We notice a huge difference between an adult and a baby in size and body parts. Other than this, there are so many differences in body functions between an adult and a baby.
They share the same body parts and uses. But the way each body part functions will differ in an adult and a baby.
They also share similar features but vary in numerous parameters.
Key Takeaways
- Adults are fully grown and developed human beings, while babies are young children in the earliest stages of development.
- Adults possess cognitive, emotional, and physical maturity, whereas babies require care, nurturing, and support to grow and develop.
- Adult responsibilities include decision-making, self-care, and fulfilling societal roles, while babies depend on their caregivers for their needs and protection.
Adult vs Baby
An “adult” is a person who has reached the age of majority, characterized by completed growth and development. A “baby” is a very young child, especially one newly or recently born, who is completely dependent on adults for care.
The term “adult” has a wider meaning in terms of both science and legal concepts. In terms of science, an adult means a person who has attained a certain age called majority, 18 years old.
An adult signifies the changes happening in the body parts. An adult legally means a person who has attained 18 years and has the eligibility to vote.
The term “baby” means the younger or a smaller version of a human being. A baby is called an infant.
The body length of the baby is small. They weigh lesser and their body parts are relatively small.
A baby cannot speak till they reach a certain age. This age for speaking may vary for each baby.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Adult | Baby |
|---|---|---|
| Body size | The body size of an adult is bigger when compared to a baby. | The body size of a baby is quite small when compared to an adult. |
| Dehydration | Adults take a long time to get dehydrated s compared to babies. | Babies can easily get dehydrated than adults get. |
| Body temperature | Adults have a stable and mature body temperature. | Babies have unstable and immature. body temperature |
| Heart rates | The heart rates of adults are quite slower than babies. | The heart rates of babies are quite faster than adults. |
| Weight | Adults weigh heavier than babies. | Babies weigh lesser than adults. |
What is Adult?
An adult is a person who is fully grown and has reached sexual maturity. The word “adult” can be associated with both science and legal.
They can be used concerning numerous areas and has a wider meaning. The age of an adult is considered globally as 18.
The age of 18 is the age of maturity. Persons who are above 18 are entitled to voting rights.
In terms of science, an adult can be defined as a person whose body has reached maximum growth. For example, changes in voice for men, body hairs for both sexes, an increase in sizes of breasts for women, etc.
Usually, this puberty stage begins at around 11 years. This process of puberty gets completed by 16 or 17 years.
They undergo changes in their weight and height. However, in some cases, puberty may happen earlier or later.
In terms of legal and social, an adult can be defined as a person who is capable of performing responsibilities. They know about making their own decisions.
People who have completed 18 are entitled to vote and select the parties which should rule the country.
Hence, an adult means a grown person both mentally and physically. They transform and undergo changes to become an adult.
What is Baby?
A baby is an infant or a child recently born into the world and has aged only a little. The term “infant” is from the Latin word Infans.
The term “Infans” means the inability to speak. Generally, babies are unable to speak.
Once they reach a certain age, they start saying small words. Babies must be carefully handled as they are small and prone to diseases.
The term “babies” is very young children aged from months to 4 years. Children have a lesser blood flow in their bodies. They have a high risk of bleeding to death.
They take a longer time to heal from wounds or injuries. In addition to this, they have small airways that make the breathing process slow.
The length of their body is small. Babies weigh a lot lesser than an average human being.
Usually, a baby’s head is large in proportion to the size of their body. They won’t have teeth.
Hence, babies only drink milk through breastfeeding. Eventually, they start growing milk teeth and chew little solid foods.
Hence, a baby is a smaller version of an adult but has to be taken care of properly as they have the risk of getting diseases and other problems.
Main Differences Between Adult and Baby
- An adult is a fully grown and developed person while a baby is recently born into a world and in the process of growing.
- A baby’s head proportion to the body is larger than an adult’s head proportion to the body.
- A baby has faster heartbeats in comparison to the heartbeats of an adult
- Babies have less healing power and have a high risk of diseases than an adult.
- The airways of breathing are small in babies while adults have a wider airway for the breathing process.
- Dehydration can happen in a baby faster than it happens in an adult.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178110003574
- https://europepmc.org/article/med/6886334
Last Updated : 19 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
