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Original poster

Baby seems to panic - startle reflex

20 replies

Valour · 03/04/2023 16:19

DD is not quite 7 weeks old and lovely. She's been developing well and we are smitten!
I've noticed today and yesterday that she seems to have sudden bouts of panic, as if her startle reflex is triggered but there is nothing happening to startle it. Her arms reach upwards, and her eyes widen (but do not roll) and she looks momentarily terrified. This lasts a second or two and then she's fine. Thus far, I've only seen her doing it when she's on her back, never when she's being held. (She is in the sling or in our arms most of the time.)

I've been scaring myself by googling infantile seizures, but it says they wouldn't really be seen before 3 months old. I have noticed that she does throw up a bit after every feed (this is quite new, but she doesn't do it enough for me to worry.) So I'm wondering if reflux/colic causes this?

Any advice/experience would be appreciated. TIA.

OP posts:
LG93 · 03/04/2023 16:25

I don't think there has to necessarily be a trigger for the startle reflex, sometimes it just happens (the same as adults sometimes get a similar feeling of falling when falling asleep)

Both mine would do it periodically without any obvious trigger and both are fine and dandy so far! (4&1)

Congratulations on your baby ☺️

Original poster
Valour · 03/04/2023 16:43

Thank you LG93 ! I am absolutely besotted but do have a tendency to worry whenever she isn't 100%.
What you say about feeling like you're falling when you're asleep- funnily enough that's exactly what DP and I said it seemed like!
Thanks for making me feel a bit calmer Flowers

OP posts:
YomAsalYomBasal · 03/04/2023 16:44

This is just what babies do, please try not to worry. Newborns are scary things! X

Original poster
Valour · 03/04/2023 18:31

Thank you yom! I have two other DC but they're older and I can't remember them doing this- but it's utterly possible that I've just forgotten!
Can I ask, when your babies do this, do they look really scared? DD's eyes widen as if she's seen a ghost, it's really horrible to see. She does the normal startled thing since birth, of course, but the fear bit seems new...

OP posts:
RightWhereINeedToBe · 03/04/2023 18:33

Isn't it called the moro reflex? Totally normal.

paradyning · 04/04/2023 00:55

It could be reflux which infantile spasms are often mistaken for. Don't let the 3 month thing put you off considering infantile spasms as it can occur earlier than this. I suggest capturing it on video and speaking to a doctor tomorrow. You need to rule out IS as this requires urgent medical care.

Original poster
Valour · 04/04/2023 08:39

Thank you Paradyning - I'll try to capture it on video then get her seen to.

OP posts:
DMull · 11/06/2023 23:02

Hi Valour, did you get any further with your little one and the startle reflex. I have a 12 weeks old doing the exact same and I was hoping for some advice.
Thanks x

Original poster
Valour · 11/06/2023 23:08

Hi DMull . Glad to say it seems to have cleared up just as baby started to be able to control her own hand and arm movements, which wasn't until a few weeks back. The videos I made of the startle reflex are really quite upsetting and look exactly like the videos I saw of infantile spasms, but it looks like it was just a really extreme startle reflex. I hope that's reassured you a bit!

OP posts:
DMull · 11/06/2023 23:22

Thanks for.comjng back to me. It definitely is upsetting and worrying. They seem to be worse at night and make him jerk out of his sleep, and as you said, it's the startled look of fear in his eyes that's most upsetting. x

SaveMeFromForearms · 12/06/2023 11:40

Guys. Seriously, the first thing that comes up when you Google this is the perfectly normal Moro Reflex. Be kind to yourselves and don't go all over the internet looking for problems; although I do remember how hard it is to do that when you're new to the parenting game.

Emptycrackedcup · 12/06/2023 11:47

It's a good thing, and why swaddling isn't recommended. The startle reflex is normal and prevents SIDs.

paradyning · 12/06/2023 17:22

SaveMeFromForearms · 12/06/2023 11:40

Guys. Seriously, the first thing that comes up when you Google this is the perfectly normal Moro Reflex. Be kind to yourselves and don't go all over the internet looking for problems; although I do remember how hard it is to do that when you're new to the parenting game.

Please educate yourself and don't minimise.

SaveMeFromForearms · 12/06/2023 20:37

What, given the OP said it's worn off I'd say Moro reflex seems pretty likely. I have a child in my family who had seizures from birth so I'm not talking from nothing. But 99% of the time it's likely to be the very standard reflex, which is scary for new parents but completely normal.

Original poster
Valour · 12/06/2023 20:55

SaveMeFromForearms · 12/06/2023 11:40

Guys. Seriously, the first thing that comes up when you Google this is the perfectly normal Moro Reflex. Be kind to yourselves and don't go all over the internet looking for problems; although I do remember how hard it is to do that when you're new to the parenting game.

I'm guessing you're well meaning with this comment, but Moro reflex can look different in each baby. It can look extreme, and some babies are more sensitive to it so react differently. It's not all that kind to make out worries about this are all PFB. I have three children, and the first two, though they had the Moro reflex, it didn't look like it did with DC3, and didn't worry me at all.

OP posts:
SaveMeFromForearms · 12/06/2023 20:58

Right...but my point still stands that for most babies it will actually be the natural reflex. Which it is with your baby. Not sure why my pointing this out is somehow wrong.

Original poster
Valour · 12/06/2023 21:06

It's not wrong at all. But it's not a case of me "going all over the internet looking for problems"- it looked odd to me, and thank God, I was wrong. I'm very glad about that!

OP posts:
LauraT321 · 19/02/2024 07:35

Valour · 12/06/2023 21:06

It's not wrong at all. But it's not a case of me "going all over the internet looking for problems"- it looked odd to me, and thank God, I was wrong. I'm very glad about that!

Hi,Can I ask whether your baby had a few of these in a row when it was happening?My baby has the exact same thing at the moment (on her back,looks terrified,etc) but they seem to happen a few times in a row.Glad to hear all was well with your little one :)

paradyning · 26/02/2024 22:43

Do they look like this @LauraT321

paradyning · 26/02/2024 22:44

@LauraT321, sorry didn't post link.

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