Comparison of Motor Development in Small for Gestational Age Term and Normal Birthweight Infants at 27 to 29 Months of Age

The purpose of this study was to compare the gross and fine motor development of healthy small for gestational age term (SGAT) and normal birthweight fullterm infants during early childhood using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales. We tested 11 SGAT and 14 control group infants at 27 to 29 months of age at the children's homes. The group mean Developmental Motor Quotients for each scale were analyzed by two-tailed t-tests for independent samples and no significant differences were found. Within each scale, group mean DMQ's for each skill catagory were compared by Hotelling's T2 and no significant differences were found. Because of the small sample size the effect size of each group was calculated resulting in a medium effect size for Eye-Hand Coordination. The need for routine motor developmental follow-up of healthy SGAT infants was not substantiated. Suggestions for further research of SGAT infants are presented.