Infant Growth And Development Paper

Infant Growth and Development
Physical growth is the increase in body size and an increase in the size of internal organs. Infants grow at a very rapid rate during the first year of life, the infant grows not only physically but also mentally, and socially as well. From birth to one year the infant grows the most rapidly after this period growth slows considerably. This paper will explore the physical growth, psychosocial growth and development, and cognitive development of the infant.
Physical Growth of an Infant
Infant growth is characterized by very rapid growth for the first eighteen months of life. The average infant weighs approximately seven pounds and eight ounces at birth, this weigh then doubles by the six month of life and will triple by twelve months. Along with rapid weight gain the infant will also grow rapidly in height. The average length of a newborn is twenty inches, the infant will then gain six inches in the first six months and another four to six inches by the one year mark (CIMC, 2011).
Bone and Teeth growth
The bones and teeth of the infant are proportionately different than that of its adult counterpart. During the first year of the infant’s life the trunk is the fastest growing body part, it

At the time of birth the infant has the same number of muscles as the infant will have as an adult. Boys generally have more muscle tissue that girls have at all stages of life. Muscle development of the neck and the head area also takes place during the infant stage of life. The infant will begin to strengthen these muscles which will allow the infant to hold their head up by four months of age. During the physical development of the infant’s muscles gross motor skills which are achieved by large muscle groups develop more quickly than fine motor skills which are achieved by smaller muscle groups (CIMC, 2011). An example of this would be the infant moving their arm before the infant is able to wiggle their