What is the term for the process of babies developing from head to toe?

The term that refers to the process of babies developing from head to toe is cephalocaudal. This developmental pattern indicates that growth and motor control begin at the head and move downward toward the feet. For example, infants first gain control of their heads and necks, followed by their upper bodies, and finally their legs and feet. This pattern is fundamental in understanding physical development milestones in early childhood, where the head is typically proportionally larger compared to the rest of the body in newborns.

Acculturation relates to cultural adaptation rather than physical development. Proximodistal refers to the development pattern where growth starts at the center of the body and moves outward to the limbs. Assimilation is a cognitive process described in developmental psychology where new experiences are integrated into existing schemas. Thus, the accurate characterization of the head-to-toe growth process is best captured by the term cephalocaudal.