What is the most important system in an infant?

The larynx and airway play a crucial role in an infant's development, primarily because they are essential for both respiration and phonation. In the early stages of life, maintaining adequate airflow and the ability to produce sounds is fundamental not only for survival—through the process of breathing—but also for communication and feeding.

The larynx is responsible for protecting the airway during swallowing, thus preventing aspiration, which can lead to serious respiratory complications. It also houses the vocal folds, which are important for producing sounds and initiating vocalization, a key component of an infant's social engagement and development.

While the digestive system and respiratory system are vital for nutrition and oxygenation, respectively, and the nervous system is crucial for overall functioning and developmental processes, the importance of the larynx and airway is particularly pronounced in infants due to the implications for immediate survival and early communication skills. Having proper function in this area allows for feeding without choking and initiating the beginning stages of language development as the infant begins to coo and babble.