Babies make a lot of unusual sounds and movements in their sleep — especially in the early newborn days. You may occasionally see your baby’s leg shake while they sleep. Medically it is termed as sleep myoclonus.
It might be disturbing for parents to see their newborn making odd, jittery actions like jerky arm and leg movements, unsteady hands and chin trembling. These extra motions are normal, harmless, and probably something your child outgrows. It is normal for different body parts to twitch at different developmental stages, as this is a necessary part of the development of fine motor development. However, seek medical attention if they’re stiffening or twitching while awake. This may indicate a seizure problem.
Causes and risks
What exactly causes a baby’s leg shake is unknown to researchers.
- According to expert theories, the motions may occur during the period when the protective covering of a baby’s spinal cord is still developing. This condition may cause the body to react to impulses that would not have been practical in this particular case.
- Neonatal sleep myoclonus (a normal reaction usually characterized as rapid, repetitive jerks of the legs and limbs during sleep) can run in families.
- Babies suffering from the condition may twitch in response to rocking or repetitive stimuli. Although most cases involve children whose moms do not use drugs, it is more common in babies born to opioid-addicted mothers.
- Another possible cause for a baby’s twitch during sleep is their dreams.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms
The way each baby’s legs shake when they sleep is slightly different. If your baby’s arms and legs aren’t covered up, you might see them flapping a little. These motions most commonly include the arms, legs, or core. They could happen in the face less often. Myoclonus occurs uniquely during sleep, and it always stops immediately once the infant wakes up.
This twitching may appear to be rhythmic or to be the vibrating of limbs. These benign sleep-twitching bouts last anywhere from one to fifteen minutes on average. They could seem like this:
- Jerky behaviors include spreading their arms wide and then drawing them back toward the midline and leaping and hitting in seemingly random directions.
- Eyelids move when the eyes are closed.
- noises like sighing, gurgling, cooing, or soft crying
- jerking of the limbs
- arms outstretched and hands open
However, children do not generally experience any known lasting effects from benign neonatal sleep myoclonus.
How to minimize the baby’s leg shaking or twitching?
- There is no need to reduce the baby’s leg shaking or twitching as they are asleep. If they are twitching, that’s just a natural reaction to their developing brain, so you can ignore it.
- When your baby is twitching, pay close attention to how they are responding. And be willing to speak up until you’re ready. Will they wake up all the way, or will they keep sleeping and you may leave them sleeping? If they seem well-groomed, have normal body color, and stop twitching or making noise when called upon, then this is normal.
- Moreover, you shouldn’t make an effort to stop your baby from twitching as they sleep. An entire episode often lasts one to fifteen minutes. Very rarely, episodes can extend over an hour, which might mislead parents into believing their child is having a fatal epileptic seizure.
- Some experts propose that swaddling may reduce the Moro reflex (a baby’s natural reaction is to look around and extend their arms when they are scared or feel like they are going to fall) and reduce the chance of twitching altogether since they’re wrapped up and less able to flail about. Furthermore, a baby may stop twitching when they’re ready to stop being swaddled.
- Between the ages of two and four months, when they start to produce their sleep hormones, the baby’s leg shaking or twitching is stopped.
When to seek immediate medical care?
As a parent, if you aren’t sure what to make of your baby’s twitching or you see something that doesn’t feel right, make a video and share it with your pediatrician. Normal sleep twitching should stop as soon as your baby is aroused and awake. If you observe significant twitching when your baby is awake, then it would be worth mentioning that to your pediatrician.
If your child isn’t eating or feeding well, or they’re experiencing poor color or tone (yellowish, bluish, or grayish specifically) in addition to the twitching, it’s critical your child is seen in the emergency room or by their pediatrician as soon as possible.
As far as other serious symptoms are concerned seek emergency healthcare if they have:
- unusual motions that do not stop upon arousal
- Breathing difficulties
- Temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit when less than 12 weeks’ old
- Poor feeding and dehydration
Most of the time, development, dreams, or normal reflexes can be the cause of slight jerkiness during deep sleep. The doctor for your child is there to assist you if you have any concerns. If parents are holding back any query or worry, then they should definitely seek physician.