repeat acts that elicit a response. Recognizing no, no.

12th month of age

Enjoy rhythmic music.
Shows emotions as fear, anger, and jealousy. Play with food, remove it from mouth. May take one nap daily. Note: gradually add egg white and fish, and add

well-cooked table foods. Exercise: plays in own room for an hour in morning Enjoy putting objects in basket and then removing it, and places objects on head. Immunization: fourth dose of DPT.

Dentition
Eruption of teeth starts by 5 -6 months of age.
This is called milky teeth or temporary or primary

teeth.
Name of teeth
Central incisors Lateral incisors Cusped ( canines) First molar

Lower jaw
5 -7 months 7 -10 months 16 -20 months 10 -16 months

Upper jaw
6 -8 months 8 10 months 16 20 months 10 -16 months

Second molar

10 -16 months

20 30 months

Weaning
Is a gradual addition of solid foods to the infants

diet according to individual infants capacity and gradual diminution of breast or artificial feeding infrequently and\or quality.
There is no one time for weaning that is the best

for every child, but generally most infants shows signs of readiness during the period from 4 6 months of age.