This study investigated environmental and personal factors that explain functional skills and caregiver assistance in young infants/toddlers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving seventy-four children with typical development between 6 and 18 months of age. Functioning skills were evaluated using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, and the home environment was evaluated using the Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale. Statistical analyses were performed by regression models. Results: Child's age explained 45% of self-care (β = 0.68); child's age (β = 0.72), attending daycare (β = 0.33) explained 71% of mobility, and child's age (β = 0.80) and breastfeeding duration (β = 0.17) explained 69% of social function. With regards to caregiver assistance, child's age (β = 0.46), attending daycare (β = 0.20) and number of siblings (β = -0.22) explained 31% of self-care; child's age (β = 0.62) and attending daycare (β = 0.34) explained 56% of mobility; and child's age (β = 1.91) and total AHEMD-IS score (environment) (β = 2.63) explained 30% of social function. Conclusion: Daycare, breastfeeding duration, number of siblings, stimulation at home, and age explained functional skills and caregiver assistance to toddlers/infants.

RESUMO A literatura extensamente associa o desenvolvimento infantil à qualidade da estimulação ambiental. Entretanto, são escassos os estudos que verificam se tal associação tem relação com as habilidades funcionais da criança. Este estudo tem por objetivo investigar quais oportunidades no ambiente domiciliar estão associadas e explicam às habilidades funcionais de mobilidade e função social de crianças na primeiríssima infância. Trata-se de um estudo transversal e exploratório feito com 74 crianças entre 6 e 18 meses. Para avaliar as oportunidades presentes no ambiente domiciliar, foi utilizado o instrumento affordances in the home environment motor development - infant scale. Para avaliar as habilidades funcionais das crianças, foi utilizado o inventário de avaliação pediátrica de incapacidade. Observou-se que a mobilidade das crianças pode ser explicada em 45,6% (R² ajustado=0,45) e a função social em 30% (R² ajustado=0,30) pela quantidade de brinquedos de motricidade grossa, pelos equipamentos e pela variedade de estimulação presente no ambiente domiciliar. Conclui-se que posições, brinquedos e materiais que mantêm a criança mais restrita e menos ativa exercem influência negativa. Por outro lado, brinquedos que oportunizam um maior deslocamento e interação favorecem as habilidades funcionais de mobilidade e função social.

The literature associates child development with the quality of the environment stimulation. However, few studies verify if this is associated with the infant’s functional abilities. This study aims to assess which opportunities in the home environment are associated with functional mobility skills and social function of infants in early childhood and explain them. This is a cross-sectional and exploratory study with 74 infants aged from six to 18 months. The affordances in the home environment motor development - infant scale instrument was used to evaluate the opportunities in the home environment. The pediatric evaluation of disability inventory was used to assess the infants’ functional abilities. We observed that infants’ mobility can be explained in 45.6% (Adjusted R²=0.45) and social function in 30% (Adjusted R²=0.30) by the amount of gross motor skills toys, equipment and variety of stimulation in the home environment. We concluded that positions, toys, and materials that keep the infant more restricted and less active have a negative effect. On the other hand, toys that offer greater displacement and interaction favor the functional mobility skills and social function.