Factors That Positively Influence Infant Development
Although normal development occurs on a broad time line, some steadfast rules exist for positive infant development. Healthy food as well as engagement will positively influence infant development. As babies' brains quickly grow, infancy is a prime time for nurturing with stimulation and physical care. Expensive gadgets aren't necessary. Mostly, babies need parents' and caregivers' love and attention.
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Types
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Parents can easily help their infant's development. Dr. William Sears, an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, encourages close communication between parents and child.
To help develop gross motor skills, play with balls, rattles and blocks.
To help fine motor development, give infants smaller toys to grab, provide them with activity books and play with babies' toes.
To help social and cognitive development, try clapping hands, knee bouncing, peek-a-boo, waving bye-bye, playing with a mirror and using puppets.
To help hearing and language development, play toy instruments, bang wooden blocks together, clap and sing.
Misconceptions
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Infants continuously learn, as they explore a surprising, new world. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doctors once believed infants did not need interaction for development, that only older children did. Doctors also did not understand infants developed at their own pace.
Significance
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Dr. Sears found that infants whose parents answer their cries, have less stress, realize they can trust others, and are more explorative than infants who are left to cry. Holding and stroking your baby, swaddling or swinging your baby, and quickly responding to his cries will positively influence your infant's development. Giving your infant love instills confidence and trust in a child.
Considerations
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Studies show that breast milk develops infants' brains better than formula. Dr. Sears found that breast milk contains high levels of cholesterol for brain tissue development. He also reports that the more intelligent species of mammals "have greater amounts of lactose in their milk, and human milk contains one of the highest concentrations of lactose of any mammal milk."
Once infants begin eating solid food, they should be fed a variety of fresh foods, such as vegetables and fruits. Heavy starches and processed food labor a developing digestive system, causing fussiness and drowsiness. Positive development slows when the body receives unhealthy food as fuel, according to Dr. Sears.
Warning
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Some toys and play centers market themselves as positively influencing infant development. Walkers are an example. The case study "Influence of infant-walkers on motor development: Mimicking spastic diplegia?" found that walkers "do not have any positive effect on improving motor development" and may harm infants' calf muscles and overall motor development.
Another example is the educational program. Television is fine in moderation for older children; however, the AAP recommends that infants not view television at all. It states that "under age two, talking, singing, reading, listening to music or playing are far more important to a child's development than any TV show."
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