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developmental tasks. You will now read Thenewbornisnotashelplessasyoumight about the different stages of development and think. The activities needed to sustain life their main features. functions are present in the newborn — it breathes, sucks, swallows, and discharges the Prenatal Stage bodily wastes. The newborns in their first week of life are able to indicate what direction a The period from conception to birth is known sound is coming from, can distinguish their as the prenatal period. Typically, it lasts for about 40 weeks. You know by now that the mother’s voice from the voices of other women, genetic blueprint guides our development and can imitate simple gestures like tongue duringtheprenatalperiodandafterbirth.Both protrusion and mouth opening. Motor Development : The newborn’s genetic and environmental factors affect our development during different periods of movements are governed by reflexes — which prenatal stage. are automatic, built-in responses to stimuli. Prenatal development is also affected by They are genetically-carried survival maternal characteristics, which include mechanisms, and are the building blocks for mother’s age, nutrition, and emotional state. subsequent motor development. Before the Disease or infection carried by the mother can newborns have had the opportunity to learn, adversely affect prenatal development. For reflexes act as adaptive mechanisms. Some example, rubella (German measles), genital reflexes present in the newborn — coughing, herpes, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus blinking, and yawning persist throughout their (HIV) are believed to cause genetic problems in the newborn. Another source of threat to lives. Others disappear as the brain functions prenatal development is teratogens - mature and voluntary control over behaviour starts developing (see Table 3.1). environmental agents that cause deviations As the brain is developing, physical in normal development that can lead to serious abnormalities or death. Common development also progresses. As the infant teratogens include drugs, infections, grows, the muscles and nervous system radiations, and pollution. Intake of drugs mature which lead to the development of finer (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc.), alcohol, skills. Basic physical (motor) skills include tobacco, etc. by women during pregnancy may haveharmfuleffectsonthefoetusandincrease grasping and reaching for objects, sitting, crawling, walking and running. The sequence the frequency of congenital abnormalities. of physical (motor) development is universal, Radiations (such as X-rays), and certain with minor exceptions. chemicals near industrial areas can cause permanent change in the genes. Sensory Abilities : You know by now that Environmental pollutants and toxic wastes newborns are not as incompetent as they look. like carbon monoxide, mercury and lead are They can recognise their mother’s voice just a few hours after birth and have other sensory also sources of danger to the unborn child. capabilities. How well can infants see? INFANCY Newborns prefer to look at some stimuli rather than others such as faces, although these preferences change over the first few months The brain develops at an amazing rate before of life. The newborn’s vision is estimated to be and after birth. You have already read about the parts of the brain and the important role lower than the adult vision. By 6 months it played by cerebrum in human functions, such improves and by about the first year, vision is as language, perception, and intelligence. Just almost the same as that of an adult (20/20). Can a newborn see colour? The current before birth the newborns have most but not all brain cells. The neural connections among consensus is that they might be able to these cells develop at a rapid rate. distinguish between red and white colours but 46 Psychology Reprint 2026-27