Is it normal for babies to wiggle

There may be a link between what is twitching during sleep and what new skills the baby is displaying. For example, you may see neck twitches during sleep in your young baby along with their developing ability to support their heads while awake.

In a few months, your baby starts to reach for things. As expected, this is when increased twitching in the wrists and fingers begins. In some cases , when the twitches were particularly pronounced, parents have taken perfectly healthy infants to the hospital for an evaluation.

If your baby is experiencing twitching movements or stiffening when awake, you may be dealing with a seizure issue such as:. If you can, get the movements on video so that your provider can see examples during their evaluation. From robotic studies, researchers are finding support for the ideas that twitches are a way to program the brain. When twitches are mimicked in robot models of the musculoskeletal system, they organize their neural pathways.

So while your baby is sleeping and you enjoy a well-deserved break, know that your little one is still hard at work on their development. As a parent, you're likely watching your little one's every move and wondering it they're "on time" for those precious baby development stages.

If you're a new parent, you're likely sleep deprived. But your baby will sleep through the night, perhaps around 6 months of age. Many infants feel soothed when tucked into a snug, womb-like blanket wrap. If you think her movements seem out of the ordinary — such as excessive twitching — consult your child's pediatrician. In some cases, spontaneous shaking may indicate seizures or other neurological difficulty.

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing.

Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Febrile seizures. American Academy of Pediatrics. Here's what else you can expect:. Heads up on tummy time.

Most babies this age can lift their head up when lying on their tummies. Regularly giving your baby some " tummy time " is a great way to help her build strength in her neck and trunk. Some will cry when placed on their tummies, but usually do better after a few tries. It helps to have something interesting, such as mom's face, in front of them so they have encouragement to lift their head. Although too young to actually crawl, your baby may try or begin to push up from a lying position.

Hand to mouth. During these weeks, your baby may begin to wave his arms around more when excited. Increasingly, his hands will catch his attention. He may spend a lot of time trying to move them in front of him where he can see them. After many tries, he may be able to move them to his mouth.

His finger motion is still limited, though, so his hands will likely still be clenched in tight little fists. Sucking on them may become a way for him to soothe himself. A tug of the lips. You may have already noticed random facial movements, including reflexive smiles, while your baby sleeps. But starting sometime around her sixth week, your baby may flash you her first real smile in a genuine gesture of affection or amusement.

Your baby's arm and leg movements continue to become smoother. The "startle" reflex is probably gone by now. She's becoming stronger and better able to coordinate her motions. Straightening out. You might notice your baby's whole body now looks more relaxed.

His hands will no longer be balled up in fists all the time. In fact, he may entertain himself by carefully opening and shutting them. He'll also enjoy more actively kicking his legs, which are straightening out from their pulled-up newborn position.

Ready to roll. As her kicks continue to become more forceful, she may soon be able to kick herself over from her tummy to back. While most babies can't roll from back to tummy yet, some may begin rolling over at this age. Conditions We Treat Colic. Symptoms Colic usually begins by 2 to 3 weeks of age and lasts up to 3 or 4 months of age.

The colicky infant usually shows these signs: Flailing arms and legs Clenched fists Arched back Legs drawn up toward abdomen Struggling and angry when held Possible Causes No one knows the real cause of colic, but some things that may be related include: Exposure to smoke Gas pain Immature nervous or digestive system Stomach spasms Ways to Help There is no sure treatment for colic, so it may be difficult to comfort your crying baby.

The following suggestions have been tried by other parents who have had colicky infants: Cuddle your baby Picture 1. Take your baby for a ride in a stroller or car. Place your baby in a wind-up swing. Prop a young infant with blankets Picture 2. Rock your baby in a rocking chair. Give your baby a pacifier. Many infants are soothed by extra sucking. Burp the baby often while feeding. This removes air from the baby's stomach and reduces gas.

Also try massaging the baby's stomach. Play soothing music or tapes of a heartbeat. This will soothe you and your baby. Carry your baby in a front pack.