Twitching And Jerking In Babies

All parents will find themselves worrying about something when they first have a baby – it is a natural response to parenthood and an evolutionary tactic to protect our vulnerable offspring. When you have your first baby, it is hard to know what is normal and what is unusual – or unhealthy – behavior.

One of the things which causes many new parents concern is the amount their baby seems to twitch or jerk. From shivery-like twitching to compulsive jerking of the arms or legs, these movements can seem frightening to mom and dad, who have no idea what they mean or what causes them.

The immature nervous system

All babies have involuntary reflexes which are part of the natural development of their nervous systems. The Moro reflex, for example, causes your baby to jerk suddenly and fling his arms out to the side – often waking himself from sleep in the early months. By the time he is six months old this reflex will disappear, but while he has it, it is actually helping in the development of his muscles and his nervous system.

You will be familiar also with the Rooting reflex, which causes your baby to ‘hunt’ for the nipple or teat when hungry, and the Sucking reflex, necessary for your baby to feed. These, and other, involuntary reflexes are normal and, indeed, essential in the development of your baby. Compulsive or involuntary movements of the body are often nothing more than an expression of a primitive reflex, and are nothing to worry about.

Myoclonic spasms in infants

Another type of jerking or twitching movement is called a Myoclonic spasm. These spasms also occur in adults, and are similar to the jolt you sometimes have through your body just as you are falling asleep. In babies, these jerks can happen when they are asleep or when they are awake, and often take the form of a shiver-like movement, or even spasms of the whole body.

These spasms are normal and are usually completely harmless, unless they are accompanied by any loss of consciousness. If they happen with a regularity you find distressing, however, do get your baby checked out. Your doctor will send your baby for EEGs and an MRI scan. If the results don’t indicate any loss of consciousness (associated with epilepsy – see below), or any abnormalities, then the Myoclonic spasms are nothing to worry about and your baby will usually grow out of them by the time she is two years old.

Myoclonic spasms and Epilepsy

Spasms which are accompanied by a loss of consciousness indicate epilepsy, and should be explored further with an epilepsy clinic or specialist. Your baby may undergo a twenty-four hour video EEG, to match up any episodes of loss of consciousness with the spasms. Epilepsy is treatable, and early diagnosis possible, so you should consult your baby’s pediatrician if you have any doubts at all.

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AV Baby content is for information only. If you are at all worried about your baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.

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