Development: Prenatal to First Year

newborn

• physiological flexion movement

• capabilities: maintain homeostasis, focusing and visual tracking, orienting, survival skills, feeding, respiration, communication

two months

• decreasing physiological flexion

• increasing active extension

• asymmetry

three months

• active flexion (increased neck and trunk flexor control

• beginning of symmetry

  • midline orientation of head, eyes, hands

  • bilateral control of neck muscles

• decreased ATNR

four months

• strong symmetry

• increased flexion and extension

  • bilateral coordinated control of flexion/extension

• hands to midline in supine

• hands to knees in supine

five months

• lateral weight shift and lateral righting reactions

• increasing flexion and extension continues

• Swimming

• reaching feet in supine

• prop sitting often emerges

six months

• good head control in all directions

• body righting on body more evident- trunk rotation

• landau mature

• equilibrium reactions in prone

• sit with upper extremities free

seven months

• lower extremities begin to be used for mobility

• quadruped

eight months

• equilibrium reactions in sitting

• beginning equilibrium reactions in quadruped

• protective extension to front and side

• back completely straight in sitting

• creeping = primary means of mobility

• pulls to stand, cruises, can’t get back down

• steps with hands held- no forward weight shift

nine months

• good trunk control

• dissociation between lower extremities

• hip mobility

• side sit, w sit

• creeps with:

  • decreased trunk movement

  • increased pelvic and LE movement

• increased cruising

ten months

• very active in gross motor activities

  • climbing, ½ kneeling, cruising, kneeling

• walks with hands held- more forward weight shift

eleven months

• smooth transitions between positions

• pulls to stand using lower extremities

• gets down from standing by squatting or ½ kneeling

• stands alone

  • walks with one hand held

twelve months

• equilibrium reactions present in all positions except standing

• independent walking is common (between 9 and 15 months)

  • lateral weight shift and waddling

  • increased spinal extension (lordosis)

  • high guard