I have a 5 month old grandson and yesterday his mother called me and said, Mom is it norman for the baby's whole body along with his head to shake or somthing like jerk while he is sleeping. I told her when i babysit for him on Sunday that's what happen and i didn't know what it was but when i moved him in a different position he was fine. This only happens when he is asleep. She said she notice that last week. She took him to the Dr. yesterday but he said he was fine if it was seizure it would last longer. I'm worried because he had lost a granddaughter when she was 2 month old and we didn't know she was having seizure before getting meningitis. I don't recall any of my kids doing this. Has this happen to any ones babies.
I think that I would get a second opinion, considering the family history. I'd rather be "that mom" than miss something.
Yes, babies jerk in their sleep, I forget the actual term for it but it's their little nervous system reacting to reflexes and stuff. As long as baby wasn't turning blue and there were no signs of the baby not breathing, choking, foaming at the mouth, etc, it sounds normal. Also, when babies get high fevers, they can have harmless, short seizures. Always good to follow up with a visit to the pediatrician, but almost always harmless.
If the jerking is the only thing that's happening, it's probably normal. Adults do that sometimes, too. I have jerked myself awake a few times.
Not being a doctor, I might assume that it was merely him dreaming or something. Newborns have those funny little twitches in thier sleep, but 5 months is kind of old for that. But I think the doctor's response was a little wierd - I don't see how the length of an episod ehas anything to do wiht whether it is a siezure or not. I assume the doctor asked a lot more questions? Does s/he know about a family history? I would call back and tell them ASAP, and I would get a second opinion with a pediatric neurologist. A familiy history is the scariest part. Maybe you guys could sneak into the room with a video camera and try to capture it to show a doctor? Good luck.
Is he sick? Is he on any medication? My son did this when he was taking medication for an ear infection/bronchitus. Good luck!
My daughter did this when she was an infant. They ran all sorts of tests on her and found nothing. She is now 12 and is a healthy pre-teen. She even started basketball try-outs this morning.
I would just keep an eye on him. If the doctor isn't worried, then I wouldn't be, however, if you still are, get a second opinion...or maybe video tape the shaking and take it to his doctor and show him.
*hugs*
If it only happens when he's asleep, and it is very short-lived, it's probably okay. I do that myself, and sometimes when I'm not quite asleep. I hate it when I do it too!
If you had said that there is epilepsy in the family, I would be more worried. But meningitis isn't genetic, so that's not really something to consider.
Dawn
