Smart jumpsuit produces growth charts of infants’ motor performance

Researchers at the University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital have built normative growth charts for infants' gross motor development using measurements made in the children's own homes. In the study, 92 typically developing infants ages 4–19 months wore the MAIJU smart jumpsuit during free play, producing 580 measurements and 1,227 hours of data covering activities from lying on the floor to walking fluently.

Until now, a child’s movement abilities could be assessed only by eye, either through parental reports or an assessment carried out by a professional. Both are highly subjective and qualitative.

“Alongside the anatomical growth charts for height, weight and head circumference, it is now possible to build functional growth charts. That has long been hoped for,” says professor Leena Haataja of the University of Helsinki and HUS.

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