Longitudinal associations between infant movement behaviours and development

Abstract

Background This study aimed to address methodological limitations of the evidence that informed national and international movement behaviour guidelines for the early years. Specifically, the primary objective was to examine the longitudinal associations of infant physical activity (i.e., tummy time) and sedentary behaviour (i.e., back time, screen time, reading time, restrained time) with gross motor development. Secondary and tertiary objectives were to examine longitudinal associations of: (1) infant physical activity and sedentary behaviour with communication, fine motor, personal-social, and problem solving development, and (2) sleep time with primary and secondary outcomes. Methods Participants were 411 parents and their infants from the Early Movers project in Edmonton, Canada. Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep were measured with a parental questionnaire and the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) developmental screening tool was administered at 2, 4, and 6 months. Parents reported the dates six major gross motor milestones (i.e., independent sitting, crawling, assisted standing, assisted walking, independent standing, independent walking) were acquired in the first 18 months of life according to World Health Organization criteria. In a subsample (n = 125), gross motor development was assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at 6 months. Results Higher tummy time across time points was significantly associated with higher ASQ-3 gross motor and personal-social development scores over time, higher total AIMS scores at 6 months, and earlier acquisition of all gross motor milestones. Higher reading time across time points was significantly associated with higher ASQ-3 fine motor, gross motor, personal-social, and total development scores over time. In contrast, higher back time across time points was significantly associated with lower total AIMS scores at 6 months and the later acquisition of assisted standing, assisted walking, and independent walking. Similarly, higher restrained time across time points was significantly associated with a later acquisition of supported walking. Conclusions Tummy time was consistently longitudinally associated with more advanced gross motor development and reading with more advanced total development. Whereas, some detrimental associations were observed for back and restrained time. Findings support the promotion of tummy time and certain sedentary behaviours (i.e., reading) in young infants to enhance overall development.

Movement behaviours and adherence to guidelines: perceptions of a sample of UK parents with children 0–18 months

“…Conversely, parents reported that a large proportion of their children were meeting sleep guidelines, which was also one of parents’ key priorities. Levels reported here were comparable to those in a Canadian cohort [ 11 ], but higher than those in Australian children [ 15 ]. It is perhaps unsurprising that parents prioritise this behaviour, given sleep (or lack thereof) often has wide-ranging influences on physical and mental health of young families, particularly during the first years of life [ 17 ].…”

“…The results of our study contradict previous studies showing higher tummy time adherence at 4 month olds. A recent Canadian study showed children aged 2 and 6 months engaged in approximately 48 and 116 min/day of tummy time respectively, substantially more than the 31 min/day reported in this study [ 11 ].…”

“…The results reported in this study are slightly lower compared to those of a recent study conducted in Canada. Carson et al reported screen time ranged from 18 min/day in those 2 months of age up to 35 min/day in those aged 6 months [ 11 ]. Previous review evidence also suggests that adherence to the screen time guideline in those under 24 months ranges from 2.3 to 83.0% [ 10 , 16 ].…”

“…Despite a perception that young children are naturally or innately active, care-givers, the child’s environment and cultural practices may inadvertently prevent children from moving as freely as they would like. For example, children now spend increasing amounts of time restrained in car seats and highchairs, limiting their ability to be active [ 11 ]. Parents’ behaviours, views and priorities play an important role in a child’s daily behaviour [ 10 , 12 ].…”

Demographic Correlates of Movement Behaviors in Infants: A Longitudinal Study

“…19,20 Finally, significant correlations with medium to large effect sizes (r s = .30-.56) were observed between the questionnaire measure and a 3-day time use diary measure of these movement behaviors across time points in a subsample of participants from the Early Movers project. 20,21 A more detailed description of the diary measures could be found elsewhere. 19…”