Newborn Development

There are many theories that attempt to explain how infants and children develop; many theorists are looking at multidimensional models to explain the individual differences seen in development. These models look at the causes for behavioral change; the neighborhood, the family, the peer group, socioeconomic status, and the bigger environment as a way to explain how one develops. There is so much that parents have control over when it comes to how their baby will develop, but there is much that is left to genetics and environmental, much of that parents may have little control over the outcomes.
      A child’s overall development is dependent on brain development, “fetal brain development is rapid and complex, and influenced by environment and genetics” (Allen and Marotz, 2010, pg. 28). The fetal brain development is greatly influenced by mom’s choices and decisions. Many aspects of mom’s life will affect the growing baby; alcohol, drugs, and stress are some things that can affect much of baby’s later development. According to Allen and Marotz, (2010) “brain maturation lays the foundation for all other aspects of a child’s development” (pg. 28).
      When a mother is pregnant the baby and his or her growing brain is dependent on mom to provide not only the essential nutrition needed, but for her protection from anything harmful. “The potential adverse effects of either the absence of essential needs and protective factors or the presence of toxic substances or both, during the nine months in utero are critical, not only for brain development but for the optimal growth and development of other organs as well” (Zigler, Finn-Stevenson, and Hall, 2002, pg. 156). The first three to five years of life is critical in a child’s brain development. The experience a child has causes the connections between neurons to become permanent, “connections between the cells continue to form as the result of new and repetitive learning experiences” (Allen and Marotz, 2010, pg.... [continues]

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