N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice

N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice Study Guide • Palmar grasp reflex: Stroking the palm of a baby’s hand causes the baby to close her fingers in a grasp. The palmar grasp reflex disappears by six months and is stronger in premature babies. • Babinski reflex: When the sole of the foot is firmly stroked upward starting at the heel, the big toe bends back toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out. This is a normal reflex up to about two years of age. • Stepping reflex: This reflex is also called the walking or dance reflex because a baby appears to take steps or dance when held upright with his feet touching a solid surface. The stepping reflex will disappear at three months. Motor Development At one month, the infant should be able to lift his head when lying on his abdomen. By six months, most children can sit without support. At nine months, children are grasping objects and are at risk for putting small objects in their mouths. By 12 months, most children will exhibit an interest in books and will be able to turn pages. Common Health Problems Identified in this Stage During infancy, the child is totally dependent on the caregiver for health and safety needs. Some of the common problems in infancy include: • Cradle cap: The thick, yellow scale or flaky, dry skin that accompanies cradle cap is usually more distressing to parents than to the child and will typically go away without treatment. • Umbilical hernia: When an infant has an umbilical hernia, his belly button will protrude out at times. It often becomes worse when he strains or cries. Umbilical hernias almost always go away without treatment. • Colic: This is uncontrollable, extended crying in a healthy, well-taken care of infant. • Shaken baby syndrome: This occurs when a baby is shaken violently, causing whiplash that can result in brain damage or death. • Failure to thrive (FTT): This is defined as the point at which an infant’s height and weight on a standard growth chart fall below the fifth percentile. • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): This is defined as the sudden, unexpected death in a child less than one year old. SIDS continues to be poorly understood. • Child abuse: Child abuse can be seen during any phase of childhood and canbe physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, as well as physical or emotional neglect. Havighurst’s Developmental Tasks During this period, the developmental tasks include learning to crawl, walk, and take solid food. Freud’s Psychosocial Development Oral stage: During the oral stage, the child is focused on oral pleasures (sucking). According to Freud, too much or too little gratification can result in an oral fixation or oral personality, which is evidenced by a preoccupation with oral activities. Erikson’s Psychosocial Development

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