Infancy: Development from Birth to Age 3
Infancyprovides students with the latest research in infant development so they may understand methodological issues, explore both practically and theoretically important topics, and engage in thinking critically about development from birth to age 3. FEATURES: Each chapter begins with a thought-provoking, real-life scenario highlighting key issues,  such as the practice ofinfants being sent to wet nurses in eighteenth-century Paris,and linguist Werner Leopold’s classic longitudinal study of his infant daughter Hildegard’s development as a bilingual child. Public policy considerations for research are explored, such as how awareness of the harm caused by lead exposure led to changes in legislation regarding formulas for paint and gasoline,andhow awareness of the benefits of human milk led to Healthy People 2010 goals to increase breastfeeding rates in the United States.Infancybalances practical and theoretical issues, such asthe research on prelinguistic communication and the value of using gestures to help toddlers and caregivers communicate before real words or signs appear.Infancybroadens the perspective with relevant historical information, such as the remarkable discoveries about genetics that have resulted from the Human Genome Project, and the progress research has offered in understanding the vulnerability of the prenatal period. Issues of diversity are incorporated into every chapter, such as the infant-caregiver relationships and the different expectations and beliefs about infants, mothers and fathers.“These chapters are practical, informative, and include appropriate theory and evidence-based research.  It is an excellent text for undergraduate students in child development and related fields.” — Julie Parker, University of Southern Mississippi Infancybalances strong yet streamlined coverage of the latest research in infant development with practical issues such as policy considerations and parenting applications. The topical organization of the text highlights the coherence, continuity, and change in specific aspects of development from birth to age three.Infancyalso offers ample coverage of the historical and cultural contexts in which research has been conducted to provide a solid framework for critical thinking. The author explores such public considerations as the impact of research into the effects of lead exposure on legislation regarding formulas for paint and gasoline,andhow awareness of the benefits of human milk led to the Healthy People 2010 goals to increase breastfeeding rates in the United States.The interplay of nature and nurture is made evident through examination of cross-cultural variances in dietary patterns, language use, infant-caregiver relationships, and the different expectations and beliefs about infants and the roles that mothers and fathers play in their care and development.