Why does newborn baby shiver

Skip to navigation menu Skip to content. High Priority Alert. Close alert. Informational Alert. Newborn Reflexes and Behavior. This is due to their developing muscles or it can be in reaction to something. However, this is not always the case and there are some instances where it can be much more sinister. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

Some of the ways to determine a jitter from something more serious can be the duration of the movements and its effect on the baby. The most concerning movements will usually but not always also be accompanied by other changes in behaviour, or if the pattern of the movement has changed.

Tonic-clonic seizures — a sudden loss of awareness, with the child commonly falling to the ground, and with stiffening tonic then jerking clonic of the muscles. Myoclonic seizures — sudden and brief muscle twitches that may involve the whole body or just individual limbs or muscle groups e.

The hormones have a stimulating effect which can manifest in tremors and uninhibited movements. Over time, these hormone levels decrease, which also puts an end to baby jitters. Jitters and jerkiness can be caused by the same neurological changes, but Lewis says jerky movements are "slightly more worrisome than tremors or jitteriness.

Fast, brief, jerky movements can occur both singly or repetitively and are referred to as myoclonus — a muscle twitch followed by relaxation. Generally speaking, myoclonus is not harmful hiccups are a form or myoclonus but occasionally it can be so severe that it can limit a person's ability to eat, talk and walk , the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes reports.

If you notice your child making jerk-like movements, Lewis says you should try to stop them by restraining the jerking limb or provoking a different movement through a loud clap or by quickly moving the baby from one position to another. And don't worry too much about discomfort — the movements are generally not harmful and usually stop on their own.

If they don't, other tricks for stopping or preventing quivering are to slowly and gently bend the limb or put a finger or soother in the mouth. Jump directly to the content. Sign in. All Football.