A research into the use of infant equipment during the first year after birth in terms of motor development

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the use of a baby-walker during the first year after birth of a baby, when the motor skill is most significantly developed, may affect the subsequent development of the child. However, since trends in use of other infant equipment have not been investigated, it is not clear what kind of infant equipment is used at each stage of the infantile development. The present study was usage survey of infant equipment, including those other than baby-walkers, for newborns and infants during their first year of life. The survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire targeting 612 infants in Hyogo, Okayama, and Tottori prefectures in Japan, resulting in 307 valid responses, which have revealed their usage of infant equipment. Some items of infant equipment that are used for a longer time than baby-walkers may restrict infant. While the infant equipment increases the safety of the lives of infants, our data suggests the possibility that those devices may also limit their self-directed, which is important for gross motor development.