To find out what is causing the seizure, a doctor may run an electroencephalogram (EEG). Photo credit:Lori Sapio. Sometimes babies that have a fever or high body temperature may develop a febrile seizure. 2022 Children's Health. Infantile spasms can cause serious, permanent changes to a child's developing brain without early diagnosis and treatment. Participating in physical therapy to improve range of motion. I saw some old posts & some other things on google, but still wanted to ask here. We respect everyones right to express their thoughts and opinions as long as they remain respectful of other community members, and meet What to Expects Terms of Use. 2. Do not put anything in the babys mouth or try to stop any mouth movements, such as tongue biting, as this can injure the baby. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Many people with severe hypertonia choose mobility equipment as a safer option to navigate the world. Your post will be hidden and deleted by moderators. Our daughter, Adelaide, was diagnosed with infantile spasms when she was 9 months old. My daughter is 4 yo now and has turned out great. Please update me if you can thanks in advance. Parenting Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for parents, grandparents, nannies and others with a parenting role. 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. It would do my worried mind on overdrive a huge favor if you could provide an update?? It is characterized by stiff muscles and uncoordinated reflexes, tremors, and jerky involuntary movement. When a baby has hydrocephalus, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) applies pressure on the brain. I have a two month old and experiencing the same thing. Terms of Service & Privacy Policy, Baby Stiffens Legs and Arms and Grunts (4 Possible Causes & What It Could Mean). My son does that when he's super excited. Use baby lotion warmed in your hands and gently pass your hands over your baby's limbs. Newborn babies usually stiffen and grunt while learning to pass stool or release trapped gas. It's important to pay attention to these things: It can be frightening to watch your baby in the grips of a seizure. . There are many causes for an infant to be stiff and most of them resolve over time. Some seizures are not serious and do not leave any lasting brain damage. The severity of symptoms depends on the location of the injury to the brain and spinal cord. If you can, try to video any episodes of your baby having a spasm and show this to your child's doctors. Researchers are unsure of the exact cause of cerebral palsy. development, epilepsy, infant, neurology, seizure, treatment. It only takes a minute to sign up. There are many causes of infantile spasms; almost any brain abnormality or brain injury can cause them. think twice before sharing personal details, foster a friendly and supportive environment, remove fake accounts, spam and misinformation, delete posts that violate our community guidelines, reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts. A babys risk of fever-related seizure is highest when they are younger than 18 months. This rare type of seizure occurs during an infant's first year (typically between 4 and 8 months). Taking muscle relaxant medicine to reduce muscle spasms. Thank you!!! Trust your instinctsyou know your child best! /CMC_Design/childrens/conditions/Epilepsy,/CMC_Design/childrens/conditions/Infantile Spasm Wests Syndrome, /CMC_Design/childrens/departments/Neurology Childrens Health,/CMC_Design/childrens/departments/1_Program/Epilepsy Center, Toggle mobile navigation and focus the search field, How to Tell If Your Baby Has Infantile Spasms, How to tell if your baby has infantile spasms, Preparing for Your Visit or Stay at Children's, Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills. The American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society Throbbing pain or soreness in muscles. When the area is safe, roll them onto their side to prevent choking. Thanks all! I'm also a special ed teacher and work with children with severe disabilities and know exactly what you're talking about! Babies may demonstrate this reflex up to 9 months old. He is fine now. 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. MS: Can the Mediterranean diet help preserve cognitive health? Different conditions in a baby's brain, such as genetic or metabolic disorders, or brain injury from lack of oxygen or trauma, can cause infantile spasms. Is 78 Degrees Too Hot For Baby To Sleep? Hi my son is doing the same thing hes now 14 months and it started at about 10 months . Around 4.5 years her movements changed and became more concerning, lasting for longer periods of time, and happened more frequently. One step forward, two steps back. Learn more about epilepsy in children here. As they grow older, they will have a limited range of motion and have trouble with balance and coordination. Check out Im super nervous! Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Hi! pediatric neurologist. Keep us posted! Bacterial infections, in particular, Group B strep bacteria can cause meningitis in babies, which can present with seizures.Learn about the differences between viral and bacterial infections here. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. "At first, you might not notice that anything is wrong," he says. As your child gets older, long-term care will be necessary, like continuing physical therapy, to improve their mobility as they engage more with the world around them. It's associated with a unique, very abnormal brain wave pattern that can cause serious harm to a young, developing brain. Down syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, etc.) An injury or condition that affects the function of the central nervous system causes hypertonia. So well done, you just made her happy! What are psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES)? He/She may have difficulty letting go of an object or difficulty moving from one position to another. And possibly as they get older they will show excitement in other ways. A Group Leader is a What to Expect community member who has been selected by our staff to help maintain a positive, supportive tone within a group. Instead, overtired babies are more stimulated and may have difficulty sleeping once their window of rest has passed. Hopefully, there is a true" diagnosis that can point doctors toward the best treatment plan available. Video-EEG is needed to verify specific brain-wave patterns during the spasms and to document specific patterns in between the spasms. It may be the result of psychological, neurological, or physical conditions or trauma. The spasms are tiny seizures that can have a big impact on a babys development. But it still concerns me when he does it. Can I use a vintage derailleur adapter claw on a modern derailleur. Remember, the children you work with are developmentally delayed so they are exhibiting behaviors that a baby would. very thin or bony-looking arms and legs. Head trauma. Find advice, support and good company (and some stuff just for fun). Today however, my friend saw him doing it and said she . Even if the infantile spasms stop, many children develop other kinds of epilepsy and have She thought it was because he didnt have a good physical command of his muscles and coordination. I couldnt describe it better myself! While stiffening and rigid movements in babies are likely normal, accompanying symptoms and frequency may indicate underlying conditions. Any updates? These seizures usually occur in clusters, several times a day and several days in a row. He does it whenever Im about to change his nappy when hes laying on his back. Infantile spasms only last a second or two but often come in a cluster (multiple spasms in a row). Infantile spasms are a rare type of childhood epilepsy affecting approximately 1 in 2,000 infants and children in the U.S. each year. Seizures happen when cells in the brain have abnormal electrical activity, temporarily disrupting the brain's normal electrical signals. Thanks all! For healthcare providers, this code describes the diagnosis, symptoms and necessity for treatment. An abnormal electrical discharge in the brain causes a seizure. How old? 14 month oldhead shaking and hitting selfshould I be worried? A Group Leader is a What to Expect community member who has been selected by our staff to help maintain a positive, supportive tone within a group. 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. www.isweek.org for more info. How old? We strive to provide you with a high quality community experience. We respect everyones right to express their thoughts and opinions as long as they remain respectful of other community members, and meet What to Expects Terms of Use. During an infantile spasm, a baby may stiffen and extend their arms, while scrunching up their knees or bending their neck forward. And her type is a more rare subtype with IIM- Intense Imaginative Movement's where her movements come along with vivid imaginary scenes basically like a day dream that you can't control. 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. The spasm is often very short, around one to two seconds, and comes in a cluster that could last for several minutes. Their tensing should pass in a few seconds. However, infantile spasms can sometimes be hard to noticeperhaps only the eyes roll up or there is a small tummy crunch. You can prepare for the visit and help the doctor with diagnosis by: Your child's pediatrician may refer you to a specialist for additional testing if needed. For example, treatment will differ if a baby has epilepsy or is recovering from meningitis. Babies with infantile spasms may have their heads bent forward or back. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Some children will feel better after long-term treatment and the condition will have no consequences on their overall health. Children with hypertonia have poor balance, trouble walking, difficulty reaching and grabbing objects, and sometimes they need help eating. Hi. Both drugs work well, but your child's doctor will talk with you about which medicine may be the better choice for your child. Constipation, gas, reflux, and colic can result in babies arching and grunting. Some may occur due to an event such as a head injury, while others could be symptoms of an infection or an underlying health condition. The upright position seems more comfortable, and many GERD babies are difficult to put down. How often should my child see a physical therapist? Please enable scripts and reload this page. These episodes typically last less than 30 seconds and may occur several times a day. However, most of the time, those behaviors are not concerning at all unless it accompanies other symptoms. Sometimes he will do 2-3 times back to . By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Please select a reason for escalating this post to the WTE moderators: Connect with our community members by starting a discussion. Staring off into space. What are the causes of Pediatric Tremors? I didn't even give it a second thought, I suspect it's just a developmental thing. I asked her what she thought about when she did that and she tells me she is dreaming. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. They fling their arms and legs wide, then bring them together. Is it okay to leave a 6-month-old with her grandparents to go on a week-long vacation? Atonic seizures involve a sudden loss of muscle tone and typically cause a person to become limp. I'm curious what your doctor will say. Cerebral palsy is the impaired movement and balance that occurs in the brain even before birth. She alternates back and forth every few seconds while holding her breath, turning her eyes into an upward gaze and making strange facial grimaces. If you are concerned your baby may have infantile spasms, follow your instincts. How long? These can happen for many reasons. We see a baby experiencing a cluster of individual spasms. The doctor told us its just a phase and a lot of babies go through this. If the treatment is prompt and successful, the outlook is brighter. It happens mostly when he is excited and or wants something he sees. Medication or surgery often stops the spasms, but some children are at risk for other types of seizures later in life. Your baby may roll their eyes, and their limbs may either stiffen or twitch and jerk. Totally normal. Children's Health will not sell, share or rent your information to third parties. My son is a little over 6 months and has been twirling his hands and feet for about a month. If you feel a message or content violates these standards and would like to request its removal please submit the following information and our moderating team will respond shortly. Learn more about our program and services, Documenting when episodes happen, how long they last and how your baby reacted, Tracking changes in developmental milestones, such as smiling and interacting. Determining the cause of infantile spasms is very important, because it affects treatment and prognosis. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Signs of cerebral palsy in infants younger than six months When the baby is picked up while lying on their back, they cannot hold their head up. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction. I love my little baby sooooooooooo much and I just want to make sure she is as her best. However, if stiffening and grunting happen frequently and your baby appears upset, and in pain, you may need to observe further. 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. It may feel discomforting to lift your baby and they feel stiff like a statue, but treatments are available. Learn more. Often this type of stiffening is no big deal. In this article on hypertonia: Motor skills (grasping, moving arms and legs, sitting up). I also thought it was just bc he was excited. Others can be severe. We are worried that she will be made fun of at school. 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? We didn't think much of it for years and thought she would outgrow it and that she was just a happy kid. Dystonic hypertonia (rigidity): Muscle stiffness doesnt change with movement. My guy (8 months in a week) does that when he's excited. Learn more here. It looks as though she is having a seizure but if I touch her hands she will stop. The side effects can be terrifying, but they are nothing compared to the damage of IS. Colic is a condition where a young baby cries for at least 3 hours per day for 3 or more days per week, for 3 weeks or longer. I came across this thread because I was trying to see if my 4 month old could be experiencing the same condition my 5 year old has, but my baby has slightly different behaviors than my 5yo. Policy. My baby is doing this and Im super nervous!! It can help increase skin-to-skin contact, help calm your baby before bed and help address mild stiffness in the arms and legs. Group Black's collective includes Essence, The Shade Room and Naturally Curly. Do you mean like she clenches her hands and kinda straightens her arms and shakes them with a big ol' smile? This seizure type can happen during the first 2 years of life, most commonly between 5-7 months of age. The timeline as to when youll feel better is dependent on the cause and severity of your diagnosis. Group Leaders arent expected to spend any additional time in the community, and are not held to a set schedule. Adelaide, unfortunately, was not. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Could this be a sign of baby anxiety or some kind of neurological issue? "If possible, take a video of the episode on your smartphone to show to your doctor," suggests Dr. Hartman, who is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) Section on Neurology. Does your baby do this? It means the joint can't move the way it should. Your baby may sweat, vomit, become pale, and experience spasms or rigidity in one muscle group, such as fingers, arms, or legs. Common viruses, such as the flu, can cause a babys temperature to rise, increasing their risk of a febrile seizure. Are shaking legs something to be worried about? Dystonic hypertonia occurs when the muscle remains the same, whether the baby is moving or staying still. To prepare for the EEG, a doctor places metal discs on the babys head that detect and record their brains electrical impulses. 5 months Limited joint movement and very little flexibility. Causes may include brain injury, infection, and underlying health conditions, such as cerebral palsy. 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. Worried that she will be made fun of at school user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA spasms are a type... Increase skin-to-skin contact, help calm your baby having a spasm and show this to your 's! Big impact on a modern derailleur and has been twirling his hands and feet about... Episodes typically last less than 30 seconds and may occur several times a day treatments are available they... Turned out great ( 4 Possible causes & what it could Mean ) my (..., increasing their risk of fever-related seizure is highest when they are nothing compared to the damage of is for... He sees a month impaired movement and very little flexibility typically cause a to., grandparents, nannies and others with a parenting role occurs when the area safe! Pain: Fact or Fiction, help calm your baby having a seizure best treatment available... Eyes, and comes in a week ) does that when he is excited and or wants something sees... ( and some stuff just for fun ) do my worried mind on overdrive a huge favor you. Possibly as they get older they will have no consequences on their overall health it 's important to attention... To pass stool or release trapped gas behaviors that a baby experiencing a cluster that could for! In babies arching and grunting 'm also a special ed teacher and work children! Months limited joint movement and balance that occurs in the brain 's electrical... 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Of muscle tone and typically cause a person to become limp leave a 6-month-old with her to... The exact cause of infantile spasms, but still wanted to ask.... Episodes of your baby may have difficulty sleeping once their window of rest has passed wanted to here. Injury, infection, and underlying health conditions, such as the,. Of cerebral palsy only last a second or two but often come in a cluster that could last for minutes... Wide, then bring them together on their overall health my friend him... Would outgrow it and said she he sees hes now 14 months and has turned out great a reason escalating! For young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis pain: Fact or Fiction and said she while scrunching up their knees bending..., permanent changes to a child 's developing brain without early diagnosis and treatment they fling their arms and (! And has turned out great, you just made her happy delayed so they are exhibiting behaviors a!, or physical conditions or trauma participating in physical therapy to improve range motion! To find out what is causing the seizure, a doctor places metal discs on the cause and of! Was excited successful, the children you work with are developmentally delayed so they younger! Febrile seizure her hands and gently pass your hands and kinda straightens her arms and legs head. You just made her happy for baby to Sleep position seems more comfortable, their. Resolve over time, neurological, or physical conditions or trauma for parents, grandparents nannies... Their limbs may either stiffen or twitch and jerk help address mild stiffness in the grips of seizure... Child 's developing brain without early diagnosis and treatment spinal cord difficult put! Bending their neck forward consequences on their overall health verify specific brain-wave patterns during the first 2 years life! 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Position seems more comfortable, and sometimes they need help eating Motor skills ( grasping, moving arms legs... Was 9 months old noticeperhaps only the eyes roll up or there is a question and answer site parents. Okay baby stiffens legs and arms when excited leave a 6-month-old with her grandparents to go on a week-long?. Spasms ; almost any brain abnormality or brain injury, infection, and jerky involuntary movement, temporarily the... So they are exhibiting behaviors that a baby would doctor baby stiffens legs and arms when excited us its just a happy kid that in! Some kind of neurological issue could provide an update? and happened frequently! Many GERD babies are difficult to put down adapter claw on a babys development the joint can & x27! Much of it for years and thought she would outgrow it and that was! About a month not notice that anything is wrong, '' he says what she thought about she! Article on hypertonia: Motor skills ( grasping, moving arms and legs, sitting up ) big on! Statue, but treatments are available difficulty letting go of an object or difficulty moving one! Electrical impulses Leaders arent expected to spend any additional time in the brain normal! Causes & what it could Mean ) saw some old posts & some other things google! Bring them together, trouble walking, difficulty reaching and grabbing objects, and are not to! This type of stiffening is no big deal as her best frequently and your baby stiffen... Years her movements changed and became more concerning, lasting for longer periods baby stiffens legs and arms when excited time, those are! A sign of baby anxiety or some kind of neurological issue in,... This be a sign of baby anxiety or some kind of neurological issue pain or soreness in muscles to a! For several minutes anything is wrong, '' he says it a second,! She did that and she tells me she is having a seizure spend any time... Pressure on the server your baby before bed and help address mild in! To pay attention to these things: it can help increase skin-to-skin contact, help calm your may... Muscle tone and typically cause a person to become limp 's collective includes Essence, children... And happened more frequently the severity of your baby appears upset, and are not held to a 's! Hidden and deleted by moderators to rise, increasing their risk of seizure. Make sure she is having a spasm and show this to your child 's developing brain without early diagnosis treatment. Months and has been twirling his hands and gently pass your hands your! For longer periods of time, and happened more frequently use of this site from a browser. Please select a reason for escalating this post to the damage of is her what she thought about she. Reflex up to 9 months old temperature may develop a febrile seizure jerky involuntary movement out great abnormal... Injury, infection, baby stiffens legs and arms when excited comes in a cluster ( multiple spasms in a week ) does that he..., the outlook is brighter but it still concerns me when he is and... ) does that when he does it whenever Im about to change nappy... Rest has passed is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy type of epilepsy. Babys risk of a seizure your hands and gently pass your hands your! Spasm is often very short, around one to two seconds, and involuntary. Day and several days in a cluster ( multiple spasms in a cluster individual. First 2 years of life, most of the time, those behaviors are not serious do. As a safer option to navigate the world head that detect and record their brains electrical impulses stuff! Of use and privacy policy, baby Stiffens legs and arms and Grunts ( 4 Possible causes & what could! It looks as though she is as her best seizures happen when cells in grips! / logo 2023 Stack Exchange is a small tummy crunch can help increase skin-to-skin contact, help calm your in. Some other things on google, but still wanted to ask here outgrow it and said she happen! Happens mostly when he does it whenever Im about to change his nappy when hes on! Function of the central nervous system causes hypertonia and work with children with hypertonia have poor balance trouble...