Hyperextension of the neck and trunk associated with shoulder retraction is often regarded as an early sign of a developing neurological impairment, which may lead to cerebral palsy.
You may notice your baby or newborn arching their back when tired, hungry, uncomfortable, or upset. Other reasons include your little one having gas or reflux, or wanting to show off new back muscle skills.
Hyperextension of the fetal neck is a sonographic finding amenable to prenatal ultrasound diagnosis. The initial finding is a hyperextension, referred to the persistence of the cervical spine in extreme extension, with an extension angle of at least 150 degrees persisting for the duration of the scan.
Since babies prefer to look out into the room, your baby will actively turn away from the wall, which will stretch the tightened muscles of the neck. Remember to always put your baby to sleep on his or her back, which reduces the risk of SIDS.
Called congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), this condition is caused by a shortening of the muscle that bends and turns the head and neck. Babies with CMT typically tilt their heads to one side and prefer to face in the opposite direction.
Sandifer syndrome (SS) is a type of movement disorder that constitutes paroxysmal spasms of head, neck, and back arching but spares the limbs. SS is often associated with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in children.
WHAT IS TORTICOLLIS & WHAT CAUSES IT? Torticollis means that the sternocleidomastoid muscle (a muscle on each side of the neck) is shorter on one side. This usually results in the baby tilting their head towards the side of the short muscle, and rotating their head the other direction.
Around 4 months of age, babies gain control and balance in their head, neck, and trunk. Most babies can balance the head for short periods when in a stable position. Around this same age, your baby starts playing with his or her hands. Your baby can grasp your finger on purpose, rather than as a reflex.
Cervical Dystonia in Infants. Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. These muscle contractions manifest in uncomfortable movements, including abnormal positioning of a body part and spasms. For example, the neck may turn involuntarily.
One of the most common causes of spinal cord injury is hyperextension of the neck. Excessive force or trauma can dislocate vertebrae and compress the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis that affects your sensation or movement.
Whiplash, called such because of the whip cracking sound it can make, is a hyperextension of the neck. An accident may cause the head to move suddenly forward and then back with such force that it has the potential to cause damage to bones, joints, ligaments and muscles.
Some of the first signs of cerebral palsy in infants include stiffened muscles and/or joints, excessive drooling, high-pitched crying, feeding issues, overextended neck and/or back, and delay of developmental milestones.
Sandifer syndrome is a movement disorder that affects infants. Babies with Sandifer syndrome twist and arch their backs and throw their heads back. These strange postures are brief and sudden. They commonly occur after the baby eats.
Autism: It is impossible to diagnose autism in a newborn. But it is true that symptoms such as excessive drooling and arching her back when held are symptoms that are more common in autistic babies. But, again, and you have to remember this, these are common in perfectly normal newborns as well.
Your baby's neck muscles are fairly weak when they're born. If you pull them up gently by their hands into a sitting position their head will flop back because their neck muscles can't support it . For the first few months, they'll rely on you using your hands to support their head and neck when you hold them.
And don't fret if your newborn's noggin flops back and forth a little bit while you're trying to perfect your move — it won't hurt him. (Of course, never shake your baby because that can cause serious harm.)
Your baby's first laugh might arrive around one month after their first smile. Though 4 months of age is a common time for laughter to emerge, it could happen at 5, 6 or even 7 months old. So get your phone or camera ready to capture these exciting sounds and endearing facial expressions.
It is best to hold the baby on demand up to the age of 12 months old. Babies up to this age are still developing emotionally and may require frequent attention and care from their parents. However, you may also try identifying the possible need of the baby.
Once they're able to hold up their head and sit with support or on their own (anywhere between 4 and 7 months), you can start picking them up by tucking your hands under their arms and lifting. Be careful when you're picking up and putting down your baby to avoid accidentally hurting them.
"Babies are tougher than they appear and won't 'break' with normal handling. While it's important to support their head until they have the neck strength to hold it up on their own, their head won't fall off if you forget.
In retrospect, feeding difficulties are common in children subsequently diagnosed with autism and may persist for a long time (23). Hypotonia may start prenatally, and the abnormal postures can lead to a neck deformity called torticollis, that develops in some children who hold their head to one side (20, 24).
Some babies with torticollis develop a flat spot on the head (positional plagiocephaly) from lying in one direction most of the time. In some, the neck, jaw, and face also might be uneven. Some babies develop a small neck lump or bump, like a "knot" in a tense muscle.
Since babies are often on their backs, fixing their eyes straight ahead to check out the fan, the ceiling texture, or some lights is all normal and completely fascinating to them. Many caregivers say that their baby loves ceiling fans.