Skeletal Development During Infancy (Birth-2 years)
Many changes take place in babies during their first two years of life. Most babies grow 9-10 inches during their first year of life and double or triple their weight. When babies are first born, their skeleton is made mostly of cartilage. They are born with 300 bones, and there are many large spaces in between their bones to prevent them from breaking. They cannot stand or walk well because their bones are not sturdy enough to hold their body weight.
Three major changes occur during this time period:
http://www.g-w.com/pdf/sampchap/9781590705858_ch07.pdf
Three major changes occur during this time period:
- The length of bone increases.
- Ossification begins. This helps the infant's skeletal frame become more sturdy, allowing them to sit up and eventually stand and walk.
- The number of bones changes. As mentioned before, babies are born with 300 bones, while adults have 206 bones. This is because the bones in a baby's body begin to fuse together. This also happens in the skull, making several skull bones fuse to make one.
http://www.g-w.com/pdf/sampchap/9781590705858_ch07.pdf