Predictors of early motor trajectories from birth to 5 years in neonatal at‐risk and control children

Aim To describe motor development in preschool children, to identify perinatal, neonatal, and social environmental risk factors of poor motor development, and to replicate results in a second cohort. Methods Two prospective samples in Germany (Bavarian Longitudinal Study, BLS) and Finland (Arvo Ylppö Longitudinal Study, AYLS) assessed 4,741 and 1,423 children from birth to 56 months, respectively. Motor functioning was evaluated at birth, and 5, 20 and 56 months. Perinatal, neonatal and social environmental information was collected at birth and 5 months. Results Two distinct motor trajectories were identified: low (BLS: n=4,486 (94.6%), AYLS: n=1,391 (97.8%)) and high (BLS: n=255 (5.4%), AYLS: n=32 (2.2%)) degree of motor difficulties. High degree of motor difficulties was predicted by neonatal complications, abnormal neonatal neurological status, duration of hospitalisation, and poor parent‐infant relationships. Although neonatal complications and poor parent‐infant relationships did not significantly predict high degree of motor difficulties in the AYLS, the trends identified were similar to those obtained from the BLS. Conclusion Early identification of children at‐risk of motor difficulties across infancy and toddlerhood may help referring those children to interventions earlier. Modifiable risk factors, such as parent‐infant relationships, may be addressed by intervention strategies to prevent children from developing motor difficulties