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Infancy

Development from Birth to Age Three, Fourth Edition

Dana Gross

The fourth edition of Infancy is a comprehensive and accessible core text for courses in infant development and early childhood development. Dana Gross’s sensitive and engaging teaching voice seamlessly weaves together research and theory with current issues of diversity and culture. This resource provides students with enough detail to understand methodological issues, explore both practically and theoretically important topics, and engage in thinking critically about development from birth to age three. Each chapter of this newest edition has updated coverage and instructor-friendly materials, including:

diversity, equity, and inclusion topics and perspectives;
research practices;
new technologies;
mental health in child development; and
the role and impact of family connections.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 414 • Trim: 9 x 11

978-1-5381-6725-0 • Hardback • July 2023 • $195.00 • (£150.00)

978-1-5381-6726-7 • Paperback • July 2023 • $97.00 • (£75.00)

978-1-5381-6727-4 • eBook • July 2023 • $92.00 • (£71.00)

Subjects: Psychology / Developmental / Child, Education / General, Education / Counseling / General, Education / Educational Psychology, Education / Early Childhood (incl. Preschool & Kindergarten), Family & Relationships / Life Stages / Infants & Toddlers, Psychology / Developmental / General, Social Science / Children's Studies, Family & Relationships / Babysitting, Day Care & Child Care

Courses: Psychology; Developmental; Prenatal, Perinatal, Infant, and Early Childhood Development, Psychology; Developmental; Child, Adolescent, and Early Adult Development, Psychology; Developmental; Parenting Models, Styles, and Skills, Education; Early Childhood; Infants & Toddlers, Education; Early Childhood; Introduction, Education; Early Childhood; Cognitive Development, Psychology; Developmental; Education Psychology, Education; Educational Psychology

Infancy

Development from Birth to Age Three, Fourth Edition

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

The fourth edition of Infancy is a comprehensive and accessible core text for courses in infant development and early childhood development. Dana Gross’s sensitive and engaging teaching voice seamlessly weaves together research and theory with current issues of diversity and culture. This resource provides students with enough detail to understand methodological issues, explore both practically and theoretically important topics, and engage in thinking critically about development from birth to age three. Each chapter of this newest edition has updated coverage and instructor-friendly materials, including:
- diversity, equity, and inclusion topics and perspectives;
- research practices;
- new technologies;
- mental health in child development; and
- the role and impact of family connections.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 414 • Trim: 9 x 11

978-1-5381-6725-0 • Hardback • July 2023 • $195.00 • (£150.00)

978-1-5381-6726-7 • Paperback • July 2023 • $97.00 • (£75.00)

978-1-5381-6727-4 • eBook • July 2023 • $92.00 • (£71.00)

Subjects: Psychology / Developmental / Child, Education / General, Education / Counseling / General, Education / Educational Psychology, Education / Early Childhood (incl. Preschool & Kindergarten), Family & Relationships / Life Stages / Infants & Toddlers, Psychology / Developmental / General, Social Science / Children's Studies, Family & Relationships / Babysitting, Day Care & Child Care

Courses: Psychology; Developmental; Prenatal, Perinatal, Infant, and Early Childhood Development, Psychology; Developmental; Child, Adolescent, and Early Adult Development, Psychology; Developmental; Parenting Models, Styles, and Skills, Education; Early Childhood; Infants & Toddlers, Education; Early Childhood; Introduction, Education; Early Childhood; Cognitive Development, Psychology; Developmental; Education Psychology, Education; Educational Psychology

Author

Dana Gross is professor of psychology at St. Olaf College, where she teaches infant development and developmental psychology and leads short-term study-abroad programs. She has been a faculty member at St. Olaf since 1988. In teaching, research, and scholarship, she emphasizes the interplay of nature and nurture, contextual variations development, practical applications of research findings, ethical community engagement, and policy considerations. She has developed short-term study abroad courses in India, China, and Norway, as well as student assignments to promote global learning in her on-campus courses.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Chapter 1: Beliefs about Babies: Historical Perspectives on Children and Childhood
Chapter Overview
Why Do We Study Infants?
Development as Transformation
Impact of Early Experience
Research Methods and Tools
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Recurring Themes in the Study of Child Development
The Path of Development: Stages versus Continuous Change
Heredity and the Environment
Active or Passive Development?
Typical and Atypical Development
Culture and Context in Historical Perspective
- Box 1.1. Studying Children and Childhood with a Historical Lens
Historical Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood
Historical Studies of Children and Childhood
Views of Children
Family Life
The Development of the Field of Child Development
Child Development Research, Theory, and Practice
G. Stanley Hall
Maria Montessori
John Watson
Arnold Gesell
Anna Freud
Margaret Mahler
Myrtle McGraw
John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth
Child Development Organizations
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 2: Research Methods
Chapter Overview
Issues in Research with Infants
- Box 2.1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Infant Research
Ethical Concerns
Behavioral State
- Box 2.2. Online Data Collection from Babies at Home
Inference and Interpretation
Research Settings
Naturalistic Studies
Laboratory Studies
Research Designs
Case Studies and Single-Subject Research
Quasi-Experimental Studies
Experimental Studies
Research Designs for Studying Development
Longitudinal Research
Cross-Sectional Research
Microgenetic Research
Research Measures
Psychophysiological Responses
Parental Reports
Wrapping It Up : Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 3: Genetics, Conception, and Prenatal Development
Chapter Overview
Genetics and the Human Genome
Genetic Diseases and Disorders
Genetics and Prenatal Development
Conception
Sex Chromosome Abnormalities
Twins and Other Multiples
Infertility and Assisted Reproduction
Prenatal Development
- Box 3.1. Overview of the Stages of Prenatal Development
The Germinal Stage, Fertilization to Two Weeks
The Embryonic Stage, Two to Eight Weeks
The Fetal Stage, Eight Weeks to Birth (38 Weeks)
Congenital Anomalies
- Box 3.2. Prenatal Effects of the Zika Virus
Neural Tube Defects
Congenital Heart Defects
Prenatal Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
Ultrasound
Maternal Blood Screening
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
Amniocentesis
Fetal Echocardiography
Fetal Therapy
Prenatal Influences
Nutrition
Alcohol and Drugs
Disease
Stress
Environmental Hazards
Paternal Influences
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 4: Birth and the Newborn
Chapter Overview
The Birth Process: Stages of Childbirth
The First Stage: Contractions, Dilatation, and Effacement
The Second Stage: Delivery of the Infant
The Third Stage: Placental Expulsion
Complications of Childbirth
- Box 4.1. Standards for Improving Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care in Health Facilities
Failure to Progress
Breech Presentation
Preterm Birth
- Box 4.2. Technologies and Procedures in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Low Birthweight
Post-Term Birth
Twins and Other Multiple Births
Childbirth Options
Medical Interventions
Hospital or Home?
- Box 4.3. Pros and Cons of Water Births
Neonatal Assessment
Assessment at Birth
Reflexes
Sensory Abilities
Adaptations During the Neonatal Period
- Box 4.4. Kangaroo Care for Newborn Infants and Their Parents
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 5: Physical Growth, Health, and Nutrition
Chapter Overview
Physical Growth
Measuring and Predicting Growth
Failure to Thrive
Brain Development
Maltreatment and the Brain
- Box 5.1. Risk Factors for Child Maltreatment
- Box 5.2. Long-Term Effects of Institutionalization
Health and Safety
Newborn Screening
Screening for Lead Poisoning
- Box 5.3. Reducing Young Children's Exposure to Lead
Infant Mortality
Common Illnesses and Immunizations
Accidental Injuries
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death
- Box 5.4. Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of SIDS and ASSB
Nutrition and Feeding
Nutritional Requirements in Infancy
Breast Milk
- Box 5.5. Practice Guidelines in Baby-Friendly Hospitals
Nutritional Requirements in Toddlerhood
The Problem of Malnutrition
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 6: Sensation, Perception, and Motor Development
Chapter Overview
Theories of Infant Perception
Vision
Newborn Abilities
Perceiving Objects
Perceiving Depth
Perceiving Images on Screens
- Box 6.1. Learning to Perceive Digital Media
Hearing
Locating Sounds
Perceiving Speech
Perceiving Music
Music Perception
Touch
Reflexes
Pain
Taste
Innate Preferences
Effects of Experience
Smell
Innate Preferences
Effects of Experience
Other Senses, Intermodal and Cross-Modal Perception
Other Senses
Intermodal Abilities
- Box 6.2. Multisensory Processing and Attention
Cross-Modal Abilities
Motor Development
Assessing Motor Development
Fine Motor Skills: Reaching, Grasping, and Using Tools
- Box 6.3. Infants and Toddlers Use Motor Skills to Make Music
Gross Motor Skills: Sitting, Crawling, and Walking
The Cultural Context
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 7: Play and Foundational Theories about Cognitive Development
Chapter Overview
The Development of Play
Play with Objects
- Box 7.1. Adapting Play for Infants and Toddlers
Social Play
Pretend/Symbolic Play
Piaget’s Theory: Constructing and Representing Knowledge
Sensorimotor and Preoperational Intelligence
Object Permanence
The A-Not-B Error
Understanding and Using Representations of Space
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory: Learning as a Social Activity
The Zone of Proximal Development
Guided Participation
- Box 7.2. The Suzuki Method for Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 8: Cognitive Science and Intelligence
Chapter Overview
Cognitive Science Perspectives
Attention
Gaze Following, Joint Attention, and Theory of Mind
Memory
- Box 8.1. The Effect of Television and Digital Media on Infants and Toddlers
Categorization
Defining and Testing Intelligence in Infancy
Traditional Tests
Information-Processing Assessments
- Box 8.2. Using Cognitive Science Measures to Assess Infant Development
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 9: Language and Communication
Chapter Overview
Studying Language Development
Why Language Matters
Systems of Language
Theoretical Foundations
Prelinguistic Communication
Receptivity to Language
Speech Perception
Early Production: Babbling
Gestural Communication
Semantic Development
Milestones in the Acquisition of Meaning
One-Word Utterances
- Box 9.1. Cultural Influences on Language Learning
Explaining Early Word Learning
The Acquisition of Grammar
Multiword Utterances
Overregularization
Cross-Linguistic Studies of the Acquisition of Grammar
Atypical Language Development
Measuring Language Development
Early Language Delay and Specific Language Impairment
Language and Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Box 9.2. New Tools for Studying Language and Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 10: Relationships and Social Development
Chapter Overview
Infant–Caregiver Relationships
Patterns of Care and Interaction: Beliefs About Infants
Cross-Cultural Differences in Mothers’ Involvement
Father–Infant Caregiving and Interaction
Cross-Cultural Differences in Fathers’ Involvement
Postpartum Depression
- Box 10.1. Postpartum Depression in Fathers
The Influence of Culture and Context
How Postpartum Depression Affects Infants
Intervention Approaches
Developing Trust, Becoming Attached
Bowlby’s Theory of Infant–Caregiver Attachment
Assessing Attachment Relationships
Attachment and Subsequent Development
- Box 10.2. The Mother–Child Longitudinal Study of Attachment
Sibling Relationships
Becoming a Sibling
How Siblings Contribute to Development
Peer Relationships and Friendship
Peer Interactions
Friendship
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 11: Temperament, Emotions, and the Self
Chapter Overview
Temperament
Defining and Measuring Temperament
Temperament and Biology
Temperament and Attachment
- Box 11.1. Goodness of Fit: Temperament, Attachment, and Peer Interactions
Temperament and Personality
Emotions
Theories of Emotions
- Box 11.2. Theories of Emotional Development
Expressing Emotions
Perceiving Emotions
Parent Influences on Emotion Development
Regulating Emotions
Developing and Using Social Emotions
The Self
Recognizing the Self
- Box 11.3. Evaluating the Self and Self-Esteem
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Chapter 12: Childcare and Early Intervention
Chapter Overview
Childcare
Maternal Employment
Parental Leave Policies
Childcare Arrangements
- Box 12.1. What Does Quality Childcare Look Like?
Effects of Childcare: The NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
Including Children With Disabilities in Childcare
Early Intervention
Poverty as a Risk Factor: Implications for Prevention and Intervention
Early Intervention Through Childcare and Preschool
Early Head Start
Measuring the Impact of Early Childhood Intervention
Wrapping It Up: Summary and Conclusion | Think About It: Questions for Reading and Discussion | Key Words
Glossary
References
Credits
Index
About the Author

Reviews

For years, I have used Dana Gross’s text Infancy: Development from Birth to Age Three in my infant development course. This thorough yet accessible text uses contemporary science and opportunities for application to provide my students with the theoretical frameworks underlying infant development. Students are also exposed to important information about developmental domains, the role of culture, and policy implications for infant development. I look forward to continuing to use this engaging textbook with my undergraduate students for years to come.

— Pamela Schuetze, State University of New York, Buffalo State

This exceptional textbook combines essential principles of child development from conception through toddlerhood with sensitivity for culture, racism, and atypical development. Students can easily learn about important theories and milestones of infancy and toddlerhood.

— Youngok Jung, California State University, Long Beach

I would strongly recommend this book to instructors currently teaching infant development courses. This text provides a solid, research-based foundation for infant and toddler development. I found the tone and level of this book to be accessible to a variety of learners—the concepts are clearly explained without 'dumbing it down.' Instructors can use flexibility in determining how much of the book's content to cover in their courses, depending on the needs of their students. This book can be used from community college through upper-division undergrad courses and would even be helpful for graduate students to brush up on concepts they may have learned years earlier.

— Carissa Feeney, California State University, Los Angeles

I have used this text several times over the past few years, and the organization is great. I have had students tell me that they have kept this textbook so that they can use it for future courses.

— Meredith B. Abbasi, Rongxiang Xu College of Health & Human Services, California State University, Los Angeles

This textbook is refreshing! It offers instructors a roadmap to effectively prepare, plan, and deliver lectures, activities, and discussions. The author's knowledge of infant development is evident throughout. Using user-friendly guided instruction through a collaborative approach, this textbook's structure benefits both instructor and student engagement.

— Elaine E. Liberato Jenkins, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Change across 0–3 years old is so rapid and the developmental domain approach to Dana Gross' textbook captures the complexity of that change. The domain approach also helps the reader understand how development in one area impacts another, offering a comprehensive understanding of infant development. I continue to use this textbook in my courses because the writing is clear, concise, and well organized. Dana Gross also does an excellent job incorporating details from major research studies in an easily digestible format for college students.

— Jennifer A. Mortensen, University of Nevada, Reno

Features

New: Chapter overview
New: Learning objectives
Think About It Questions for Reading & Discussion
Key words and Glossary
New: Mini-cases
New: Applications of Brain Research feature
New: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Applications feature
New: Infant Development Research-to-Practice feature
New: Family Connections feature
New: Child Development and Infant Mental Health feature

Resources

FOR PROFESSORS
Ancillary Materials are available for this title. For access to these professor use only materials, please Sign-In if you are a registered user, or Register then email us at textbooks@rowman.com
Instructor's Manual. For each chapter, this valuable resource provides a variety of tools such as lecture outlines, student learning objectives, discussion questions, and other resources to simplify classroom preparation.

Test Bank. The Test Bank includes a variety of test questions and is available in either Word or PDF formats. For every chapter in the text, the Test Bank includes a complete test with a variety of question types, including multiple choice, true false, and essay formats.

To use our Test Bank in Word or PDF, please Sign-In if you are a registered user, or Register then email us at textbooks@rowman.com

Lecture Notes. The Lecture Notes provide the tables and figures from the text.

Infancy

Development from Birth to Age Three, Fourth Edition

Dana Gross

Infancy

Development from Birth to Age Three, Fourth Edition

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