Infancy and Toddlerhood

(Birth to 2 years old)

There are many physical developments in the infancy and toddlerhood
stage. When babies are born, they dont have a lot of control over their
movements. Their movements may seem random, rough,
uncoordinated and reflexive. As they get older they will be able to
control their movements better with practice. By the time they are nine
months old, the child should be able to sit upright, travel by crawling,
and have hand-eye coordination. As they get even older their physical
developments will continue to advance. By the time they are two years
old, they will be able to walk, use complex motor skills, and even climb
up stairs (Berk, L.E., 2013).

There are many language developments in the infancy and toddlerhood stage. When a newborn is
brought home, the child may be able to make simple sounds but the childs major way of communicating
will be crying. As the child listen to conversations taking place around him/her as well as pay attention to
a demonstrative story that is read to them, their language will begin to improve. As the child grows older,
she or he will be able to babble and imitate sounds by six months of age. By the time the child is two
years old, he or she will be able to use two word phrases (Coplan, J., 1993).

Social-emotional development plays an important role in the development of an infant. Being flooded with
emotions of discomfort or hunger, an infant will eventually reach the developmental stage of trusting his
or her parents to soothe them. This can be done by through a feeding or changing; it can also be done
through simple acts of listening to their parents voice, or looking into their parents face during a feeding.
As the infant develops into a toddler, their social-emotional skills will continue to develop also. Still feeling
these emotions, a toddler has developed ways to express these emotions as well as ways to satisfy them.
Toddlers have also learned how to share and negotiate with others to meet his or her own needs.

As a newborn continues to get older, his or her cognitive development also improves. The child will simply
explore their environment by looking and repeat movements to master them. With curiosity and the
guidance of parents, the child will begin to advance their movement so that they can further explore and
learn about their environment. By nine months the child will begin to discriminate between parents and
others. By the time the child is a year old, he/she will be able to point to pictures in a book with verbal
cues (Davies, D., 2004).

An infant can reach one developmental milestone in moral reasoning/self-regulation by simply showing an
attachment to their mother or father. the infant will tend to seek comfort from their parents and use them
as a safe base. A toddler can reach one of many developmental milestones in moral reasoning/self-
regulation by imitating their parents through play. You may notice the toddler holding a toy to their ear and
talk like it is a telephone just like their parents.

One sign that may signal atypical development during the infant and toddler period of development is the
child. The parent must keep up with their child and each milestone to ensure that the child is developing
normally. If the child shows any signs of delays in any area, it is important that they inform their doctor
immediately so the necessary steps can be made to correct the delay. If a child experiences a delay in a
certain area, it does not means that it is serious or a disability. It may only require a simple change in the
childs environment or diet to correct the problem.

One strategy that families can use to influence their childrens learning and development is simply
interacting with their child with love and support. A parent should talk to their child because he/she will
find their voice calming. They can also answer when their baby makes sounds by repeating the sounds
and adding words because this will help him/her learn to use language. Reading to the baby will help
him/her develop and understand language and sounds (Fogel, A., 2001).

One social factor that influences the infancy and toddlerhood stage of development are the sickness or
infections that a child may come in contact with. One culture factor that influences the infancy and
toddlerhood stage of development is the types of foods that the child may be eating at this early age.