Smartphone-Based Teaching System for Neonate Soothing Motions

Inappropriate soothing motions can negatively impact the physical and socio-emotional health of infants and the formation of attachment—that is, bonding—between caregivers and children. Thus, it is important for caregivers to learn soothing motions expertise. In this study, we propose a system that supports the learning of neonatal soothing motions at home using a smartphone. A smartphone is attached to a stuffed animal to evaluate its movement and provide feedback accordingly. To evaluate the proposed system, we assessed the effectiveness of the system using two groups with different learning methods, Group Video (V), which practiced soothing motions using a stuffed animal while watching videos of a midwife's soothing motions, and Group Video + System (V+S), which practiced with a stuffed animal while watching the videos and using the system for additional guidance. The results show that this system is effective in teaching the correct inclination angle—that is, the angle used to rotate the head up around the chest of the neonate from a ground-parallel position.