The growth and development characteristics of babies vary at each age stage. Let's take the relatively similar stages of infancy and early childhood as an example. The infancy stage refers to the period from birth to one year old, during which babies develop the fastest; And early childhood refers to the stage from one year old to two or three years old, during which babies develop slower than infancy. What are the developmental characteristics of babies in infancy and early childhood? Let's take a look together!
Characteristics of infancy and early childhood
1. Infant stage
The infancy, also known as the infant stage, refers to the first year after a baby is born. During this period, babies grow rapidly, with their weight increasing nearly threefold within a year (compared to birth) and their height increasing by about 50% (with an average height of 50cm at birth). Due to their active growth and high metabolic rate, infants have a higher demand for calories and protein than adults. Therefore, adults need to provide babies with appropriate nutritional elements to ensure their physical growth and development needs.
At the same time, parents need to be aware that children's digestive organ functions have not yet fully developed at this stage, and their digestive and absorption abilities are weak. A slight improper diet can easily lead to digestive and absorption disorders.
2. Early childhood
The intelligence and activity of infants in early childhood are rapidly developing, mainly manifested in changes in the structure of the body and increasing curiosity, as well as the development of independent consciousness and continuous exploration of the environment. After the age of one, the legs of young children grow longer, the baby loses fat, and the amount of water contained in the body decreases.
During this period, the baby's muscles grow and develop rapidly. Strong muscles can provide power and allow babies to start standing upright and walking independently. The way young children gaze and touch objects in this period is also similar to that of children. They can gain direct experience by touching surrounding objects and have a preliminary understanding of which objects are similar and which are different.
Key points of health care during infancy and early childhood
1. Regular health check ups and comprehensive monitoring of growth and development.
2. Vaccinate according to the planned immunization program.
3. Reasonable feeding actively promotes the sensory development of babies.
What are the characteristics of infancy and early childhood? Babies in infancy and early childhood grow and develop particularly quickly, but some organs and systems are not yet fully developed. Adults should pay attention to feeding them some nutritionally balanced and easily digestible substances. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the physical exercise of babies to prevent infections and common childhood diseases.
