Postural Development in Very Low Birth Weight & Normal Birth Weight Infants

Preterm infants often have very low birth weights. Postural development can be significantly different among babies with low birth weights compared to those with normal birth weights. Postural development impacts basic motor skills for sitting, crawling, standing, and walking.

Postural Development in Normal Birth Weight Infants

• Most full term infants born at a normal birth weight have some muscle control and can sit with support by four months of age. Rolling from side to stomach and holding up the head for short periods of time are also common at this age. Between six and 12 months, babies should begin to sit without aid, reach for objects, and by the latter end of the period, walk with assistance.

Postural Development in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

• Studies show significant differences in neuromotor development of low birth weight infants. In those children who had poor head and trunk control at four months, the development of locomotion at 12 to 18 months was notably less developed. There were evident developmental delays in the low birth weight infants based on the study, "Postural development in very low birth weight and normal birth weight infants" performed by the Department of Pediatrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa, in 1990.

Impact on Fine Motor Control

• Generally, full term infants will attain much better fine motor control than preterm infants at the same adjusted age. There does not seem to be any difference among the preterm infants with regard to their medical risk factors.

Impact on Cognitive Development

• Low birth weight infants with delays in postural development are likely to have significant delays in cognitive development. These children may also show tendencies toward attention deficits.

Early Intervention

• Physical and occupational therapy can be very helpful in assisting children with impairments or developmental delays resulting from low birth weight and prematurity.