Is it normal for a 4 month old to twitch?

Generally, these twitches are perfectly normal. In fact, some researchers now believe that these myoclonic twitches help babies transform their rudimentary movements into coordinated movements.

Why does my baby go stiff when excited?

Another theory is that your child is simply stiffening because he’s excited or frustrated. He may also be discovering new ways to use his muscles. Some babies stiffen up when they’re doing something they’d rather not, such as getting a diaper change or being put into their snow suit.

Why does my baby twitch a lot?

UI researchers believe that infants’ twitches during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are linked to sensorimotor development—that when the sleeping body twitches, it’s activating circuits throughout the developing brain and teaching newborns about their limbs and what they can do with them.

What age do infantile spasms start?

Most infants with infantile spasms develop a pattern of movements called spasms, sometimes also referred to as epileptic spasms. The most common age for these spasms to begin is between 3 and 6 months of age. They can begin earlier than 3 months and sometimes begin after 12 months of age.

What is stiff baby syndrome?

Stiff-baby syndrome is a familial disorder characterized by marked rigidity, with neonatal onset and gradual reduction during infancy, regurgitations, motor delay and attacks of stiffness.

How do you rule out infantile spasms?

To diagnose infantile spasms, your child’s doctor will complete a physical and neurologic exam. Your baby will also need a test called an electroencephalogram (EEG), which looks at electrical activity in the brain. Babies who have infantile spasms often have a unique EEG pattern called hypsarrhythmia.

Will infantile spasms always show on EEG?

Infantile spasms are a very specific type of seizure with a characteristic age of onset (a typical age when seizures start). They are nearly always accompanied by a very characteristic pattern on the electroencephalogram (EEG).

What happens when a baby has an infantile spasm?

During a spasm, the body stiffens suddenly, the back may arch, and the arms, legs, and head may bend forward. However, infantile spasms can sometimes be hard to notice—perhaps only the eyes roll up or there is a small tummy crunch. They are most common just after a baby wakes up and rarely occur during sleep.

What causes infantile spasms on the EEG?

The seizures’ appearance and EEG are so distinct that the diagnosis of infantile spasms can be made with certainty in most cases. Determining the cause of the spasms may be more difficult. There are many causes of infantile spasms; almost any brain abnormality or brain injury can cause them.

Which is the best medicine for infantile spasms?

Infantile spasms are treated with medicine Two medicines are the best at stopping infantile spasms. One is called vigabatrin (Sabril) and the other is called ACTH (Synacthen). At SickKids, the doctor will probably put your baby on vigabatrin first.

How often should ERG be done for infantile spasms?

Vigabatrin can sometimes cause narrowing of the peripheral vision, which means that a child cannot see as well to the side. The ERG will help the doctor know if this is a problem for your child. An ERG will be done every three to six months while your child is taking vigabatrin to see if there are any changes.