What is prematurity?
Has Your Baby Recently left the SCN or NICU?
Bringing your baby home after time in the Special Care Nursery (SCN) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is an exciting milestone. It can also bring questions about your baby's development, milestones, and whether they are progressing as expected.
At Babies on the Move, we provide home-based developmental assessments for premature babies and infants following discharge from the SCN or NICU. Our assessments help monitor your baby's development, identify any concerns early, and provide families with practical support during the first years of life.
What Is Considered Premature?
A baby is considered premature (or preterm) if they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Prematurity is generally classified as:
Late preterm: 34 to 36 weeks gestation
Moderately preterm: 32 to 33 weeks gestation
Very preterm: Less than 32 weeks gestation
Extremely preterm: Less than 28 weeks gestation
The earlier a baby is born, the greater the likelihood that they may benefit from developmental monitoring and follow-up. However, babies born at any gestational age may benefit from a developmental assessment if there are concerns about their movement, development, feeding, muscle tone, or milestone progression.
When assessing development, healthcare professionals often use your baby's corrected age rather than their birth age. Corrected age accounts for how early your baby was born and provides a more accurate guide to developmental milestones during the first few years of life.
Why Are Development Checks Important?
In 2024, the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) released Australia's first national guideline for the growth, health, and developmental follow-up of children born preterm. The guideline recommends ongoing developmental surveillance after discharge, with a focus on identifying concerns early and providing timely intervention when needed.
Research has shown that babies born prematurely are at increased risk of developmental, motor, learning, language, and health difficulties during infancy and early childhood. Many concerns are mild and can be effectively supported when identified early.
What Does a Development Check Include?
Our assessment may include:
Gross motor skills
Head control and posture
Muscle tone and strength
Movement quality and symmetry
Play and interaction skills
Parent concerns and developmental milestones
We use standardised assessments such as the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) to provide a detailed picture of your baby's development.
Development is always considered using your baby's corrected age.
Which Babies May Benefit?
Development checks can be helpful for babies who:
Were born prematurely
Had a low birth weight
Spent time in the SCN or NICU
Required respiratory support or home oxygen
Experienced feeding difficulties
Have concerns regarding their movement or development
Are not reaching milestones as expected
Have a history of brain injury, HIE, IVH, or other neonatal complications
Why Early Support Matters
The first two years of life are a critical period for brain and motor development. The MCRI guideline highlights the importance of ongoing developmental surveillance and early intervention for babies born preterm.
The goal is not simply to identify delays, but to ensure every child and family receives the support they need to thrive. Many parents also find reassurance in understanding how their baby is progressing and what milestones to expect next.
Why Choose Babies on the Move?
Our physiotherapists have extensive experience working with premature babies both during their stay in the Special Care Nursery (SCN) and following discharge home. We regularly support babies requiring developmental follow-up and understand the unique challenges, concerns, and questions families often face after bringing their baby home. Through ongoing assessment, education, and practical support, we can help families feel confident in supporting their baby's development during the important early years.
By visiting your home, we can assess your baby in their natural environment and provide practical, play-based strategies that fit seamlessly into your family's everyday routine.
References
Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Australian Clinical Practice Guideline for the Growth, Health and Developmental Follow-Up of Children Born Preterm. 2024.
Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. Corrected Age and Developmental Milestones for Premature Babies.
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Premature Babies and Developmental Follow-Up.