Ventral Suspension Position.

Ventral suspension, the arms extend as if to

suspensionrefers to an protect themselves from

infant’s appearance when held in midair falling. In children with hemiplegia, the
on a horizontal response is notice-able only on the
unaffected side. Children with cerebral
plane, supported by a hand under the
palsy
abdomen (Fig. 29.2A).
do not demonstrate this response
In this position, the newborn allows the
because they flex their ex-tremities too
head to hang down
tightly.
with little effort at control. A 1-month-old
Prone Position.When lying on their
child lifts the
stomach, newborns
head momentarily, then drops it again.
can turn their heads to move them out of
Two-month-old chil-dren hold their heads
a position where
in the same plane as the rest of their
breathing is impaired, but they cannot
body, a major advance in muscle control.
hold them raised
A 3-month-old
(see Fig. 29.2B). By 1 month of age,
child lifts and maintains the head well
infants lift their heads
above the plane of the
and turn them easily to the side. They still
rest of the body in ventral suspension.
tend to keep
A Landau reflexdevelops at 3 months.
their knees tucked under the abdomen as
When held in ven-tral suspension, an
they did as a new-born. Two-month-old
infant’s head, legs, and spine extend.
infants can raise their heads and
When the head is depressed, the hips,
maintain the position, but they cannot
knees, and elbows flex.
raise their chests
This reflex continues to be present in
high enough to look around yet. Their
most infants during the
head is still held fac-ing downward.
second 6 months of life, but then it
A 3-month-old child lifts the head and
becomes increasingly dif-ficult to
shoulders well off
demonstrate. A child with motor
weakness, cerebral the table and looks around when prone.
The pelvis is flat on
palsy, or other neuromuscular defect will
not be able to the table, no longer elevated. Some
children can turn from a
demonstrate the reflex.
prone to a side-lying position at this age.
At 6 to 9 months, an infant also
demonstrates a parachute Four-month-old children lift their chests
off the bed and
reactionfrom a ventral suspension
position. When infants are look around actively, turning their heads
from side to side.
suddenly lowered toward an examining
table from ventral
They can turn from front to back. The first
time, this tends
to occur as an extension of lifting the
chest combinedVentral Suspension
Position.Ventral suspensionrefers to an
infant’s appearance when held in midair
on a horizontal
plane, supported by a hand under the
abdomen (Fig. 29.2A).
In this position, the newborn allows the
head to hang down
with little effort at control. A 1-month-old
child lifts the
head momentarily, then drops it again.
Two-month-old chil-dren hold their heads
in the same plane as the rest of their
body, a major advance in muscle control.
A 3-month-old
child lifts and maintains the head well
above the plane of the
rest of the body in ventral suspension.
A Landau reflexdevelops at 3 months.
When held in ven-tral suspension, an
infant’s head, legs, and spine extend.
When the head is depressed, the hips,
knees, and elbows flex.
This reflex continues to be present in
most infants during the
second 6 months of life, but then it
becomes increasingly dif-ficult to
demonstrate. A child with motor
weakness, cerebral
palsy, or other neuromuscular defect will
not be able to
demonstrate the reflex.
At 6 to 9 months, an infant also
demonstrates a parachute
reactionfrom a ventral suspension
position. When infants are
suddenly lowered toward an examining
table from ventral
suspension, the arms extend as if to
protect themselves from
falling. In children with hemiplegia, the
response is notice-able only on the
unaffected side. Children with cerebral
palsy
do not demonstrate this response
because they flex their ex-tremities too
tightly.
Prone Position.When lying on their
stomach, newborns
can turn their heads to move them out of
a position where
breathing is impaired, but they cannot
hold them raised
(see Fig. 29.2B). By 1 month of age,
infants lift their heads
and turn them easily to the side. They still
tend to keep
their knees tucked under the abdomen as
they did as a new-born. Two-month-old
infants can raise their heads and
maintain the position, but they cannot
raise their chests
high enough to look around yet. Their
head is still held fac-ing downward.
A 3-month-old child lifts the head and
shoulders well off
the table and looks around when prone.
The pelvis is flat on
the table, no longer elevated. Some
children can turn from a
prone to a side-lying position at this age.
Four-month-old children lift their chests
off the bed and

look around actively, turning their heads

from side to side.

They can turn from front to back. The first

time, this tends

to occur as an extension of lifting the

chest combined