Infant psychology

The term Infant is described as a particularly before they can walk or simply a child before the age of one and it is derived from the Latin word meaning unable to speak.

Infant psychology is the science used to study about the toddlers. Often babies are called infants until they reach the age of one. "Infant" is also a legal term with the meaning of minor. An infant’s shoulders and hips are narrow, the abdomen projects slightly, and the arms and legs are relatively short. The normal weight of a full-term newborn is approximately 7 ½ pounds (3.2 kg), but is typically in the range of 5.5–10 pounds. The Apgar score determines the newborn's transition from the womb during the first minutes of life.

Infants can sense all different sensations, but react most passionately to soft stroking, cuddling and caressing. Gentle rocking back and forth often calms a crying infant, as do massages and warm baths. Newborn infants have unexceptional vision, being able to focus on objects only about 18 inches (45 cm) directly in front of their face and this is not important for breastfeeding. While still inside the mother, the infant could hear many inner noises, such as the mother's heartbeat, as well as many external noises including human voices, music and most other sounds. Therefore, although a newborn's ears may have some catarrh and fluid, he or she can hear sound from before birth.

Many researches show that support for parents during the first year can significantly increase the proportion of infants securely attached to their parents with lasting benefits for their subsequent development. This may improve the infant psychology. The forming of attachments is believed to be the base of the infant/childs's ability to form and conduct relationships throughout life. Attachment is not the same as love and/or affection although they often go together. Attachment and attachment behaviors tend to develop between the age of 6 months and 3 years. Infants become attached to adults who are sensitive and responsive in social communications with the infant, and who remain as reliable caregivers for some time. A deficiency of attachment or a seriously disrupted capacity for attachment could possibly amount to serious disorders.

Question

• Why is it important to know about the infant psychology?
• What are the sensations that an infant can sense?