What type of development is characterized by an infant gaining head control before sitting unassisted?

• A. Proximodistal development.
• B. Cephalocaudal development.
• C. Proximocephalic development.
• D. Medial-lateral development.

Answer: (B)

Cephalocaudal development describes growth and motor skill progression from the head downward. In infancy, neural maturation and muscle strength first enable control of the head and neck, and only after that does the trunk strengthen enough to support sitting unassisted. This head-first pattern is why head control appears before the ability to sit without help.

In contrast, proximodistal development would predict that control develops from the center of the body outward—trunk and shoulder control before fine movements of the hands and fingers. The other terms aren’t standard descriptions of developmental patterns.