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Question

Difficulty: MediumDevelopmental Stages and Transitions

A pediatric nurse is educating new parents about the expected physical development of their child during the first year of life. Arrange the following gross motor milestones in the chronological order that they are typically achieved by an infant, from earliest to latest.

  1. 1Demonstrates no head lag when pulled to a sitting position
  2. 2Rolls from the abdomen to the back
  3. 3Sits upright independently without support
  4. 4Creeps on hands and knees bearing weight
  5. 5Cruises sideways while holding onto furniture

Answer

The correct chronological order of gross motor milestone achievement is: demonstrating no head lag (4 months), rolling from abdomen to back (5 months), sitting independently (8 months), creeping on hands and knees (9 months), and cruising while holding furniture (11 months).
Gross motor development follows a predictable cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) progression. The typical sequential timeline for the milestones presented is: establishing head control with no head lag (4 months), rolling from the abdomen to the back (5 months), sitting independently without support (8 months), creeping on hands and knees (9 months), and finally cruising while holding onto furniture (11 months).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the earliest gross motor milestone presented in the options.
Demonstrating no head lag when pulled to sit typically occurs first, around 4 months of age.
Head control is one of the initial major gross motor skills acquired, following the cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) pattern of physical development.
2
Determine the next milestone achieved in the first half of the infant's first year.
Rolling from the abdomen to the back typically occurs next, at 5 months of age.
Truncal strength develops after head control, allowing the infant to roll over. Rolling from the front to the back usually precedes rolling from the back to the front.
3
Identify the milestone associated with core stability and independent posture.
Sitting upright independently without support typically occurs around 8 months of age.
Progressing down the body, the infant gains sufficient lower back and core strength to maintain a sitting posture without relying on external support.
4
Determine the milestone related to independent floor mobility.
Creeping on hands and knees bearing weight typically occurs around 9 months of age.
After mastering sitting, infants learn to coordinate their arms and legs to bear weight and achieve crawling/creeping mobility.
5
Identify the latest milestone in the sequence prior to independent walking.
Cruising sideways while holding onto furniture typically occurs at 11 months of age.
Leg strength and balance development culminate in the ability to pull to a stand and cruise, which immediately precedes unassisted, independent walking.

Key Concept

Infant gross motor development follows a predictable, chronological, cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) pattern throughout the first year of life.
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Topics

Developmental Stages and Transitions

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