DEP 2004 & 2004H Human Development Across the Lifespan

Erica Jordan, Ph.D., University of West Florida

Guiding QuestionsWhat abilities and characteristics does the

healthy newborn possess?

What are helpful tips for caring for newborns?

What key structures are involved in the physical development of a healthy newborn?

What is brain plasticity?Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

The Newborn’s Reflexes“Unlearned” responses triggered by specific

stimulation

Pave the way to get the nutrition newborn needs to grow

Protection from danger

Foundation for larger, voluntary patterns of motor activity

Assess whether newborn’s nervous system is working properly

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Assessing the NewbornApgar score - quick

assessment of newborn’s status at 1 min. and at 5 min.

7 or 8 – 10: healthy4-6: needs special

attention and care3 or less: life-

threatening situation

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)Used with newborns up to 2 months of ageEvaluates functioning of four systems:

Autonomic: ability to control body functions (breathing, temperature regulation)

Motor: ability to control body movements and activity level

State: ability to maintain a state (e.g., alert)Social: ability to interact with people

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Newborn’s States(Classification may vary)Alert inactivity: baby is

calm with eyes open and attentive; seem to be deliberately inspecting environment—Quiet alert period, important for learning and interacting with others!

Waking activity: eye’s are open but seem unfocused while arms/legs move in bursts of uncoordinated motion

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Crying: baby cries vigorously; accompanied by agitated uncoordinated movement

Sleeping: baby alternates from being still and breathing regularly to moving gently and breathing irregularly; eyes are closed

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Tips for Soothing CryingRecognize that this is their only form of

communication. They need something.

Try to remain calm. Infants are sensitive to stress and other negative emotions.

Become familiar with the infant’s various types of cries.

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Try to calmly rock, pat, bounce, or nurse the infant.

Recognize that premature infants, colicky infants, and other infants might cry more often and more intensely during the first few months. Additionally, all babies go through times when they cry more often. This is normal.

Help the baby to expel gas by patting while on your shoulder or knee or by laying the child flat and “bicycling” the legs.

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Recognize that sometimes the infant may not be able to be soothed sometimes.Don’t take it personally as if you did

something wrong or attribute malicious intent toward the child.

Try to calm the child by meeting any of the child’s needs. If crying does not cease, simply hold the child.

If crying continues to persist, consult a physician to be sure that the child is not in pain or does not require medical attention.

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

• Take care of yourself by seeking support when needed. Never take frustration out on a baby.

• Kaleb Schwade: http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/northdale-day-care-worker-pleads-guilty-to-injuring-5-month-old/1099708

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

SleepingNewborns sleep ______ hours/day

Irregular or rapid-eye-movement (REM): irregular sleep where infant’s eyes dart rapidly beneath eyelids, body is quite active

Regular (non-REM) sleep: heart rate, breathing, and brain activity are steady

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Tips for Dealing with Infant Sleep PatternsRecognize that infants need to feed every few

hours requiring them to wake up.

Remaining in a deep sleep for long periods of time is also very _____________ for young infants whose bodies are very sensitive to physiological changes.

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Infants grow best during _____________________.

Avoid letting young infants “cry it out,” especially if they are under 6 months old.

Develop a consistent sleep time routine.

Use safe sleeping guidelines. (www.attachmentparenting.org)

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)When a healthy baby dies suddenly for

________________

__________________ particularly vulnerable

Suggestion:

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Growth of the BodyMost rapid in infancy so nutrition extremely

importantBreast-feeding ensures they get the

nourishment they need. Some benefits of strong milk breast-feeding…

Malnutrition - being small for one’s age because of inadequate nutrition

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Emerging Nervous SystemNeuron - basic cellular unit of brain and

nervous system specialized In receiving and transmitting information

Cell body - center of neuron that keeps it alive

Dendrite - end of neuron that receives information

Axon - tubelike structure that emerges from cell body and transmits information to other neurons

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Emerging Nervous SystemTerminal buttons - small knobs at the end of the

axon that release neurotransmittersNeurotransmitters - chemicals released by

terminal buttons that allow neurons to communicate

Cerebral cortex - wrinkled surface of brain that regulates many functions distinctly human

Hemispheres - right and left halves of cortexCorpus collosum - thick bundle of neruons that

connects hemispheresFrontal cortex - brain region that regulates

personality and goal-directed behaviorAdapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Emerging Brain StructuresNeural plate - group of cells present in

prenatal development that becomes brain and spinal cord

Myelin - fatty sheath that wraps around neuron and enables them to transmit information more rapidly

Synaptic pruning - gradual reduction in number of synapses, beginning in infancy, continuing until early adolescence

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.

Brain PlasticityNeuroplasticity – extent to which brain

organization is flexibleExperience-expectant growth - process by

which the wiring of the brain is organized by experiences that are common to most humans

Experience-dependent growth - process by which individual’s unique experiences affect brain structures and organization

Adapted from Kail & Cavanaugh’s Human Development: A Life-Span View, 5th Ed.