Infant
From ChildWiki.com
An infant is a baby aged from the newborn stage until they celebrate their first birthday. The infant, aged 1 to 12 months, will grow tremendously during these first 12 months. By his first birthday, he will weigh three times his birth weight and measure around 74-86 centimeters (29-33 inches), depending on genetic factors and sex of the baby.
There are many problems that an infant can experience during his first year of life, from breastfeeding difficulties, umbilical hernia’s (these usually clear up on their own by 24 months), infant fever, allergic symptoms or other normal conditions such as acne.
Also, during this year many important milestones are reached. Most babies have learned to walk, to speak a few words, to recognize commands and to act accordingly. Mentally, they have the ability to gather information, and they will try to imitate adults.
The infant's physical development is more pronounced during the first 3 months, and then it slowing decreases until the 9th month, when weight gain slows to 250 grams (0.5 lbs) per month. This growth rate will continue through his toddler years as well. His height will double by age 4, when he measures twice as much as when he was born.
Diversification in diet will also occur in the infant months. It is essential for the baby, even if breastfed, to successfully consume several types of foods by the time he is one year old. These include: meat, yogurt, fruits and vegetables.
Breast milk is still the main food source, but in most cases, babies are switched to infant formulas or even regular cow's milk around their first birthday. Most of them have already developed an attachment to the breast, and there will be difficulties when trying to stop breastfeeding (weaning).
Also, this is the period when gross motor skills develop. By the time infants reach a year old, many conditions or syndromes will have been diagnosed, such as Down Syndrome.
Autistic infants will show signs of the condition, by not turning their heads or responding to their name. However, few doctors will posit a definite autism diagnosis this early.
