How to Increase Extensor Posturing in Premature Babies

Any newborn who is born earlier than 37 weeks is considered premature. Premature babies almost always spend their first few weeks or months in a neonatal intensive care unit, and they often deal with developmental difficulties from not having sufficient time to develop and tone. One of these difficulties is successfully implementing the extension posture, which means that the arms and legs can stretch out, and flexion, which is a natural, curling position. Naturally, premature babies tend to lay flat and cannot work against gravity without assistance.

Things You'll Need

• Blanket
• Positioning aids
• Physical therapist

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Instructions

• 1

  Place a soft blanket on the floor, and place the baby on the blanket on her stomach for increased periods of time until she reaches 90 minutes per day. Allowing the baby to be positioned on her stomach teaches her to form physiological flexion, which is structural support that allows a baby to move against gravity without collapsing, and extensor posturing, which is the natural stretching of the spine, legs and arms. Full-term babies are born with this skill, but premature babies need to be taught. A premature baby on her stomach will learn to lift her head and stretch her arms and legs, according to Vickie Dakin, a pediatric physical therapist in Tampa, Florida.

• 2

  Use positioning aids to promote flexion and extension postures, such as boundary supports, nests and buntings, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Boundary supports and nests help you move the position of your baby, such as from his back to his side, without lifting him, which gives him a feeling of positioning himself and teaches him which positions relieve stress and discomfort the most. Buntings are blankets that allow the natural heat from the baby’s body to not escape and to keep him warm. All of these products work to keep the baby’s body comfortable while he develops, which is key in speeding up the developmental process.

• 3

  Visit a pediatric physical therapist who can help your baby increase her range of motion and muscle tone, which will help her support his own trunk and increase her extensor posturing. The physical therapist will use exercises such as having the baby lie on her back and encourage her to lift her head by showing her interesting images, according to BabyCenter.com. Physical therapy is offered once the baby has matured to around three years old and is still having difficulties with the extension posture. This is not a necessary step for most premature babies