Developmental and temperament outcomes of sensory stimulation in healthy infants

Abstract

Eighty-one healthy, full-term infants were randomly assigned to a control group or one of three experimental conditions: daily administration of a cephalocaudal stroking procedure; placement on a multisensory hammock that provided auditory, vestibular, and tactile stimulation during expected sleep cycles; and a combination of the prior two treatments. All interventions were given during the first 3 months of life. Infants in the control group received the natural stimulation provided in their home environments without additional supplementation. Four- and 8-month assessments were done using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire. There were no significant treatment effects on weight or psychomotor development. Although infants receiving unimodal stimulation obtained lower 8-month cognitive development scores than infants in other experimental and control groups, their scores were within normal range. Control group infants achieved the most optimum mood and distractibility scores at both 4 and 8 months.