Postnatal Physical Development

In this section we look at baby's extensive physical development over the first 2 years of life. Specifically, we will look at the following:

• Capacities of a typical neonate .
• Typical development of height and weight .
• Motor skills development.
• Brain Development.
• Nutrition necessary for normal physical development.
• Development of the senses and perception (vision, taste & smell, hearing)
• There is also a table of a child's developmental milestones in the first 12 months of live.

Typically a neonates growth is generally referred to in terms of cephalocaudal or proximodistal patterns .
The cephalocaudal pattern is where the greatest development takes place at the top of the body, i.e. the head, and physical development moves gradually downwards: e.g. neck, shoulders, trunk, etc.
The proximodistal pattern of development is where growth starts at the centre of the body and moves towards the extremities. An example of such a pattern is the early development of muscular control of the trunk and arms relative to the hands and fingers.

For an indication of the main milestones in this area in a baby's first year, go here .

The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken from the following source(s):
1. Child Development , 6th Edition (1994), J. W. Santrock, Wm. C. Brown Communications, Inc.