PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES: INFANCY, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND
MIDDLE CHILDHOOD OVERVIEW
LATEST UPDATED 2025
All Answers are in RED
Major Keywords: Pediatric nursing exam, stages of child development, infancy and neonatal nursing, toddler and preschool growth, early childhood development,
middle childhood milestones, school-age child nursing, age-specific nursing care, pediatric developmental stages, NCLEX pediatric growth and development.
Infancy
-stage of development
-includes neonatal (birth-1 month) and infancy (1 month and 1 year)
early childhood
-stage of development
-includes toddler (1-3 years) and preschooler (3-6 years)
middle childhood
-stage of development
-school age years (6-12)
late childhood
-stage of development
-adolescent years (13-20)
oral
-Freud's theory of development during the infant stage.
-during this period of time, offer the child a pacifier, oral stimulants, feedings
-pleasure is focused on oral activities, feeding and sucking
Trust vs. mistrust
-Erikson's theory of development during the infant stage
-during this period of time, offer the child comfort, consistent care, manage pain, and meet physical needs.
-development of a sense of trust is crucial in the first year
-when infant's needs are met, the sense of trust is developed
sensorimotor
-Piaget's theory of development during both the infant stage.
-during this period of time, offer the child crib mobiles, bright toys, interesting stimuli and safe objects, peek a
boo.
-infants learn about themselves and the world through their developing sensory and motor capacities
-they learn object permanence which usually develops between 4-7 months
,-by 12 months, the infant learns that they are separate from their caregiver and can recognize self in mirror
-infants may imitate gestures, such as putting phone to ear or turning a cup to drink
substages
within Piaget's sensorimotor stage of development, there are four ____ including reflexes, primary circular
reaction, secondary circular reaction, and coordination of secondary schemes
7.5, 10
-the average newborn weighs ____ pounds at birth and loses up to ___ % of their body weight within the first
week
4
newborns typically double their weight by age ____
20
___ in. is the average length of the newborn and increases by 50% by 12 months of age
14
____ in (35 cm.) is the average head circumference size at birth.
babinski
which newborn reflex remains for the first year of life, unlike the other reflexes which disappear within the first
few months?
birth
rooting, sucking, palmar grasp, stepping, plantar grasp, and babinski reflexes are all present at ____.
6/8 weeks-6 months
how long is the infant's tonic neck reflex normally present?
3 months-2 years
how long is the infant's landau reflex normally present?
hearing
which sense is fully developed at birth?
nearsighted
-newborn's sight is typically ____ at birth.
-full color vision typically develops by 7 months of age
taste and smell
-these senses develop rapidly after birth
-newborns can differentiate the smell of their mother's breastmilk from others
3-5
, -the guideline for introducing foods to infants is every ____ days.
-allergies can develop and it can be hard to detect which is causing the allergy if several foods are introduced at
the same time.
6 months
-the infant should rely on solely breastmilk until at least ____ of age, then the caretaker can start to introduce
solid foods.
-by this age, the infant should be able to sit up supported in a high chair and fed with a spoon, unless the tongue
extrusion reflex is still present. This reflex typically disappears by 4-6 months' age.
juice
-____ should be avoided for infants because it can increase the risk of dental caries
-recommend <4 oz. diluted /day
iron fortified cereal
_____ mixed with breastmilk is typically suggested as one of the best choices when first introducing solid foods
8
by ___ months of age, a cup and different types of smashed food without large chucks should be introduced to
the infant, such as cheerios, green beans, and peas.
1 year
-when should you start to wean off of breast milk or formula and begin giving the infant cow's milk?
whole milk
-best recommendation when weaning off of breast milk after the first year is to switch to ______ until the age of
2 because it has more nutrients
-infants should be limited to 24 oz. per day
I should use whole milk until by baby is two years old
The mother of a 12 month old is planning to wean her baby from breastfeeding. Which of the following
indicates understanding of the teaching?
20
newborns sleep approx. ___ hours per day
7-8
by 3 months of age, sleep decreases to ___ hours per day without waking with about 3 naps
12 months
by _____ age, the infant sleeps approx. 8-12 hours
colic
-common developmental concern for infants
-defined as inconsolable crying, lasting 3 hours or longer with no cause
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES: INFANCY, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND
MIDDLE CHILDHOOD OVERVIEW
LATEST UPDATED 2025
All Answers are in RED
Major Keywords: Pediatric nursing exam, stages of child development, infancy and neonatal nursing, toddler and preschool growth, early childhood development,
middle childhood milestones, school-age child nursing, age-specific nursing care, pediatric developmental stages, NCLEX pediatric growth and development.
Infancy
-stage of development
-includes neonatal (birth-1 month) and infancy (1 month and 1 year)
early childhood
-stage of development
-includes toddler (1-3 years) and preschooler (3-6 years)
middle childhood
-stage of development
-school age years (6-12)
late childhood
-stage of development
-adolescent years (13-20)
oral
-Freud's theory of development during the infant stage.
-during this period of time, offer the child a pacifier, oral stimulants, feedings
-pleasure is focused on oral activities, feeding and sucking
Trust vs. mistrust
-Erikson's theory of development during the infant stage
-during this period of time, offer the child comfort, consistent care, manage pain, and meet physical needs.
-development of a sense of trust is crucial in the first year
-when infant's needs are met, the sense of trust is developed
sensorimotor
-Piaget's theory of development during both the infant stage.
-during this period of time, offer the child crib mobiles, bright toys, interesting stimuli and safe objects, peek a
boo.
-infants learn about themselves and the world through their developing sensory and motor capacities
-they learn object permanence which usually develops between 4-7 months
,-by 12 months, the infant learns that they are separate from their caregiver and can recognize self in mirror
-infants may imitate gestures, such as putting phone to ear or turning a cup to drink
substages
within Piaget's sensorimotor stage of development, there are four ____ including reflexes, primary circular
reaction, secondary circular reaction, and coordination of secondary schemes
7.5, 10
-the average newborn weighs ____ pounds at birth and loses up to ___ % of their body weight within the first
week
4
newborns typically double their weight by age ____
20
___ in. is the average length of the newborn and increases by 50% by 12 months of age
14
____ in (35 cm.) is the average head circumference size at birth.
babinski
which newborn reflex remains for the first year of life, unlike the other reflexes which disappear within the first
few months?
birth
rooting, sucking, palmar grasp, stepping, plantar grasp, and babinski reflexes are all present at ____.
6/8 weeks-6 months
how long is the infant's tonic neck reflex normally present?
3 months-2 years
how long is the infant's landau reflex normally present?
hearing
which sense is fully developed at birth?
nearsighted
-newborn's sight is typically ____ at birth.
-full color vision typically develops by 7 months of age
taste and smell
-these senses develop rapidly after birth
-newborns can differentiate the smell of their mother's breastmilk from others
3-5
, -the guideline for introducing foods to infants is every ____ days.
-allergies can develop and it can be hard to detect which is causing the allergy if several foods are introduced at
the same time.
6 months
-the infant should rely on solely breastmilk until at least ____ of age, then the caretaker can start to introduce
solid foods.
-by this age, the infant should be able to sit up supported in a high chair and fed with a spoon, unless the tongue
extrusion reflex is still present. This reflex typically disappears by 4-6 months' age.
juice
-____ should be avoided for infants because it can increase the risk of dental caries
-recommend <4 oz. diluted /day
iron fortified cereal
_____ mixed with breastmilk is typically suggested as one of the best choices when first introducing solid foods
8
by ___ months of age, a cup and different types of smashed food without large chucks should be introduced to
the infant, such as cheerios, green beans, and peas.
1 year
-when should you start to wean off of breast milk or formula and begin giving the infant cow's milk?
whole milk
-best recommendation when weaning off of breast milk after the first year is to switch to ______ until the age of
2 because it has more nutrients
-infants should be limited to 24 oz. per day
I should use whole milk until by baby is two years old
The mother of a 12 month old is planning to wean her baby from breastfeeding. Which of the following
indicates understanding of the teaching?
20
newborns sleep approx. ___ hours per day
7-8
by 3 months of age, sleep decreases to ___ hours per day without waking with about 3 naps
12 months
by _____ age, the infant sleeps approx. 8-12 hours
colic
-common developmental concern for infants
-defined as inconsolable crying, lasting 3 hours or longer with no cause
