DCF Child Care 40 Hour CertificationInfant and Toddler
Appropriate Practices Exam: 100% Expert Verified Study Guide
Real Testing 2026|2027 Questions Detailed Answers and
Instructor Note for A+ Guaranteed Pass
Social and Emotional Development - Answers -Birth - 3 months
Able to calm down, enjoys touch, and alerts to sound of a voice.
Unknown why infants begin to express a social smile. Some people believe infants are
"prewired" to smile at this age. Others believe smiling earns positive attention so infants begin
to smile more.
Infants will communicate by cooing and babbling before they learn to speak, and will eventually
begin to make sounds that imitate the language of their culture. Cooing is important to
caregivers because it indicates that a child is beginning to practice conversation.
Can participate in "conversations" by taking turns making sounds; for example, when a caregiver
speaks to an infant the infant will wait until they finish a phrase and then "coo" in response.
Some infants even engage in "cooing" conversations when they are in adjacent cribs; these
infants will take turns cooing in a simulated conversation.
3 - 7 months
Vocalizes, responds to facial expressions (smiles when smiled at), and smiles intentionally.
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, During feeding, many times infants will pause in their sucking. Mothers often gently jiggle the
baby to have them start sucking again. This exchange is important because it keeps both the
baby and mother interacting.
Gazing is another powerful tool infants use to engage in social interaction. By gazing into a
person's eyes, the baby is saying through body language, "I want to interact with you."
Infants can also indicate when they are over stimulated. They will stop gazing (gaze aversion),
turn their head, and may even begin to cry.
8 - 18 months
Show affection, such as hugs and kisses
Become familiar with their surroundings
Continue to use a comfort item when feeling stressed or tired
Vocalize and point to get attention
Recognize the name of a friend
Initiate simple games and choose things to explore
Pay attention to their reflec
Senses - Answers -Taste - Infants prefer sweet tastes. They may be predisposed to prefer the
sweetness of breast milk.
Sight - As newborns, infants are able to focus on objects 7 to 8 inches from their face. This may
also be a predisposition because the average distance between a breast feeding baby and the
mother's face is approximately 7 to 8 inches.
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Appropriate Practices Exam: 100% Expert Verified Study Guide
Real Testing 2026|2027 Questions Detailed Answers and
Instructor Note for A+ Guaranteed Pass
Social and Emotional Development - Answers -Birth - 3 months
Able to calm down, enjoys touch, and alerts to sound of a voice.
Unknown why infants begin to express a social smile. Some people believe infants are
"prewired" to smile at this age. Others believe smiling earns positive attention so infants begin
to smile more.
Infants will communicate by cooing and babbling before they learn to speak, and will eventually
begin to make sounds that imitate the language of their culture. Cooing is important to
caregivers because it indicates that a child is beginning to practice conversation.
Can participate in "conversations" by taking turns making sounds; for example, when a caregiver
speaks to an infant the infant will wait until they finish a phrase and then "coo" in response.
Some infants even engage in "cooing" conversations when they are in adjacent cribs; these
infants will take turns cooing in a simulated conversation.
3 - 7 months
Vocalizes, responds to facial expressions (smiles when smiled at), and smiles intentionally.
1|Page
, During feeding, many times infants will pause in their sucking. Mothers often gently jiggle the
baby to have them start sucking again. This exchange is important because it keeps both the
baby and mother interacting.
Gazing is another powerful tool infants use to engage in social interaction. By gazing into a
person's eyes, the baby is saying through body language, "I want to interact with you."
Infants can also indicate when they are over stimulated. They will stop gazing (gaze aversion),
turn their head, and may even begin to cry.
8 - 18 months
Show affection, such as hugs and kisses
Become familiar with their surroundings
Continue to use a comfort item when feeling stressed or tired
Vocalize and point to get attention
Recognize the name of a friend
Initiate simple games and choose things to explore
Pay attention to their reflec
Senses - Answers -Taste - Infants prefer sweet tastes. They may be predisposed to prefer the
sweetness of breast milk.
Sight - As newborns, infants are able to focus on objects 7 to 8 inches from their face. This may
also be a predisposition because the average distance between a breast feeding baby and the
mother's face is approximately 7 to 8 inches.
2|Page
