Health Promotion of the Infant and Family

Infancy is the stage between birth and twelve months, where infants undergo a series of rapid and dramatic changes involving their growth and development. It’s important to note that growth and development are two different concepts. Growth refers to physical changes in height, weight, and the appearance of the body; whereas development refers to the acquisition of complex motor, cognitive, and social skills, such as walking, speaking, turning a page in a book, or smiling at familiar faces. To promote the health of the infant, you’ll assess gross motor development, social development, and promote safety.  

Gross motor skills, which are required for large body movements, like head control, rolling over, crawling, or walking, can be thought of in terms of developmental milestones. Infants typically achieve certain developmental milestones at specific ages, so you can monitor these milestones to see how the infant is developing, while keeping an eye out for any potential problems.  
So, by 2 months, infants should be able to keep their head steady when being held and bring their head up and look forward while on their stomach. By 4 months, infants can sit with support, grasp objects with their hands, and start to roll over to one side.  

By 6 months, infants should be able to roll both ways and sit in a highchair with their back straight. Then, by 7 months, they can sit alone while leaning forward on their hands for support and by 8 months they can sit unsupported.  

At 9 months, infants are able to crawl and hold objects between the pads of the thumb and the index finger, known as the crude pincer grasp.  

Finally, at 12 months, infants can throw objects and might be able to stand by themselves and walk while their hands are held.  

As far as education goes, you should teach caregivers what to expect as their baby grows. In addition, teach them ways to promote their infant’s gross motor skills by placing them in a safe place so they can move their legs and arms and try to roll over; and by providing safe, age-appropriate objects for them to reach for and grasp.  

Now, in addition to gross motor development, infants undergo social development through interactions with caregivers and other people. By 2 months, infants can smile, and by 4 months they can laugh out loud. Between 6 to 8 months, they begin to recognize and fear strangers and experience separation anxiety when their primary caregiver exits view. By 9 months they can understand the word “no;” and by 10 months, they can copy facial expressions and initiate simple actions, like waving.