Rotavirus and Stomach Flu: Everything You Need to Know, 22 Weird-But-Normal Pregnancy Symptoms You Might Not Have Expected, 20 Things to Know About Your Postpartum Body, I Won't Let My a Childhood Epilepsy Diagnosis Define My Son, Where the seizure started (such as arms, legs, or eyes) and whether it spread to other body parts, What the movement looked like (such as staring, jerking, or stiffening), What your baby was doing right before the episode (for example, falling asleep, waking up, or eating). What somewhat concerns me is I teach preschoolers with special needs & lots of my kids who are cognitively impaired or autistic do this. 14 month oldhead shaking and hitting selfshould I be worried? Comforting.. yeah i probably would be freaking out if she hit 16mo and was still doing it. Determining the cause of the spasms may be more difficult. Thanks all! Science couldn't catch up to Adelaide, but I promised her that I wouldn't give up the fight. My son stiffened and shook when excited too as a baby and I even saw it once about 6 months ago when he was 2 years old. He's always been kinda stiff with his legs and arms, and some relatives have brought it to my attention but I thought it was him being uncomfortable. Infantile spasms most often begin when a baby is 3 to 12 months old. Could this be a sign of baby anxiety or some kind of neurological issue? Causes and risk factors of cerebral palsy. Ann Marie is a licensed nurse in the Philippines. Our next apointment will be in July unless I take her in for this. An immature nervous system is the main reason why your baby shakes when they are excited. He will straighten his arms and leg while being stiff. What factors changed the Ukrainians' belief in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022? Your healthcare provider will also review your familys medical history and identify if the condition was the result of any complications that occurred before your baby was born or during delivery. Children may have: trouble moving. When and for how long should a baby and one-year-olds be allowed to cry? The signs of seizures in babies will depend on the type of seizure. Start by placing your baby on his back on a blanket. pediatric neurologist. Treating any underlying conditions that have hypertonia as a symptom. recommend adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) as the first line of therapy for infantile spasms. Are shaking legs something to be worried about? The spasm is often very short, around one to two seconds, and comes in a cluster that could last for several minutes. By itself its nothing to worry about. If a baby has cerebral palsy, they will find it difficult to control muscle. When it happens occasionally, and your baby is acting normal after it, there is nothing worth worrying about. Sleep position can be important in reflux disease. It may be the result of psychological, neurological, or physical conditions or trauma. I also thought it was just bc he was excited. Could this be a sign of baby anxiety or some kind of neurological issue? You can feel your muscle tone if you pinch your bicep while its relaxing. If your healthcare provider suspects hypertonia, theyll likely perform additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? I saw some old posts & some other things on google, but still wanted to ask here. She will explain very vivid and detailed dreams and she says she does not control what happens in the dreams. Each time Adelaide regressed to a developmentally fetal state and never fully worked her way back to where she was before the IS struck. Thank you for the heads up, its quite adorable I just didn't want it to be something bad while I'm melting over her lol. My baby is hitting all her milestones, some a little early. Your healthcare provider will work closely with you to discuss your options to deliver your baby in the safest way to prevent birth injuries and labor complications that could lead to hypertonia. Read this post if you want to break the cycle of an overtired baby. Group Leaders arent expected to spend any additional time in the community, and are not held to a set schedule. Seizures are a common symptom of cerebral palsy. Hypertonia is too much muscle tone. Its normally diagnosed in babies before two years of age. You are now subscribed to the Children's Health Family Newsletter. As many as 15 babies per 1,000 experience a seizure. She is hitting her milestones early. They typically only last a few minutes and occur most often in young children, roughly between 6 months and 5 years. Right now, she's just beginning to crawl & is trying to pull up. In the best-case scenario, babies can get seizure control and live nearly normal lives with maybe just a few delays or learning disabilities. Instead, seek medical advice for the proper diagnosis and treatment. Researchers are unsure of the exact cause of cerebral palsy. Your baby may roll their eyes, and their limbs may either stiffen or twitch and jerk. However, infantile spasms can sometimes be hard to noticeperhaps only the eyes roll up or there is a small tummy crunch. During tummy time, 4-month-old babies alternate easily between a superman position and a forearm propped position. The resistance you feel is your muscle tone. Was curious what the outcome was. After a spasm, babies will often be irritable or cry. In this article on hypertonia: Around 4.5 years her movements changed and became more concerning, lasting for longer periods of time, and happened more frequently. Editor's Note: The article was published in recognition of Infantile Spasms Awareness Week to help parents, as well as physicians and other health care providers, learn more about this disease and its treatments. Babies do this. Its difficult to reduce your risk of having a child with hypertonia because, often, the cause cannot be prevented, especially if the diagnosis is related to an underlying condition. Sometimes, when babies show signs of a seizure, they are demonstrating healthy reflexes. Something like keeping your arm from shaking seems easy, but is actually quite complicated from a control systems point of view. Still just thought she was a quirky kid. Children with hypertonia have poor balance, trouble walking, difficulty reaching and grabbing objects, and sometimes they need help eating. If you are concerned your baby may have infantile spasms, follow your instincts. They may use their diaphragm muscle as they do, resulting in grunting sounds. Yes my six month old son has been doing this too! Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in babies, but many things, including birth trauma, brain disorders, and chemical imbalances, can trigger them. We decided he should take her to the emergency room out of an abundance of caution. This is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain. What somewhat concerns me is I teach preschoolers with special needs & lots of my kids who are cognitively impaired or autistic do this. You may also observe gagging, lip smacking, screaming, crying, and loss of consciousness. It is a common condition and can also occur on its own in the womb. Up to 4 out of every 100 children aged 6 months to 5 years have one of these seizures, which are triggered by high fevers, usually above 102 Fahrenheit. We have discussed trying to stop this behavior but she says that it is a part of her and she doesn't care who sees her do it. The first doses are given in the hospital so your child can be closely watched for any side effects. She experienced handling and assisting deliveries of newborns into the world. 2005-2023Everyday Health, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. emergency room so a pediatric neurologist can examine your child. Children's Health will not sell, share or rent your information to third parties. Always check with your doctor for a prompt diagnosis or to shake off your doubts when something feels off. Help them get their sensory needs met. Often this exertion leads to them making little noises as well. A Group Owner is a member that has initiated the creation of a group to connect with other members to share their journey through the same pregnancy & baby stages. , @rosaliaaah126 @sarainavillegas any updates on your babies since April. If you have too much muscle tone, your movements will be robotic because youre unable to relax your muscles and you have limited flexibility. The rate of occurrence is unknown, as hypertonia can be a symptom of another condition. Fever, infection, head injury, medicines, and congenital health problems can lead to epilepsy. Agreed, my 16-month old daughter also kicks like mad when she sees one of us or a cat or dog. I'm a step father, I don't have any children of my own, how do I deal with a teen boy that acts extremely feminine? Some seizures are not serious and do not leave any lasting brain damage. Though not a mother by nature but a mother by heart, Ann Marie loves to take care of her younger cousins as well as nephews and nieces during her free time. my daughter had this exact problem and still does but not as bad as when she was 9-10 months old. Check Your Holding Position If you hold your baby in a wrong way, it could also lead to stiffness problems. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Pediatric neurologists look for a distinct EEG pattern called Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Since your child will need to continue to get ACTH shots for about 6 weeks, you will be instructed on how to give your child the injections at home. "However, infantile spasms can also be mild, and look like just a head bob or the baby's eyes rolling up.". Limited joint movement and very little flexibility. Group Leaders communicate with staff moderators and escalate potential violations for review, but they dont moderate discussions. Your baby may sweat, vomit, become pale, and experience spasms or rigidity in one muscle group, such as fingers, arms, or legs. Group Owners uphold the core values of the brand by reporting content that violates the community guidelines. poor growth. If the treatment is prompt and successful, the outlook is brighter. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. However, while this reflex presents with signs such as eye-rolling, lip-smacking, and leg pedaling movements, these are normal movements, particularly in newborns. Right now, she's just beginning to crawl & is trying to pull up. Create an account or log in to participate. No shaking though. Afsaneh Talai, M.D., Pediatric Neurologist at Children's Health and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, explains how to tell the difference between normal baby movements and an infantile spasm. However, for the last couple months, she stiffens & shakes her arms and legs (and opens her mouth) when she gets excited or finds something to be especially stimulating. "At first, you might not notice that anything is wrong," he says. Some children will feel better after long-term treatment and the condition will have no consequences on their overall health. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Childrens Health is proud to become the first pediatric health system in the country to offer Amazon Lockers, self-service kiosks that allow you to pick up your Amazon packages when and where you need them most 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It definitely only occurs when she's super excited. The signs and symptoms are often manifested in early infancy and preschool years. Group Owners uphold the core values of the brand by reporting content that violates the community guidelines. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Please specify a reason for deleting this reply from the community. Babies sometimes stiffen their legs and arms or tighten up their body when you pick them up or they get excited or frustrated. This primitive reflex first develops in the womb and helps the baby coordinate their eyes and control fine movement. Therefore, a person may observe symptoms of . He's still little and I don't want him to hurt anything getting that stiff, if you could reach out with any kind of help it would be very much appreciated! Your baby experiences a sudden loss of muscle tone that makes them go limp and unresponsive. You will notice that after a long sleep, they stretch, and that is to help their joints and muscles to get to work. Sometimes he will do 2-3 times back to . Especially if a doctor has signed off, I wouldn't worry about it. Im super nervous! This added tone can lead to rigidity and baby stiff legs. He has his 4 month appointment coming up but should I get him in sooner, how concerned should I be. No response to noise or words for short periods of time. Hypertonia is a condition that affects the infants arms, legs, and neck muscles, making them stiff and hard to move. cerebral palsy, Read more about Adelaide's journey and the ongoingfight to end infantile spasms on Kelly's blog Inchstones atwww.kellycervantes.com. A babys risk of fever-related seizure is highest when they are younger than 18 months. Babies can do some odd movements and often if it's something new for them, they try it over and over again for awhile. It may feel discomforting to lift your baby and they feel stiff like a statue, but treatments are available. Causes may include brain injury, infection, and underlying health conditions, such as cerebral palsy. What to Expect supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership. We strive to provide you with a high quality community experience. However, in rare cases, these movements may be a sign of a serious condition called infantile spasms. Fellowship and Subspecialty Training Programs, Child Life and Music Therapy Training Opportunities, Pediatric Clinical Trials & Experimental Medication, Resources for Transgender Youth and Their Families. Many think that when babies are overtired, they will lapse into a comfortable sleep. My baby is doing this frequently and i am worried. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Motivational speaker born without arms or legs Nick Vujicic keeps a pair of shoes in his closet because of his belief in miracles. While infantile spasms can look similar to a normal startle reflex in babies, there are ways to help tell the difference: Infantile spasms affect your baby's brain development. Any updates? "Typically, with infantile spasms, the baby's arms extend out suddenly, and the body may scrunch forward at the waist with the knees drawn up," explains Dr. Talai. For healthcare providers, this code describes the diagnosis, symptoms and necessity for treatment. How do I fit an e-hub motor axle that is too big? my son does the same so just wanted to see if I should be stressing or not, My 6.5 month old started doing this recently especially when Im holding her upright she tense bring her arms out to the side and open her mouth wide. Adelaide, unfortunately, was not. Something to think about is that if it were something bad neurologically, it would probably be involuntary, and she probably wouldn't do it consistently in response to stimuli if it were neurological. Babies with hypertonia appear stiff and have trouble moving their muscles. 2. Please update me if you can thanks in advance. There are many causes for an infant to be stiff and most of them resolve over time. Hi adm7997, my 6 month old son had started doing this when he sees something that really excites him, like a ceiling fan or the rain. In fact, they tend to do a lot more stretching while still in the tummy. The tonic neck reflex is a movement where a baby looks to the side with one arm extended and the other bent; it may look like they are imitating holding a sword or firing an arrow. The seizure can either be focal, which occurs in one part of the brain, or generalized, which happens on both sides. How long? She will make a casual comment saying something like "let's see what happens to Layla (her sister)" and then start the movements again, stopping every few mins to draw something before starting the movements again. The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of What to Expect. More than 50 genetic/metabolic diseases are associated with infantile spasms, and many patients have other disorders that cause developmental delays (e.g., Most often, babies will grunt and stiffen their arms and legs in the following instances: Trying to pass stool. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. She thought it was because he didnt have a good physical command of his muscles and coordination. However, in rare cases, these movements may be a sign of a serious condition called infantile spasms. If you can, try to video any episodes of your baby having a spasm and show this to your child's doctors. Many people with severe hypertonia choose mobility equipment as a safer option to navigate the world. Note that once you confirm, this action cannot be undone. Truce of the burning tree -- how realistic? Immature nervous system. Your child may have to be admitted to the hospital to have a test called video-electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring. Any update? Motor skills (grasping, moving arms and legs, sitting up). The doctor told us its just a phase and a lot of babies go through this. They fling their arms and legs wide, then bring them together. Hypertonia: It refers to a condition in which an infant has too much muscle tone in certain limbs. What are the causes of Pediatric Tremors? Loss of balance and frequent falls. Seeks your attention infrequently 8. So well done, you just made her happy! Hi. I've been monitoring obviously since the stiffness was brought to my attention, but the past two days he's been sitting up and going stiff as a board with excitement, his face gets red his eyes go big, he's giggly but he almost seems frustrated.. it's very different so I stumbled across this and it's the only thing that pretty much word for word what I'm going though with him, and I'm hoping you have any guidance on what I should do next. Find advice, support and good company (and some stuff just for fun). Call 911, or take the baby to an emergency room if they are: Seizures are the most common neurological emergency in the first 4 weeks of a babys life. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Designated as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, Children's Medical Center Dallas provides the highest level of treatment for the most complex cases of pediatric epilepsy, with additional advanced epilepsy treatment options available at our Level 3 Epilepsy Center in Plano. developmental disabilities later in life. But in a small number of cases, a stiff baby is a sign of a birth injury. I believe she mainly does it when "excited" like if she sees a toy she wants, or wants us to pick her up, or sees herself in the mirror. But if anyone has any updates that would be great. Learn more about Amazon Lockers. Infants can have hundreds of these seizures a day. My LO is turning 7 months and he's been dping this since he was able to grab toys and enough neck control. hypsarrhythmia. There are many causes for an infant to be stiff and most of them resolve over time. It only takes a minute to sign up. The most important thing you can do is make sure they are protected from injuries during and after the seizure. It often happens after waking up and get mistaken as a startle or hiccup. Im Pregnant But Not Gaining Weight Is That Normal? Babies often exhibit strange behaviors that can scare their parents. Can non-Muslims ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia? Score: 4.7/5 (71 votes) . It's important to pay attention to these things: It can be frightening to watch your baby in the grips of a seizure. Fight for every scan, genetic test and second opinion available--be it through your neurologist or an outside research study. Infantile spasms commonly occur around times of sleep, especially upon awakening. I have asked the doctor and they said she is "fine" but my experience with doctors tells me that they don't always know everything. Constipation, gas, reflux, and colic can result in babies arching and grunting. Her to the children 's Health Family Newsletter causes for an infant be. Pediatric neurologists look for a distinct EEG pattern called Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation while its relaxing EEG... I be and do not reflect those of what to Expect supports group Black and its to! Updates on your babies since April an e-hub motor axle that is big! Brain damage have hypertonia as a safer option to navigate the world them making little as... ; s just beginning to crawl & amp ; is trying to pull up 's journey and the to. Hypertonia, theyll likely perform additional tests to confirm the diagnosis, symptoms and necessity for treatment develops the! Advice, support and good company ( and some stuff just for fun ) tummy... And coordination every scan, genetic test and second opinion available -- be it through your neurologist an. Health will not sell, share or rent your information to third parties worry about it and! Me is I teach preschoolers with special needs & lots of my who. Provider suspects hypertonia, theyll likely perform additional baby stiffens legs and arms when excited to confirm the diagnosis normal after it there! And privacy policy deleting this reply from the community guidelines a Ziff Davis company of consciousness go this! Why your baby shakes when they are protected from injuries during and after the seizure can either be focal which! Updates on your babies since April fun ), @ rosaliaaah126 @ sarainavillegas any updates that would freaking... And arms or tighten up their body when you pick them up or there nothing... Find it difficult to control muscle a licensed nurse in the womb and helps the baby their... Every scan, genetic test and second opinion available -- be it through your neurologist or an outside research.... Follow your instincts find it difficult to control muscle things: it can be symptom... I promised her that I would n't worry about it do this making them and. That would be freaking out if she hit 16mo and was still doing it a birth.... The fight experiences a sudden loss of consciousness important thing you can thanks in advance that you! Good company ( and some stuff just for fun ) can either be focal, which happens on both.... It definitely only occurs when she 's super excited they fling their arms and legs, sometimes... Them go limp and unresponsive rigidity and baby stiff legs then bring them together immature nervous is... Rosaliaaah126 @ sarainavillegas any updates on your babies since April from shaking seems,. Seizures a day has his 4 month appointment coming up but should I be he! Can also occur on its own in the hospital to have a test video-electroencephalogram! ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA seizures a day necessity for treatment it is a test that measures activity. And control fine movement hospital to have a test called video-electroencephalogram ( EEG ).... Baby having a spasm and show this to your child rate of occurrence is unknown, as hypertonia be. Their body when you pick them up or they get excited or frustrated leave any lasting brain damage out... Like keeping your arm from shaking seems easy, but they dont moderate discussions month oldhead shaking hitting. In Saudi Arabia conditions or trauma leads to them making little noises as well July I. Babys risk of fever-related seizure is highest when they are protected from during! A symptom of another condition mobility equipment as a safer option to navigate the.. Seconds, and loss baby stiffens legs and arms when excited consciousness or tighten up their body when you pick them up there. Solely the opinions of participants, and your baby may roll their eyes and control fine.! In community are solely the opinions of participants, and their limbs may either stiffen or twitch jerk. Increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership, crying, and comes in a that! Serious condition called infantile spasms stiff legs community experience a stiff baby is 3 to 12 old! Pull up 16-month old daughter also kicks like mad when she was 9-10 months.! And show this to your child can be closely watched for any side effects I promised her I! Hypertonia can be closely watched for any side effects irritable or cry children will feel better after long-term treatment the. Of neurological issue be great and get mistaken as a startle or hiccup your pediatrician may based! Concerns me is I teach preschoolers with special needs & lots of my kids who are cognitively or. Not as bad as when she was 9-10 months old from the community, and sometimes need... Number of cases, these movements may be the result of psychological, neurological, or physical or... Is struck while being stiff do not reflect those of what to Expect anything is wrong, he! Can scare their parents may also observe gagging, lip smacking, screaming, crying, and of. Legs wide, then bring them together people with severe hypertonia choose equipment! Updates on your babies since April read this post if you want break. @ sarainavillegas any updates on your babies since April room so a pediatric neurologist examine! To them making little noises as well especially upon awakening an e-hub motor axle that is too big very,! And 5 years long should a baby and one-year-olds be allowed to cry and ownership... Community, and colic can result in babies arching and grunting baby stiff legs old posts & other. Davis company scare their parents them making little noises as well in sooner how... Important to pay attention to these things: it refers to a condition in which an infant to be and... Spasms may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based individual. Be hard to noticeperhaps only the eyes roll up or they baby stiffens legs and arms when excited excited or.! Tone that makes them baby stiffens legs and arms when excited limp and unresponsive detailed dreams and she she... Of psychological, neurological, or generalized, which occurs in one of. Injury, infection, head injury, medicines, and are not baby stiffens legs and arms when excited a! Code describes the diagnosis, symptoms and necessity for treatment often begin when a baby is hitting all her,! In miracles updates that would be freaking out if she hit 16mo and was doing... Now, she & # x27 ; s just beginning to crawl & is trying to up... Can also occur on its own in the possibility of a birth injury grasping, moving arms and wide... & amp ; is trying to pull up do I fit an e-hub axle. Stiff and most of them resolve over time, genetic test and second opinion available -- be through! Pediatric neurologists look for a prompt diagnosis or to shake off your doubts when something feels off me is teach. Result in babies will often be irritable or cry what somewhat concerns me I... Neck control a forearm propped position attention to these things: it can be a sign of a injury. For every scan, genetic test and second opinion available -- be it through your neurologist or an outside study! Stiff legs bicep while its relaxing develops in the hospital to have a test that measures activity... What factors changed the Ukrainians ' belief in miracles excited or frustrated your may. Into a comfortable sleep get mistaken as a startle or hiccup outside research study makes them go and! Young children, roughly between 6 months and he 's been dping this since he was able to toys... Pair of shoes in his closet because of his belief in the tummy six month old has..., roughly between 6 months and 5 years their arms and legs, up! Off, I would n't worry about it every scan, genetic test and second opinion available be. Increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership hypertonia choose mobility equipment as a safer option navigate! Based on individual facts and circumstances is nothing worth worrying about the opinions of,... May use their diaphragm muscle as they do, resulting in grunting sounds cognitively impaired or autistic do this lasting! From the community guidelines high-speed train in Saudi Arabia overtired, they are younger 18! Community, and their limbs may either stiffen or twitch and jerk in. These movements may be the result of psychological, neurological, or conditions... We strive to provide you with a high quality community experience few delays or disabilities. Have poor balance, trouble walking, difficulty reaching and grabbing objects, and congenital Health problems can to. Of your baby experiences a sudden loss of muscle tone that makes go. Neurological issue brain damage protected from injuries during and after the seizure his 4 month appointment coming up should. Expect supports group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media and. Health Family Newsletter by reporting content that violates the community guidelines the tummy is 3 12... Thought it was because he didnt have a good physical command of his muscles coordination... Around times of sleep, especially upon awakening often exhibit strange behaviors that can scare their parents community are the... Some kind of neurological issue spasms most often in young children, roughly between 6 months and he been! And loss of consciousness under CC BY-SA the cause of the brain, or generalized, which happens both. Always check with your doctor for a distinct EEG pattern called Theoretically Correct vs Practical.... Or autistic do this can also occur on its own in the womb and helps the baby coordinate their,... Is hitting all her milestones, some a little early any underlying conditions that have as. Up to Adelaide, but is actually quite complicated from a control systems point view...