Body Proportions Of A New Born Baby 

 The body proportion of a new born infant is different from an adolescent boy / girl or from an adult. 

Structure of a new born baby 

The size of the head of a new born infant is relatively larger than the arms, legs and bones. 

At birth, the head is about 20% of the total body length. 

The lower portion of the head is thin and small, arms and legs are also thin, short and small. 

The nose is small and flat, eyes are comparatively bigger in size. 

Have you ever seen a new born baby? If so, you will notice that-how body size and proportion changes from birth to two years of a child and proceeds toward normal size and shape. 

From birth to 15 months, the head size grows faster and later it slows down. The following figure shows body proportions of a child from two

Body proportions of a new born baby 

months (foetal) to two years.

Along with the changes in body proportion, bone formation in a child begins during pre-natal period. 

During this period and after child birth, bones become smooth, but gradually, as age advances, bones become harder.

Muscle development 

 There is also growth of muscle tissues. The tissues of a new born baby is soft and smooth. With advancement of age, the tissues becomes hard, strong and firm.

Teeth development 

The growth of teeth is one of the most important aspect of physical growth and development. 

During pre-natal period, the teeth begins to form in the jaw and after 6 months of birth, the first two lower teeth appears.

 After some days, another two teeth appears at the middle portion of the upper jaw.

 By the time the child is one year, 4-6 teeth appear. At two to three years, this number increases to 16-20. 

These teeth are known as 'temporary teeth' or 'milk teeth'.

Falling of milk teeth 

 As the child is 5-6 years old, temporary teeth are replaced by new teeth, which are known as 'permanent teeth'. The primary teeth consists of 32-36 teeth.

The development of brain and nerve tissues in various parts of the body takes place parallel with physical growth and development. Brain is an important part of nervous system and its growth and development is very rapid from birth to four years. The sense organs also develop rapidly during first two years of age. At birth smell and taste buds develops. During this period, their soft skin becomes very sensitive to senses like touch feel etc.