Prone positioning and motor development in the first 6 weeks of life

 

 

Dorothy C Russell^I; Helena Kriel^II; Gina Joubert^III; Yolande Goosen^IV

^IMasters in Occupational Therapy; Senior Occupational Therapist at Department Pediatrics and Child Health, UFS
^IIM.Sc. Physiotherapy; Head: Department of Physiotherapy, UFS
^IIIBA, MSc; Associate Professor and Head: Department of Biostatistics
^IVM. Soc. Sc. (Advanced Midwifery); Research assistant at Department Pediatrics and Child Health, UFS

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Supine sleeping positions for infants lead to a decrease in Sudden infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but inadequate time spent in prone position may lead to developmental problems during infancy. This cross-sectional developmental study was an attempt to determine whether the back to sleep campaign had an effect on the development of babies in South Africa. One hundred and twenty six week old infants were evaluated at a community centre in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, Free State to determine differences in motor development between infants who spent more than 30 minutes awake in a prone position and infants who spent less than 30 minutes. Comparisons with regard to their gross motor development and postures were made.
There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to their gross motor development, the prone infants being more advanced than those who were never, or only short periods, in the prone position. It therefore seems that exclusive use of the supine position may lead to problems with motor development and parents must be encouraged to place their babies in the prone position during waking hours.

Key words: Prone position, motor development, 6 weeks infants

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References

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Correspondence:
Dorothy C Russell
Department Pediatrics and Child Health
PO Box 339(G69)
University of the Free State
BLOEMFONTEIN, 9300
RSA
gnpddcr.md@ufs.ac.za