Reliability and Effectiveness of an Infant Positioning Assessment Tool to Standardize Developmentally Supportive Positioning Practices in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Although developmentally supportive positioning is acknowledged as a key element of care in the neonatal intensive care unit, the definition and standardization of what constitutes evidence-based positioning practices is nonexistent in a formalized format. As postural stability is a foundational milestone for motor development and premature infants are unable to exhibit postural stability without support, standardizing the definition of optimal positioning will lead to consistency in practice. This article introduces a positioning tool to be used as a resource for standardization and education on developmentally supportive positioning practice goals.

Keywords: Developmental Care, supportive positioning, postural stability, standardization