Normal Development from Birth to 4 Months:

Abstract

Eleven normal, full-term infants were studies longitudinally during the first four months of life, using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale with Kansas Supplements (NBAS-K). Serial use of the NBAS-K measured developmental changes in the infants in several areas of behavior, and revealed both linear and nonlinear patterns of normal development. This article describes the linear patterns, showing (a) increase in behaviors, found in some primitive reflexes and state control areas; and (c) minimal changes in behaviors, as in plantar and palmer grasps. Certain curvilinear or U-shaped patterns will be described in a future article, Part II.