Infant Motor Behaviors – Completed Checklist Tables
Primitive Reflexes/ Stereotypies
Reflex Name How to elicit the reflex
Apply pressure to palm of
Palmar grasp hand at base of digits
Apply pressure to sole of foot
Plantar grasp at base of digits (toes)
Stroke sole of foot from heel
Babinski to toes
Lower baby’s head rapidly
Moro while cradling in arms
Lightly stroke the cheek near
Rooting one side of mouth
Place clean object on tongue
Sucking or in mouth
Hold upright & alternately let
Stepping feet touch table surface
Touch dorsal foot surface
Placing with table edge
Place prone in water, w/ or
Swimming w/out face in water
Place prone on flat surface
Crawling
Turn head either to left or
ATNR right (or get baby to turn it)
Flex or extend head while
STNR suspend/supporting body
Place head in prone or supine
TLR position
Supine leg kicking Place infant on back (supine)
Stimulus/ energy Sensory receptor Response Apparent function
physical pressure - tactile/ cutaneous flexion of digits (fingers) unknown: atavistic?
mechanical energy receptors of hand 2-5, but not the thumb aid clinging/ no fall
tactile/ cutaneous flexion of digits (toes) unknown: vestigial?
receptors of foot 2-5, but not the pollux aid clinging/ no fall
receptors entire sole extension and fanning of toes unknown: used to
of foot, tactile screen SCI/ CNS
head acceleration - vestibular - semi- Extension of 4 limbs, unknown: atavistic?
kinetic energy circular canals followed by flexion prenatal PMP posit?
light pressure and tactile/cutaneous mouth opens, tongue moves unknown: PMP for
mechanical energy receptors of cheek and head turns toward survival after birth?
physical pressure - cutaneous receptor rhythmic action of tongue
mechanical energy of tongue &mouth pressing against soft palate
cutaneous receptor Alternate hip/ knee flexion, + unknown: integrate to
of plantar foot often external rotation vol. locomotion?
cutaneous receptor Hip/knee flexion, followed by
of dorsal foot skin “placing” on tabletop
CNS arousal? unclear - inner ear?Alternate + cross lateral limb unknown: integrate in
vestibular/ cutaneous skin? or PNS motor flexion/extension w/ lateral aquatic loco.?
neurons? trunk flexion
Alternate flexion/ extension unknown: integrate in
of limbs, lat. trunk flexion crawling?
Asymmetric neck muscle propriocept- Fencer pose: arm extension unknown: prenatal
muscle stretch - ors of neck on face side, arm flexion PMP for position?
proprioceptors
sym neck muscle Arms = head action; feet
stretch - proprioceptor opposite
vestibular - head otolith organ of Prone = limb flexion
position re gravity inner ear Supine = limb extension
Internal arousal N.A. Flexion-extension of 1-2 legs Hardwired neural
occur spontaneously circuits
 Infant Motor Behaviors – Completed Checklist Tables

Lifespan, Nondevelopmental Reflexes/ Stereotypies

Reflex Name How to elicit the reflex Stimulus/ energy
shine bright light in eye intensity of light -
Pupillary after being in the dark electromagnetic
Vestibulo-ocular Quickly spin person
(nystagmus) around longitudinal axis
Quickly move object
Eye blink toward eye or puff of air
or foreign object (dust)
Change emotional state;
Heart rate exercise; fright-fight
Change emotional or
Breathing exercise state of body
Swallow liquid or solid
Epiglottal food
Firmly tap a relaxed,
Tendon stretch stretched tendon (eg
patellar, Achilles)
Flexor Noxious, painful, or tickle
withdrawl stimulus to extremity
Crossed Elicit flexor withdrawl
extension reflex in opposite limb
Sudden, unexpected,
Startle and/or intense light,
sound, touch, etc.
Supine leg kick See previous sheet of
primitive reflexes
Sensory receptor Response Apparent function
retinal cells Pupil constricts with adjust light intensity to
especially cones increased light intensity; retinal image; protect
spectrum dilates with low intensity cones
acceleration of head - semicircular canals “ramp movement”of eye unknown - link head
mechanical energy of inner ear with slow, tracking mvt -eye motion; maintain
opposite rotation followed by balance; track objects?
saccade in rot. direction
visual and/or cutaneous receptors Rapid closing of eyelid over protect corneal surface
mechanical of eyeball eyeball; stimulation of tear of eye
duct to lub. cornea
varies, but involves Thalamus/ cardiac muscle contractions circulate sufficient O2
increased excitatory hypothalamus and increase rate with exercise or to tissues/organs
nervous stimulation node of heart CNS activation
CO2 levels in arterial intracirculatory increased ventilatory rate/ provide adequate O2
blood supply cells of CNS contractions of diaphragm or exchange in lungs for
costal muscles circulation
physical pressure - laryngeal epiglottis contracts and protect bronchia from
mechanical energy swallowing covers the bronchial opening foreign obj.
contractions
muscles spindles/ rapid contraction of protect muscles from
GTOs of muscle stimulated muscle overstretch
cutaneous receptor flexion of entire limb of remove limb from
including free nerve stimulated extremity noxious stimulus
ending
extension of entire limb support body during
opposite stimulated withdrawl
extremity
any type of energy visual, auditory, sudden, rapid limb extension “flight or fight”
that is unexpected, gustatory,vestibular or “startle” reaction preparation - CNS
intense, sudden , proprioception activation
 Infant Motor Behaviors – Completed Checklist Tables
Postural, Equilibrium Reactions
Reaction How reaction is elicited
Righting Body out of alignment w/ grav. gravitational force
Head Place infant in prone position on
flat surface
Sagittal trunk Place infant in prone position on
flat surface
pivot prone/Landau Place infant in prone position on
flat surface
Derotative Place infant supine and twist legs
and/or shoulder girdle
Parachute/propping Body position changed quickly Acceleration - kinetic
Downward - arms In vertical position, displace
Downward - legs body downward quickly
Sideward/ Displace infant laterally in a
lateral quick motion
Forward/ Quickly displace infant in the
anterior anterior direction/plane
Backward/ Quickly displace infant in the
posterior posterior direction/plane
Tilting displacing support surface
Prone In prone position, tilt support
surface forward or backward
Supine In supine position, tilt support
surface forward or backward
Sitting In sitting position, tilt support
surface to front/back/side
All-fours On “all-fours,” tilt support
surface to front/back/side
Standing In upright/stand, tilt support
surface to front/back/side
Stimulus/ energy Sensory receptor Response Apparent function
vestibular apparatus generically to align w/ gravity
maintain upright posture
head position in otolith organ - inner Head hyperextends at neck, Get head upright in space,
relation to gravity ear raising face from surface aligned with gravity
Trunk hyperextends, arching Get trunk upright/ aligned and
head and legs off surface minimize energy use
Get trunk upright/ aligned to
maintain vertical
physical energy - muscle receptors, esp Opposite segment “untwists” in To reduce muscle stretch/
muscle stretch muscle spindles direction of twisted segment keep segments aligned
vestibular apparatus extension in direction of mvt reduce pot. impact forces
downward semicircular canals of Arms extend and abduct up Anticipate impact from
acceleration/
kinetic energy vestibular apparatus Legs extend and abduct + down falling downward
lateral acceleration hair cells of semi- Arms extend laterally in Anticipate and cushion impact
kinetic energy circular canals direction of the fall from sideward fall
anterior acceleration/ hair cells of semi- Arms extend anteriorly in Anticipate and cushion impact
kinetic energy circular canals direction of the fall from forward fall
posterior acceleration/ hair cells of semi- Arms extend posteriorly in Anticipate and cushion impact
kinetic energy circular canals direction of the fall from backward fall
vestibular/propriocept inner ear + muscle adjustment of head/torso Keep alignment w/ grav.
spindles
head position in space otolith organ of inner Head and trunk move away Minimize energy use and
+ muscle stretch ear + proprioceptors from direction of tilt maintain prone posture
Head and trunk move away Minimize energy use and
from direction of tilt maintain supine posture
Trunk and spine move in Minimize energy use and
direction away from tilt maintain sitting posture
Limb adjustment away from Minimize energy use and
direction of downward tilt maintain all-four balance
Trunk and legs lean away from Minimize energy use and
direction of downward tilt maintain upright posture
 Infant Motor Behaviors – Completed Checklist Tables
Voluntary Motor Skills (a.k.a. Motor Milestones)
Motor skill Goal/ function of skill
allow person to change
Rolling over prone to supine or vs.
position trunk in upright
Sitting up posture w/ pelvis-leg base
locomotion while in prone
Crawling position – trunk contact
Locomotion in prone
Creeping position with quadripedal
contact
maintaining upright posture
Standing with feet as base of support
Independent upright locomotion on feet
Walking w/alternating leg action
Fundamental Motor Skills
Jumping upright locomotion on feet
from 2 feet to 2 feet
Galloping/ Sliding Step + backward leap/ side
facing
Running/ Leaping upright locomotion alt. leg
action w/ flight phase
Hopping upright locomotion - w/
weight shift on 1 leg only
Skipping Step and hop on alternate
feet with uneven rhythm
Throwing /Striking Projecting/sending away a
ball from the hand of
person or using implement
Kicking Projecting a ball with foot
Catching Receiving or gathering in
object
Rising to Stand getting up from lying
from Supine supine to upright stand
Critical features/ components Changing movement characteristics Task factors movement
characteristics
rotation of head, trunk, pelvis, leg from inability to roll over to turn over surface characteristics, speed
action, arm action to twisting during turn over demands, original position, ATNR
trunk posture, head posture, leg from inability to sit up independently sitting surface, presence of back or
position, arm action to partial sit to upright sit sit support, strength, CNS
head position, trunk in contact with from no crawling to initial attempts to head position, trunk action, arm and
surface, arm/leg actions advanced crawling with progress leg actions
head position, quadripedal surface from crawling action w/trunk touching distance to cover, height of mvt
contact, arm/ leg actions to rapid, all-4s creeping movement space, type of surface, strength
head posture, trunk posture, leg inability to stand to standing with assist surface char., arm support, trunk
action/posture; arm position/action to standing independently support, leg strength, balance
trunk/pelvic action, leg action, arm no walking to cruising to independent surface characteristics, arm/trunk
action walking to heel-toe action/alt. arms support, leg strength, balance
trunk action, leg action, arm action; from no jump to step down to surface char., distance, height, time,
different phases of mvt momentary flight to bounce jump etc. leg strength
Leg action, arm action From no leap and same lead leg to Speed, direction, lead leg, obstacles
leaping with either leg leading
trunk/pelvis action, leg action, arm from no run to momentary run to surface, speed, distance, leg
action, stance vs swing phase advanced run with different speeds strength
leg action, arm action movement from pre-hop through 4 steps of leg distance to hop, speed, obstacles,
components and 5 steps of arm actions leg strength, balance
Leg action, arm action From single side skip to 2-side skip on Distance to skip, speed, obstacles,
ball of foot landing; bilateral to oppos. leg strength, balance
foot/leg, trunk, forearm, humerus 4 steps in leg, 3 trunk, 3 forearm, 3 force/distance, ball-hand ratio,
actions, backswing components humerus, 4 backswing components target size/accuracy/mvt, body size
Prep. backswing, step, trunk Segmented action to integrated Size of ball, distance, mvt. ball
Arms, hands, trunk 3 components with different levels Size, weight of ball, trajectory,
distance, speed, color contrast
upper extremity, trunk(axial), lower 6 steps in upper extremity, 5 steps in speed, surface type, surface hgt, use
extremity components trunk, 5 steps in lower extremity of hands, clothing, body comp