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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Womens Health Rev. 2011 Aug;7(3):288–301. doi: 10.2174/157340411796355216

Table 2.

Self-Regulatory Behaviors

  1. Autonomic stability is evidenced by:

    1. smooth respiration

    2. good, stable color

    3. stable digestion

  2. Motoric stability is evidence by:

    1. smooth, well modulated posture and well regulated tone

    2. synchronous smooth movements with efficient motoric strategies such as:

      1. hand clasping

      2. foot clasping

      3. finger folding

      4. hand-to-mouth maneuvers

      5. grasping

      6. suck searching and sucking

      7. handholding

      8. tucking

  3. State stability and attentional regulation are evidenced by:

    1. clear, robust sleep states

    2. rhythmical robust crying

    3. good self quieting and/or consolability

    4. robust, focused, shiny-eyed alertness with intent and/or animated facial expression, e.g.:

      1. frowning

      2. cheek softening

      3. mouth pursing to “ooh” face

      4. cooing

      5. attentional smiling

From: Als H. Toward a synactive theory of development: Promise for the assessment of infant individuality. Inf Mental Health J 1982; 3: 229–243. Table 2, p 238. Reprinted with permission.