The Importance of Infant Movement Assessment

Dora Szegedi
May 12, 2025
2 min read

**"May your first steps be light, your path supported, and your journey full of ease. 🌱🦶"**

Early support makes every step smoother—for babies and their families.

It’s true that babies in the past learned to walk without formal movement assessments—but today, our understanding of development has come a long way. It’s no longer just about if a child walks, but how they move: the quality, coordination, and control of their movements matter greatly for their long-term development.

Thanks to advancements in pediatric therapy and assessment techniques, we now know that early observation and intervention can make a big difference. That’s why it’s recommended to have your baby assessed by a trained therapist if:

Their posture or movements seem “off” or unusual, or
They show a developmental delay of two months or more compared to typical milestones.

Why Movement Delays Happen

If a delay is identified, the goal is not just to catch up—but to understand why it’s happening. Common causes may include:

Low motivation to move
Muscle tone imbalances
Limited sensory stimulation
Improper positioning
Habitual movement patterns
Or other underlying issues

In severe cases, babies are more likely to be referred to specialists early. But for milder or less noticeable problems, parents might wait months—or not seek help at all. Unfortunately, even subtle delays or movement quality issues can have long-term effects.

The Sooner, the Better

The earlier a child receives support, the more effective the therapy. In pediatric care, early intervention means we can:

Help severely affected babies reach their best possible functional level
Support mildly delayed babies in catching up to their peers
Refine small deviations in otherwise healthy babies—before they lead to long-term issues

This is where Baby-FDM and Visceral Therapy play an important role. These gentle, hands-on approaches are particularly effective for addressing subtle fascial or organ-related restrictions that may affect posture, movement, digestion, and comfort—often before more obvious signs appear.

Even small differences in how a baby moves or holds themselves can shape their coordination, balance, and future development. Supporting the body early helps create a strong foundation for everything that comes after.

Why Movement Matters

Movement is the foundation of all learning in early childhood. At this age, babies receive most of their sensory input not from sight, but from their own bodies—through muscles, joints, and movement.

That’s why movement is not optional, and it can’t be replaced by screens, toys, or waiting. Supporting your baby’s motor development now gives them the tools for thriving in all areas of life later on.