Abstract
The effects of body positions during the neonatal period on subsequent functional and postural behaviors were examined in relatively low-risk pre-term infants and healthy full-term infants. Forty-four pre-term infants were laid in the supine position and 37 pre-term infants in a prone position throughout their admission periods. Fifty-three full-term infants were laid in the supine position during their neonatal life. Persisting asymmetrical head-turning was observed more often and continued longer in the pre-term infants lying in the supine position than in full-term infants. Asymmetrical head-turning was thought to relate with asymmetrical skulls, asymmetrical trunk postures, hand preference and asymmetrical gait patterns. The effects of asymmetrical head-turning on later postural and functional lateralities were stronger in the pre-term infants than in full-term infants. The prone position was thought to prevent asymmetrical postures and excessive functional lateralities.
