Development in
Infancy
0-1month
physical development






Reflexes-moro, rooting, grasping, stepping
Swallowing, sucking, coughing, yawning,
blinking, and elimination
Maintains fetal position when sleeping
Holds hands in fist
Eyes do not always work together and may
appear crossed at times
Attempts to track objects
0-1 month
Speech and Language
Crying and fussing
 Reacting to loud noises
 Shows preference for certain sounds
(voices)

0-1 month
Social-emotional






Short periods of alertness
Sleeps 17 to 19 hours a day
Likes to be held close and cuddled when
awake
Individuality
Establishes an emotional bond with
caregivers
Infant maybe tense with individual not
comfortable with infants
0-1
more information
May enjoy bath
 Express displeasure when clothes are
pulled over head
 Enjoys being swaddled


Enjoys face to face position
What to do with 0-1month old
baby?





Read baby’s cues
Make eye contact when baby is in alert state
Talk and sing to baby in normal voice when
feeding changing, bathing
Recognize and show delight in baby’s
responsiveness.
Show baby simple pictures-faces, stuffed
animal and have them track them
1-4 month old
physical








Stepping reflexes disappears
Rooting and sucking reflexes are well
developed
Drooling continues
Grasp reflex gradually disappears
Hold hand in open or semi-open position
Raises head and upper body on arms when
in prone position
Turns head side to side when in a supine
(face up) position
Upper body usually move active
1-4 months
cognitive








Continues to gaze in direction of object after it
disappears
Exhibits some sense of color, shape (bottle)
Does not search for object out of sight
Watches hands intently
Reaches for objects
Bats at objects in front of baby
Can distinguish parents’ faces
Begins to mouth objects
1-4 months
language
Infant will reacts to sounds
 Babbles and coos
 Coos single vowel sounds (ah, eh, uh)
 Laughs out loud
 Gurgles coos and squeals when awake

1-4 months
social
Smiles
 Enjoys playing with hands and toes and
fingers
 Needs familiar routines
 Reaching out for familiar objects
 Stops crying when caregiver is near
 Enjoys being held

1-4 months
other
Not ready to eat solid foods
 Begins to sleep through the night
 Likes being talked and sang to.

What do I do with a 1-4 month
old baby?

Smile with baby
 Imitate vocal sounds of baby
 Sing songs
 Read to baby play peek a boo
 Gently encourage motor activity “bicycle”
 Walk around with baby
 Get unbreakable mirrors, soft toys , musical
toys
rattles
4-8 months
physical









Teeth begin to appear
True eye color is establishing itself
Blinking reflex
Moro reflex disappears
Parachute reflect appears toward end of this
stage
Pincer grasp is beginning
Transfer objects from one hand to another
Palmer grasp
May hold own bottle
4-8months physical
May sit alone with or without support
 May pull self to crawling position
 Rolls over from front to back and back
to front
 May scoot backwards when placed on
stomach
 Enjoys being in standing position

4-8 months
cognitive









Turns toward familiar sounds and voices
Reaches for objects
May wave
Depth perception is evident
Looks over side of crib if something is
dropped (will drop things over side)
Searches for toy that has been hidden (object
permanence)
Bangs and shakes objects
Puts everything in mouth
Attachment to caregiver
4-8 months
language
May respond to own name
 May express some vowel and constant
sounds
 Responds to variations in others voices
(anger, playfulness and sadness)
 Babbles
 Reacts to different noises (vacuum
cleaner, phone, dog)

4-8 months social







Watches people and activities
Can tell the difference between strangers and
familiar people
Responses differently to facial expressions
Enjoys being held
Laughs out loud
Becomes upset if toys is taken aware
Seeks attention using body movements
4-8 months other







Reaches for cup or spoon when feeding
May accept small amount of strained solid
foods
Closes mouth firmly when not hungry or turns
head
Enjoys pulling of clothes, socks and plays
with velcro or string
Likes to kick, arch back, and bring feet to
mouth
Likes to be bounces and swayed
Enjoys soft squeaky toys, rattles
What can I do with a 4-8 mouth
old baby?








Use baby’s name
Provide toys-rattles, plastic keys, shakers,
teethers,
Remember fist rule
Allow plenty of time for bathtime when
possible
Play “This Little Piggy”
Play radio and taped music
Read and talk to baby
Name body parts, look in mirror, sing to baby
8-12 months
physical

Reaches with one had
 Transfers object from one hand to another
 Explores objects and environment
 Uses pincer grasp
 Beginning to pull to standing position
 Beginning to stand alone (may be walking)
 Crawls and creeps
 Combat crawls
Walks with adult support
8-12 months
cognitive








Watches people, objects in environment
Follows simple instructions
Reaches for toys out of reach but visible
Puts everything in mouth
Hits two blocks together
Drops toys intentionally and repeatedly
Shows some spatial relationships
Shows awareness of everyday objectstoothbrush, turns pages in book
8-12 months
language









Says ma-ma and da-da
Babbles and jabbers
Shakes head for no
Responds to name when called
Babbling in sentences
Waves bye bye
Imitates sounds
Enjoys music, rhymes and songs
Hand adults objects
8-12 months
social









Definite fear of strangers
Wants parents to be in sight
Social
Enjoys new experiences
May exhibit some assertiveness
Offers toys to others
Attached to favorite toy or blanket
Understands no
May look and smile at person saying his/her
name
What do I do with a 8-12 month
old baby?







Play games with music and song
Provide safe floor space close to parent or
caregiver
Talk about activities
Give baby simple instructions
Accept new activity as game
Be patient
Give baby push-pull toys, balls , toys with
wheels