Physical Development in Infancy

Physical development in infancy is rapid and includes significant growth in size, weight, and motor skills.

Growth: Infants typically double their birth weight by 5 months and triple it by their first birthday .

Motor Skills: Development of motor skills follows a predictable sequence. Gross motor skills, such as crawling and walking, develop before fine motor skills, like grasping and picking up small objects .

Cognitive Development in Infancy Overview

Cognitive development in infancy involves the development of thinking, problem-solving, and understanding the world.

Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage: This stage (birth to 2 years) is characterized by learning through sensory experiences and manipulating objects. Key milestones include object permanence and beginning symbolic thought.

Information Processing: Infants develop memory and attention skills, becoming more efficient at processing information as they age.

Socioemotional Development in Infancy Overview

Socioemotional development in infancy focuses on the formation of relationships, emotional expression, and self-awareness.

Attachment: According to Bowlby (1969), infants form attachments to their primary caregivers, which serve as the foundation for future social relationships.

Emotional Expression: Infants begin to show a range of emotions and start to recognize emotions in others.