Wakeful positioning and movement control in young infants: A pilot study

Purpose: Clinical experience has suggested differences in motor development between infants nursed prone, and those nursed supine. This pilot study investigated possible associations between wakeful infant positioning and motor control. Method: Twenty-six infants were examined. Wakeful positional experience was recorded by log book. When the infants were aged between 14 and 18 weeks, motor control was measured using five items from the Movement Assessment of Infants. Results: Analyses revealed associations between age and time spent in stimulating circumstances, and some motor scores, but not an association between time spent in prone and supine positions and motor skills in those positions. Conclusion: Time spent in positions involving greater stimulation from, and closer interaction with, caregivers may be beneficial to motor development in early infancy.