The qualitative motor assessment at three months allows a better prognosis than the traction test

The study was conducted prospectively on 107 children (74 boys). Eighty-three children were born at term (39 ± 1), 24 were born prematurely (33 ± 4). The study included the qualitative assessment at three months of age, eye contact and traction response assessment, and the quantitative assessment at 3, 9, and 16 months of age. The timely achievement of crawling and sitting down depended on the same qualitative characteristics at three months of age: hands and lower limbs and on the segmentally extended spine and shoulder blades. Social walking was influenced by the qualitative assessment of the position of the lower limbs at three months of age. The eye contact substantially impacted walking; the correct traction test moderately impacted crawling and sitting down. The qualitative assessment at three months is highly predictive for crawling and sitting down at nine months and social walking at 16 months. The correct traction test appears to predict crawling and sitting down, while eye contact is essential for social walking.