BabyOSCAR Training
Early assessment of selective motor control in infancy
BabyOSCAR (Observational Selective Control AppRaisal) is a standardized observational tool designed to measure the capacity for independent joint control in infants 5 months of age or younger. Infants' spontaneous movements are scored from a 1-minute video clip of spontaneous movement. BabyOSCAR scores are related to future motor function and body regions with selective capacity and may help inform prognosis and treatment planning. Developed at Northwestern University within the Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences. BabyOSCAR is supported by a growing body of research examining early selective motor control in infancy.
About
What is BabyOSCAR?
BabyOSCAR is a standardized observational tool for assessing selective motor control in early infancy and is intended to complement existing early assessments by providing additional information about motor control patterns during early development.
What it measures
BabyOSCAR captures observed joint movement patterns across the body to characterize emerging selective motor control in early infancy.
Why it matters
Early motor behavior can provide meaningful information about neurodevelopment. BabyOSCAR is designed to support earlier, more precise clinical understanding of motor control patterns.
Training
Upcoming BabyOSCAR courses
Current scheduled training is listed below.
Chicago
Dates: April 17–19, 2026
Location: Northwestern University
Status: Open
Format: In-person course
Course format
- Lectures on the conceptual basis of BabyOSCAR
- Video-based scoring practice
- Discussion of interpretation and application
- Opportunities for questions and case-based learning
Who should attend
- Physical therapists (PTs)
- Occupational therapists (OTs)
- Speech-language pathologists (SLPs)
- Neonatologists
- Neurologists
- Physiatrists
- Pediatricians
- Developmental pediatricians
- Researchers
Faculty
Teaching faculty
Colleen Peyton, DPT, MSCI
Associate Professor
Northwestern University
Theresa Sukal Moulton, DPT, PhD
Associate Professor
Northwestern University
Evidence
Publications and supporting evidence
Moulton et al. (2024). Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR): Convergent and discriminant validity and reliability in infants with and without spastic cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
Peyton et al. (2024). Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR): Scores at 3 months predict functional ability, spastic cerebral palsy distribution, and diagnosis at 2 years. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
Barbosa et al. (2024). Baby observational selective control appraisal (BabyOSCAR): construct validity and test performance. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
Peyton et al. (2025). Emergence of Selective Motor Control in Early Infancy: A Longitudinal Study of Infants Born Preterm With and Without Cerebral Palsy. The Journal of Pediatrics.
Community of Practice
Protected educational resources
This section is intended for trained BabyOSCAR users and may include video examples, teaching cases, scoring practice, and course materials.
Contact
Get in touch
Course inquiries
Collaboration and hosting inquiries
For research collaboration, implementation questions, or interest in hosting a future BabyOSCAR training, please contact colleen.peyton1@northwestern.edu .