INTRODUCTION: the choices of assessments, training and monitoring of its use requires technical investment institutions, human and financial, but make the look less subjective about the actions taken and proposed practices. Several protocols for development of rating scales have been used worldwide in an attempt to identify whether the newborns and infants exhibit signs of developmental changes neurosensoriomotor. Among them: the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). OBJECTIVE: identify the TIMP and AIMS scales as complementary tools in monitoring the motor development of infants 0-18 months old. METHODS: we conducted a literature review and internet articles that addressed 30 of the scales. RESULTS: both scales were created by physiotherapists, applied successfully in term infants and preterm infants (corrected age), compared and approved under the gold standard, to help the intervention is early, apply to groups of infants have a peculiar and better coverage at a given age interval. Every instrument presented advantages and disadvantages. CONCLUSION: the studies presented suggest a complementarity in the assessments, which may have greater benefits if used integrated. We also suggest that they are disseminated to health professionals to Brazilians that the assessments can be undertaken in most institutions and services and to achieve early diagnosis of many developmental delays or changes neurosensoriomotor.