Infant growth and development

Normal infant growth and development are the main theme of a baby's life. It is through this process that that a newborn ends up becoming a toddler and then a child, and it is growth and development in childhood and through puberty, that usher that individual into adulthood. There are two stages in life when growth and development are most rapid and profound, one is in infancy and early childhood, and the other is during puberty. Although there are periods during any stage of life when a child is mainly getting bigger, infancy, childhood and adolescence are not focused on a mere increase in size. A series of neurologic and behavioral changes occur in all babies, regardless of specific culture or ethnicity, that are vital in growth and development.

When babies are brought to the pediatrician or other health care provider for well-child care, the infant's length, weight, and head circumference are routinely measured. The baby is also checked for reflexes and activities that are the signs of normal physical and mental progress. Although the rate of change is a bit different for each individual child, this article reviews the important characteristics, and their timing, of an infant's first years of life. Strictly, that term "infant" only applies to baby during the first year- but since such activities as walking can normally occur either during that first year - or after- a broader range of ages is considered here.