Child development stages
See also: Parenting and Family • Continues to breathe using abdominal muscles.
• Posterior fontanelle.
Child development stages are the theoretical milestones
of child development, some of which are asserted in • Anterior fontanelle.
nativist theories. This article discusses the most widely
• Skin remains sensitive and easily irritated.
accepted developmental stages. There exists a wide vari-
ation in terms of what is considered “normal,” caused • Legs may appear slightly bowed.
by variation in genetic, cognitive, physical, family, cul-
tural, nutritional, educational, and environmental factors. • Cries with tears.
Many children reach some or most of these milestones at
• Gums are red.
different times from the norm.
Holistic development sees the child in the round, as a • Eyes begin moving together in unison (binocular vi-
whole person - physically, emotionally, intellectually, so- sion).
cially, morally, culturally and spiritually. Learning about • Responds to and thrives on warm, sensitive physical
child development involves studying patterns of growth contact and care.[7]
and development, from which guidelines for 'normal'
development are drawn up. Developmental norms are • Expresses discomfort, hunger or thirst.
sometimes called milestones - they define the recognised
• Has very poor vision. The infant has trouble focus-
pattern of development that children are expected to fol-
ing on objects and could barely make out images
low. Each child develops in a unique way; however, us-
with its eyes.
ing norms helps in understanding these general patterns
of development while recognising the wide variation be-
[8]
tween individuals. This page talks mostly about the lin- Motor development
guistic development of a child.
• Rooting and sucking reflexes are well developed.
• Swallowing reflex and tongue movements are imma-
1 Table of Milestones ture; inability to move food to the back of the mouth.
• Grasp reflex.
2 Physical specifications
• Landau reflex appears near the middle of this period;
[6] when baby is held in a prone (face down) position,
the head is held upright and legs are fully extended.
• Grasps with entire hand; strength insufficient to hold
3 Milestones by age items. Holds hands in an open or semi-open posi-
tion.
3.1 1–4 months • Movements are large and jerky.
Physical • Raises head and upper body on arms when in a prone
position.
• Head and chest circumference are nearly equal to the • Turns head side to side when in a supine (face up)
part of the abdomen. position; cannot hold head up and line with the body.
• Head circumference increases approximately 2 cm • Upper body parts are more active: clasps hands
per month until two months, then increases 1.5 cm above face, waves arms about, reaches for objects.
per month until four months.
• According to Sigmund Freud, the infant is in the oral
• Increases are an important indication of continued fixation stage. The oral fixation stage is when the
brain growth. infant begins to root and suck.
1
, 2 3 MILESTONES BY AGE
3.2 4–8 months • Sits alone without support, holding head erect, back
straightened, and arms propped forward for support
[9]
• Pulls self into a crawling position by raising up on
Physical arms and drawing knees up beneath the body; rocks
back and forth, but generally does not move forward.
• Head and chest circumferences are basically equal.
• Lifts head when placed on back.
• Head circumference increases approximately 1 cm
per month until six to seven months, then 0.5 cm • Can roll over from back or stomach position.
per month; head circumference should continue to • May accidentally begin scooting backwards when
increase steadily, indicating healthy, ongoing brain placed on stomach; soon will begin to crawl forward.
growth.
• Looks for fallen objects by 7 months
• Posterior fontanelle closing or fully closed.
• Plays ‘peek-a-boo’ games
• Anterior fontanelle.
• Cannot understand “no” or “danger”
• Breathing is abdominal; respiration rate depending
on activity; rate and patterns vary from infant to in-
fant. 3.3 8–12 months
• Teeth may begin to appear, with upper and lower
Physical
incisors coming in first. Gums may become red and
swollen, accompanied by increased drooling, chew-
ing, biting, and mouthing of objects. • Respiration rates vary with activity
• Legs may appear bowed; bowing gradually disap- • Environmental conditions, weather, activity, and
pears as infant grows older. clothing still affect variations in body temperature.
• Fat rolls (“Baby Fat”) appear on thighs, upper arms • Head and chest circumference remain equal.
and neck. • Anterior fontanelle begins to close.
• True eye colour is established. • Continues to use abdominal muscles for breathing.
Motor development • More teeth appear, often in the order of two lower
incisors then two upper incisors followed by four
more incisors and two lower molars but some babies
• Reflexive behaviors are changing:
may still be waiting for their first.
• Blinking reflex is well established
• Arm and hands are more developed than feet and
• Sucking reflex becomes voluntary legs (cephalocaudal development); hands appear
large in proportion to other body parts.
• Moro reflex disappears
• Legs may continue to appear bowed.
• When lowered suddenly, infant throws out arms as a
protective measure. • “Baby Fat” continues to appear on thighs, upper
arms and neck.
• Swallowing reflex appears and allows infant to move
solid foods from front of mouth to the back for swal- • Feet appear flat as arch has not yet fully developed.
lowing.
• Both eyes work in unison (true binocular coordina-
• Picks up objects using finger and thumb (pincer tion).
grip).
• Can see distant objects (4 to 6 m or 13 to 20 ft away)
• Reaches for objects with both arms simultaneously; and points at them.
later reaches with one hand or the other.
Motor development
• Transfers objects from one hand to the other; grasps
object using entire hand (palmar grasp).
• Reaches with one hand leading to grasp an offered
• Handles, shakes, and pounds objects; puts every- object or toy.
thing in mouth.
• Manipulates objects, transferring them from one
• Able to hold bottle. hand to the other.
See also: Parenting and Family • Continues to breathe using abdominal muscles.
• Posterior fontanelle.
Child development stages are the theoretical milestones
of child development, some of which are asserted in • Anterior fontanelle.
nativist theories. This article discusses the most widely
• Skin remains sensitive and easily irritated.
accepted developmental stages. There exists a wide vari-
ation in terms of what is considered “normal,” caused • Legs may appear slightly bowed.
by variation in genetic, cognitive, physical, family, cul-
tural, nutritional, educational, and environmental factors. • Cries with tears.
Many children reach some or most of these milestones at
• Gums are red.
different times from the norm.
Holistic development sees the child in the round, as a • Eyes begin moving together in unison (binocular vi-
whole person - physically, emotionally, intellectually, so- sion).
cially, morally, culturally and spiritually. Learning about • Responds to and thrives on warm, sensitive physical
child development involves studying patterns of growth contact and care.[7]
and development, from which guidelines for 'normal'
development are drawn up. Developmental norms are • Expresses discomfort, hunger or thirst.
sometimes called milestones - they define the recognised
• Has very poor vision. The infant has trouble focus-
pattern of development that children are expected to fol-
ing on objects and could barely make out images
low. Each child develops in a unique way; however, us-
with its eyes.
ing norms helps in understanding these general patterns
of development while recognising the wide variation be-
[8]
tween individuals. This page talks mostly about the lin- Motor development
guistic development of a child.
• Rooting and sucking reflexes are well developed.
• Swallowing reflex and tongue movements are imma-
1 Table of Milestones ture; inability to move food to the back of the mouth.
• Grasp reflex.
2 Physical specifications
• Landau reflex appears near the middle of this period;
[6] when baby is held in a prone (face down) position,
the head is held upright and legs are fully extended.
• Grasps with entire hand; strength insufficient to hold
3 Milestones by age items. Holds hands in an open or semi-open posi-
tion.
3.1 1–4 months • Movements are large and jerky.
Physical • Raises head and upper body on arms when in a prone
position.
• Head and chest circumference are nearly equal to the • Turns head side to side when in a supine (face up)
part of the abdomen. position; cannot hold head up and line with the body.
• Head circumference increases approximately 2 cm • Upper body parts are more active: clasps hands
per month until two months, then increases 1.5 cm above face, waves arms about, reaches for objects.
per month until four months.
• According to Sigmund Freud, the infant is in the oral
• Increases are an important indication of continued fixation stage. The oral fixation stage is when the
brain growth. infant begins to root and suck.
1
, 2 3 MILESTONES BY AGE
3.2 4–8 months • Sits alone without support, holding head erect, back
straightened, and arms propped forward for support
[9]
• Pulls self into a crawling position by raising up on
Physical arms and drawing knees up beneath the body; rocks
back and forth, but generally does not move forward.
• Head and chest circumferences are basically equal.
• Lifts head when placed on back.
• Head circumference increases approximately 1 cm
per month until six to seven months, then 0.5 cm • Can roll over from back or stomach position.
per month; head circumference should continue to • May accidentally begin scooting backwards when
increase steadily, indicating healthy, ongoing brain placed on stomach; soon will begin to crawl forward.
growth.
• Looks for fallen objects by 7 months
• Posterior fontanelle closing or fully closed.
• Plays ‘peek-a-boo’ games
• Anterior fontanelle.
• Cannot understand “no” or “danger”
• Breathing is abdominal; respiration rate depending
on activity; rate and patterns vary from infant to in-
fant. 3.3 8–12 months
• Teeth may begin to appear, with upper and lower
Physical
incisors coming in first. Gums may become red and
swollen, accompanied by increased drooling, chew-
ing, biting, and mouthing of objects. • Respiration rates vary with activity
• Legs may appear bowed; bowing gradually disap- • Environmental conditions, weather, activity, and
pears as infant grows older. clothing still affect variations in body temperature.
• Fat rolls (“Baby Fat”) appear on thighs, upper arms • Head and chest circumference remain equal.
and neck. • Anterior fontanelle begins to close.
• True eye colour is established. • Continues to use abdominal muscles for breathing.
Motor development • More teeth appear, often in the order of two lower
incisors then two upper incisors followed by four
more incisors and two lower molars but some babies
• Reflexive behaviors are changing:
may still be waiting for their first.
• Blinking reflex is well established
• Arm and hands are more developed than feet and
• Sucking reflex becomes voluntary legs (cephalocaudal development); hands appear
large in proportion to other body parts.
• Moro reflex disappears
• Legs may continue to appear bowed.
• When lowered suddenly, infant throws out arms as a
protective measure. • “Baby Fat” continues to appear on thighs, upper
arms and neck.
• Swallowing reflex appears and allows infant to move
solid foods from front of mouth to the back for swal- • Feet appear flat as arch has not yet fully developed.
lowing.
• Both eyes work in unison (true binocular coordina-
• Picks up objects using finger and thumb (pincer tion).
grip).
• Can see distant objects (4 to 6 m or 13 to 20 ft away)
• Reaches for objects with both arms simultaneously; and points at them.
later reaches with one hand or the other.
Motor development
• Transfers objects from one hand to the other; grasps
object using entire hand (palmar grasp).
• Reaches with one hand leading to grasp an offered
• Handles, shakes, and pounds objects; puts every- object or toy.
thing in mouth.
• Manipulates objects, transferring them from one
• Able to hold bottle. hand to the other.
