infant

An infant is a young human in the early stage of life, typically defined as a child from birth through the end of the first year. The term comes from the Latin infans, meaning “unable to speak.” In medical contexts, the newborn period covers the first month, infancy generally spans 1 to 12 months, and some references extend infancy to 24 months for certain developmental considerations.

Infants undergo rapid growth and development across physical, cognitive, and social domains. Motor skills emerge in a roughly sequential pattern, including head control, rolling over, sitting with and without support, crawling, and walking in the latter part of the first year. Sensory and perceptual abilities expand, and early communication centers on crying, cooing, and later babbling. Socially, infants form attachments with caregivers, which influence emotional and behavioral development.

Nutrition and health are central to infancy. Most healthy infants are fed with breast milk or formula, with exclusive breastfeeding recommended for about the first six months and continued breastfeeding alongside solids thereafter. Introduction of complementary foods typically begins around six months. Immunizations follow a schedule to protect against preventable diseases. Sleep needs are high, often totaling 12 to 16 hours per day, with varied patterns and frequent waking.

Care and safety emphasize responsive caregiving, safe sleeping practices to reduce sudden infant death syndrome risk, proper feeding Techniques, and safe environments. Infancy lays the foundation for later development and is influenced by genetics, health, nutrition, and the quality of caregiver interactions.