Infancy

After completing this section of the chapter, you should be able to meet the following objectives:

♦ Describe the use of the Apgar score in evaluating infant
well-being at birth

♦ List three injuries that can occur during the birth process

♦ Describe physical growth and organ development during
the first year of life

♦ Explain how the common health care needs of the
premature infant differ from the health care needs of the
term newborn or infant

♦ Differentiate between organic and nonorganic failure to
thrive syndrome

Infancy is defined as that time from birth to approxi­mately 18 months of age, the first 4 weeks of which are designated as the newborn or neonatal period. This is a pe­riod of rapid physical growth and maturation. The infant begins life as a relatively helpless organism and, through a process of progressive development, gains the skills to in­teract and cope with the environment. The infant begins life with a number of primitive reflexes and little body control. By 18 months, a child is able to run, grasp and manipulate objects, feed himself or herself, play with toys, and communicate with others.