" to the body such as eyebrows, eyelashes, and the completion of the eyes. The body grows to about 20 times the length it was when the stage began.
According to Eisenberg et. al (1991), there are several parent-related and environmental factors that can influence prenatal development. These factors include: the quality of the father's sperm (affected by such factors as genetics, eating habits, smoking habits, and so forth); the mother's quality of nutrition; the mother's use of various substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and even medication; the quality and frequency of prenatal exams; the illnesses the mother experiences while carrying the child to term, and whether the mother was exposed to any environmental hazards. If parents deviate from what is required for proper development or major negative environmental conditions occur, there is a likelihood that the baby will be negatively influenced and could be a still born or a low birthweight infant.
Infancy and Toddlerhood- From Birth to Two Years
Leach (1990) reports several physical processes associated with development in infancy and toddlerhood. These include the growth of the brain; the physical adjustments associated with the transition from an intrauterine to an extrauterine environment; the growth of motor skills; and the development of sensory capabilities.
Even from birth, the baby appears to show some memory development. Leach also reports that growth patters are "cephalocaudal" which means that growth tends to proceed form the head to the lower body parts. Certain environmental factors will influence the physical development of the child during this period such as deprivation of food and/or other needed resources.
The child's intellectual and social development also proceeds during this lifespan period. Leach (1990) states that this is the stage during which the human organism first begins to learn. In very young infants, this learning is simple but it grows...