Importance of supine development
Spending time in supine when awake, active and moving is important for infant development as this is the first position that infants can independently explore the environment and learn to stabilize the trunk to allow for more differentiated and goal directed movements of the limbs.
Observation of the infant's abilities in supine provide valuable insights into the the different aspects of behaviour that influence present behavior: level of alertness, general level of activity, motivation to move, approach/avoidance behaviors, attention and persistence, and engagement with social and physical environment.
Lying supine, especially if the trunk is slightly raised, provides an opportunity for infants to look towards interesting events in the environment.
Infants also learn to reach for and pick up toys that are placed within easy reaching distance.
Typical development in supine
Resources For subscribers Subscribe here
Assessment guidelines Supine 3-7 months
Annotated video clips Series of video clips highlighting changes over time
Notes on supine development Newborn in supine 5 weeks 1-2 months Will at 10 weeks 3-4 months 5 months 5-7 months
Bibliography Development in supine
Understanding development Emerging sense of self
External resources and useful websites
Developmental positioning for preterm infant
Positioning preterm infant using The Zaky