Background and aim: The aim of this study was to compare the gross motor development between Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants and Normal Birth Weight infants (NBW) at the age of 8-12 months by using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2 (PDMS-2).
Material and Methods: This was a non experimental and cross sectional study which was conducted on 18 LBW infants with the history of being in Aliasghar hospital and 14 infants with the history of normal birth weight as a control group. Gathering the information was done by completing Questioner and then by using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2 (PDMS-2). Finally the scores of the motor quotients were analyzed by independent T test statistical method.
Results: There was a significant difference (p= 0.002) between the mean gross motor quotient of LBW (90.83) and NBW ( 106.78).
Conclusion: This study showed that LBW infants attain low scores of gross motor skills in comparison with normal weight infants. It indicated that the LBW infants are more prone to motor development difficulties.

Background and aim:   nowadays, comprehensive  developmental assessment of infants is highly considered. But, some assessments, especially those which use more manipulations on high risk infants, can cause more stress  on them. So sometimes it is necessary  to use one group of developmental assessments to predict another developmental aspect.  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between scores of behavioral scale and  motor performance.
Materials and methods:   In this  cross-sectional study that was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric clinic of Shahid  Akbarabadi hospital, Tehran, 50 under 2 months low birth weight infants after met inclusion criteria were selected via convinence sampling method.  The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was used  for assessing motor performance and behavioral performance respectively. The TIMP consist of elicited and observational parts. NBAS was consisted  of habituation, social interaction, motor system, state organization, state regulation, autonomic system,  smile, supplementary items, and reflex items.
Results:  There was not any significant relationship between habituation part  of NBAS  and TIMP and also between autonomus system part  of  NBAS  and observational part of  TIMP (P<0.05).  Association between other variables was statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Some items of behavioral assessment  can be used to predict  the motor performance in low birth weight infants. 

Background and Aim : Birth of a premature infant can instigate emotional crisis for the parents and encounter them with a variety of needs. The aim of this study was to specify the educational needs of parents of premature infants admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Materials and Methods: The study was performed by qualitative research approach. Twelve participants including 9 parents of infants in NICU, 2 nurses and 1 pediatrist were selected by purposive sampling method. Data were gathered by semi-structured interview in akbarabadi, aliasghar, firoozgar hospitals. Data were analyzed content analysis approach.

Results: Two themes emerged from data analysis which expressed educational needs of parents of premature infants admitted in NICU. These themes were: need for knowledge and information about prematurity, and need for acquiring skills for caring premature infants.

Conclusion: Most parents have not sufficient knowledge and information about premature infants and resolving these needs can help them to achieve a better sense of control over the situation. Understanding of these needs can help care team to provide better services for parents premature infants.

Keywords: Educational needs, Parents, Premature infants, Qualitative research

Back ground and Aim: Feeding is the most essential behavior in infants for vitality, learning and interaction. Because of feeding importance in developmental process and its primary role in infant’s vitality, the study of dysphagia has an important role. Diagnosis, assessment and treatment of this disorder are primary professional action for speech therapists. Therefore, basic information about prevalence of such disorders can be effective in treatment planning. In this study, the number of infants with oral feeding disorders is determined in NICU .

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-sectional study, all infants that were in NICU at Tehran University of medical sciences hospitals were evaluated in three first months of 1390 year through information from medical history, interview and observation. The data were analyzed with SPSS 16.

Results: Data analyzing of this study showed that 45 infants (27.10%) from 166 cases in NICU had oral feeding disorders. The incidence in male is more than female (91.11% versus 8.88%). Twenty two of cases feed normally, 18 cases feeding with NGT and 5 cases with OGT. The rate of difficulty in oral phase and esophageal phase were 88.88% and 2.22% respectively. No infants have difficulty in Pharyngeal phase.

Conclusion: Feeding disorder assessment by speech therapist provides essential information about feeding intervention and so early diagnosis can prevent later speech problems. Therefore, the role of a speech therapist in NICU is important.

Keywords: Incidence, Oral feeding disorders, Infants, NICU