Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Do all baby’s do jerky movements while falling asleep? Is this normal? Worried.

6 replies

TinkerTinkerbelle · 24/01/2025 02:59

FTM. 7 week old baby.

As I’m a first time mum I have no idea what is normal behaviour but I’m starting to worry my baby is doing something out of the ordinary. I know babies make all kind of jerky movements. I had noticed her pulling what I thought was a cute face as her head lifted right back after feeding and falling asleep - right from birth. But recently it’s become more exaggerated. She will be completely relaxed and feeding at bedtime. As she starts falling asleep- her head will seemingly involuntarily jerk back and her arms will jerk out. She squirms a little and it lasts a couple of seconds before she relaxes again and goes back to feeding. Sometimes this happens a few times with a short gap in between and then she usually falls asleep. A few times I’ve watched her get frustrated as her body jerking is pulling her off the boob. Sometimes she even cries a little. It only ever happens when she’s falling asleep at night. I thought it was a normal newborn startle response thing - is it? Do all little babies do this? Or is there something wrong with my baby? She has reflux in case that’s relevant- maybe the reflux is making her uncomfortable and that’s why she jerks back?

I know everyone will say go to your GP- and of course I will. I’m just spiralling at 3am because she’s just been doing it and I’m looking for someone who’s experienced the same or some reassurance that all babies do this? Thanks.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Chuchoter · 24/01/2025 03:01

Trapped wind.

SeaToSki · 24/01/2025 03:08

Yes its normal, you can swaddle her to help stop it startling her.

Its called the Moro reflex, it would be a problem if she didnt have it and it disappears in most babies between 3-6 months after birth

Trallers · 24/01/2025 03:09

It sounds very much like the moro reflex, in which case yes it's very normal. I would look up few videos on YouTube of the moro reflex and see if it it looks similar. I'm not sure about the expression. Could you try videoing the things you're concerned about so you have them to be able to show the gp? All of that aside, feeling very worried about everything is very much normal first time mum territory - you're doing a great job caring for your baby.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

HauntedBungalow · 24/01/2025 03:21

Newborns can get spooked by all sorts of things - light shining in a way they haven't seen before, the sound of their own crying - remember everything is new to her and she doesn't know what's a threat and what isn't. At 7 weeks she's not quite sure what she is or what you are or where you or she ends or begins or what the world is at all really. It's a very confusing time, being a newborn.

When they're spooked they do the Moro, they're born doing it and it gradually phases out. Of course as you are worried please do talk to a healthcare professional about it to set your mind at rest.

The link above has a video clip that shows the movement and you can compare this to what your baby does.

Bless you for keeping your baby safe and content.

sashh · 24/01/2025 06:50

Enjoy Tim Minchin's impression of a sleeping new born.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page