Relationship between parental practices and motor development milestones in the first year of life

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Parents are responsible for organizing a variety of experiences that foster child development Although it is important and widely studied in the different domains of development, there are few studies on the relationship between parental practices and motor development. OBJECTIVE: To verify which parental practices are most related to infant motor development in the first year of life. METHODS: Cross- sectional, exploratory study with application of multi-attribute utility theory and Spearman correlation. We applied structured questionnaires on parental practices and motor development milestones in the first year of life in 35 parents of children aged 12 to 24 months. RESULTS: It was verified that from four to six months the practices of do not leaving in the crib, standing with support, putting on the floor, giving varied toys, presented moderate and inverse correlation with four supports (r = -0.440 p = 0.010), crawling (r = -0.418 p = 0.013) and steps (r = -0.397 p = 0.018). Between six and twelve months, the practices of do not leaving the crib, standing with support, stimulating steps, presented moderate and inverse correlation with sit (r = -0.368 p = 0.030), sits well (r = -0.388 p = 0.021) , standing (r = -0.407 p = 0.015) and steps (r = -0.373 p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between parental practices and motor development milestones in the first year of life. Those practices related to the supply of learning material and freedom of movement were the most favorable.