Jerky/twitchy movements

[loopyloo82]

Hi, I wondered if anyone could offer any advice with a problem I've been having with my dd (16 weeks).
She has suffered with wind/colic since she was tiny and used to scream and curl her body up every time we put her down- as a result, she had all her daytime naps in my arms/in a sling and at night co-sleeps. This doesn't really bother me, but she no longer sleeps in her sling - I think she is too interested in watching what's going on around her. Anyway, she will still fall asleep in my arms but as soon as I try to put her down flat she usually wakes. Sometimes she stays asleep, but within 5-10 minutes she has woken. I have watched her carefully and she seems to be waking because her arms or legs start twitching, almost like spasms - her whole body goes really tense. I tried swaddling her and that helps but she still wakes pretty quickly.
Basically, at the moment she gets no/very little sleep during the day. During the night, she sleeps propped up on my arm and this seems to help. I just wondered if anyone had any suggestions/ideas as I feel I'm letting her down by not giving her enough nap-time. Even asleep in my arms she hardly ever sleeps for more than 45 mins at a go.
She was born c-section due to being breech - don't know if that may have something to do with it?
Any replies will be hugely appreciated. Thanks

Hi there sorry to hear your DD is struggling with her naps. The jerky movements sound like they could be a type of reflex- I think this is a called a startle reflex.

I think this is natural but is more prevelant in some babies than others and I think it occurs more in the early sleep phase.

The jerky movements gradually wore off in my DS and disappeared at about 6 months. Until then swaddling did seem to help as the sudden movements startled him less as he couldn't fling his arms around so much.

Have you tried taking her out for a walk in her pram- the movement seemed to work wonders for DS and he slept for ages in the pram.

I think it is fairly normal for babies of this age to only nap little and often. As time goes on she will probably settle for longer.

As for having her sleeping in your arms you need to do what feels right for you. Every baby and Mum is different- some people on here feel it is important to encourage babies to sleep on their own and not to use you as a prop. Personally I don't feel there is a one-size-fits-all solution but for me what worked was gradually moving towards DS sleeping on his own in the day. he was generally happy to sleep in his Moses basket at night but needed more cuddles in the day- its also lovely to enjoy your lovely bundle by letting her sleep in your arms sometimes.

Thanks for the advice - you're right, it is lovely to hold them while they sleep and I know I should make the most of it while I can!
Feeling reassured by your post just to know that shell grow out of it... I remember waiting for her to 'grow out' of her colic as I kept getting told and at the time it seemed forever but now I just really appreciate her not having colic iyswim.
The pram is the one way she sleeps (sometimes!) although it takes her ages to drop off and she wakes as soon as we get back- at least it allows her to get some sleep.
Anyway, thank you for reassurance

Hello there

My son does this as well, just as he's dropping off. I think it's the equivalent to that feeling adults get, or at least I do, of suddenly falling as you move into another phase of sleep.

With DS, I hold his arms gently until he's fallen asleep properly, and won't risk jerking himself awake. If he's extra tired, and fighting sleep, I hold them down while shushing to get him to fall asleep in the first place!