Infancy

The infancy period lasts up to one year. This is a period of further rapid growth and development of the child’s body. Over the course of a year, a child’s body length increases by an average of 25 cm, by the age of 4-5 months. its weight doubles, and by the year it triples and reaches an average of 10-11 kg. The change in the child's weight by month is shown in Fig. 6.

The motor and mental spheres of the child develop very quickly: at first he begins to sit, stand, recognize loved ones, and by the age of one year he is already walking, begins to speak his first words and from a small helpless creature turns into a little man, not yet quite perfect, but with his own feelings, experiences and worries. During this period, all organs and systems of the child’s body are increasingly developing, but functionally they are quite imperfect and have their own characteristics. Like newborns, the skin is delicate, easily vulnerable and requires careful care. In the first 3-4 months. the phenomenon of loose stools. If these symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor.

The muscular system is not yet sufficiently developed, however, as the child begins to sit, stand up, and walk, it improves more and more, the muscles become stronger and more resilient. Muscle flexion ceases to be predominant by 3-4 months, and therefore the characteristic posture of a newborn with bent arms and legs gradually changes. The muscular system develops most correctly and harmoniously when the child regularly engages in physical education.

Compared to newborns at this age, the respiratory muscles are more developed and the chest is actively involved in breathing. Lung capacity increases. Breathing becomes deeper, its frequency gradually decreases and by the year reaches 30-35 per minute. The lungs at this age bear a heavy load, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is delicate, so if the child is poorly cared for, respiratory diseases can easily occur.

The cardiovascular system is increasingly developing and improving,