What it means
A time of very fast growth and development. Most babies double their birth weight by about 5 months and triple it by 1 year. In Erikson's theory, the task of infancy is trust versus mistrust: a baby whose needs are met reliably learns to trust. The first 28 days are called the newborn (neonatal) period.
For the nurse
Teach safe sleep (on the back, in their own crib, with nothing loose in it), car seat safety, and the vaccine schedule. Check growth and milestones at each visit.
At a glance
| Spanish | infancia |
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Related terms
premature
Happening before the expected or normal time, such as a baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
preterm
Before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
growth and development
The changes in body size (growth) and in skills and abilities (development) that happen across a person's life.
developmental stage
A period of life, such as infancy or adolescence, with its own typical abilities, needs and tasks.