Infant Development Milestones

Infant Development

• Stands alone at 12 months
• Achieves pincer grasp at 10th month
• Reaches cruising stage at 12 months
• Experiences physiologic anorexia (decrease in appetite) due to busy play
• Weight quadruples by 2 years old
• Toddlerhood spans from 1-3 years old
• Daily caloric requirement: 1,300 to 1,400 kcal/day or 100 cal/kg/day
• May exhibit temper tantrums due to autonomy vs shame and doubt
• Parallel play, rituals, and routines are common at this stage

Nutrition and Health

• Cystic Fibrosis: a genetic disorder causing thick mucus production, leading to obstruction in small passageways of affected organs
• Common problems: pancreatic enzyme deficiency, chronic lung diseases, high Na and Cl sweat concentration
• Dietary management: administer pancreatic enzyme with meals, high CHON, high-calorie diet, vitamins A, D, E, K supplementation, and salt supplements
• Gluten intolerance: avoiding gluten-containing foods, allowing rice, corn, meat, and dairy products

Preschoolers (3-6 years old)

• Larger requirements for growth, needing more protein, vitamins, and minerals
• Accident-prone and may exhibit sibling rivalry
• Involve parents in child care to promote autonomy

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

• Genetic disorder causing CNS damage from toxic levels of phenylalanine
• Dietary management: LOFENALAC, avoiding high CHON foods, and breastmilk (which contains low phenylalanine levels)

Galactosemia

• Inborn error of carbohydrate metabolism due to galactose 1-phosphate uridine transferase deficiency
• Dietary management: eliminating all milk and lactose-containing foods, including breastmilk

Weaning and Feeding

• Weaning: breast to bottle at 6 months, bottle to cup at 12 months
• Feeding time:
• 2.5 to 2.7 kg baby: every 3 hours (8 feedings)
• 3.6 to 4 kg baby: every 4 hours (6 feedings)
• 2 to 3 months old: 4 to 5 feedings, sleeping through the night after 10 pm feeding
• Supplementary foods:
• 2 months: rice water, calamansi juice
• 4 months: first solid foods (rice cereals)
• 5-6 months: teething foods, full diet consisting of pureed meat, egg, fruits, and vegetables

Infant and Young Child Feeding

• Newborn screening: EPI, IMCI, and micronutrient supplementation
• Dental health: early child development and child health injuries are crucial
• Breastfeeding benefits:
• Maternal-infant bonding
• Promotes uterine contraction and reduces thrombophlebitis
• Reduces ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer risk
• Delays fertility and provides social and economic benefits for the mother
• Promotes attachment and provides optimal nutrition for the baby

Test your knowledge of infant development milestones, including physical, cognitive, and emotional achievements from 10 months to 3 years old.