Why does a child's chin tremble? Trembling chin in a newborn: is this normal? In fact, muscle twitching occurs by

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Tremor in children under one year old

Tremors in children under one year of age, spontaneous muscle twitching that occurs in different parts of the body is called. Most often observed physiological tremor chin, lips or limbs of the baby - this is a variant of the norm. Such convulsive muscle contractions are caused by their increased tone and the immaturity of the child’s peripheral nervous system.

Neurologists call increased tremor, its causeless appearance and spread to other parts of the body pathological tremor, which indicates serious disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and is a symptom of various serious diseases.

Symptoms

Muscle twitching in different parts of the body occurs in the baby in various situations; they are caused by nervous overstrain:

• cry;
• fright;
• bathing;
• changing clothes;
• REM sleep phase;
• discontent;
• feeling of hunger, etc.

After one of the provoking factors appears, the child begins to tremble:

• chin;
• lips;
• upper or lower limbs.

For physiological tremor muscle twitches pass quickly, and their amplitude is barely noticeable. As a rule, physiological tremor completely disappears before 3 months of age, but in some cases it can manifest itself up to a year. Parents of a baby who has episodes of physiological tremor should carefully monitor its manifestations and visit a neurologist in a timely manner. The critical moments for the development of the nervous system in a baby under one year old are considered to be 1, 3, 9 and 12 months of life - it is during these months that a child with tremor needs to be monitored by a neurologist.

For pathological tremor In children under one year old, parents may notice that twitching occurs for no apparent reason, they are of significant intensity and occur frequently. As a rule, the baby’s general condition also suffers: he becomes nervous, capricious, often cries and sleeps poorly.

Causes

The cause of tremor in children under one year of age is partial underdevelopment of the centers of nerve endings located in the brain and responsible for body movements. When the baby is emotional, the concentration of norepinephrine in the blood increases, which causes tension in the muscle fibers and nervous twitching of various muscle areas.
The cause of underdevelopment of the centers of nerve endings can be various factors:

• fetal hypoxia;
• risk of miscarriage ;
• umbilical cord entanglement;
• infectious diseases in the mother during pregnancy;
• negative emotions and stressful situations during pregnancy;
• weak labor activity;
• rapid labor;
• birth injuries;
• prematurity.

Treatment

For physiological tremor in children under one year of age, treatment is not prescribed. Parents are advised to closely monitor the child to determine when tremor appears and possible symptoms of its worsening. To prevent complications, the baby must undergo periodic examinations by a neurologist.

Treatment of pathological tremor may include:

• taking baths with decoctions of soothing herbs (chamomile, lavender);
• swimming in a bathtub or specialized pools;
• conducting general strengthening gymnastics;
• taking air baths;
• soothing massage;
• drug therapy (if necessary);
• surgical intervention (in severe cases).

The volume of therapy for pathological tremor is determined by the doctor, depending on the baby’s health condition. It is extremely important to surround such a child in the family with constant care, affection and a calm environment.

Tremor in children older than one year

In some cases, episodes of physiological or pathological tremor can be observed in children older than one year (up to adolescence).

Symptoms

Most often, physiological tremor is observed when the child is excited: nervousness, fear or strong emotions. It can be expressed in twitching of the lips, chin, upper and lower extremities. As a rule, its episodes are always associated with overstrain of the child’s nervous system and are short-term in nature.

With pathological tremor, which accompanies various disorders of the nervous system, other parts of the body (head, facial muscles, tongue and torso) may also be involved in twitching. Episodes of such tremors in children can be observed at rest or when trying to perform normal movements that are not associated with nervous tension. In addition to muscle twitching, symptoms of other disorders of the nervous system may be observed: headaches, poor sleep, excessive irritability.

Neurologists distinguish several types of tremor:

• Benign tremor – more often observed in adolescents, at first one hand may tremble, then the second is involved in the process; if not treated in a timely manner, trembling of the tongue, larynx and other parts of the body may appear.
• Postural tremor – more often transmitted by heredity, accompanied by disorders of the thyroid gland, nervousness and anxiety; trembling of the hands can usually only be noticed when they are extended.
• Intention tremor – develops with damage to the cerebellum, accompanied by difficult coordination of movements (the child experiences sharply defined “jerks” in habitual movements).
• Asterixis– the most severe form of tremor, which is accompanied by uncertain and slow attempts to flex and extend the upper limbs and occurs against the background of renal or liver failure.

Causes

The cause of physiological tremor in children after one year is the immaturity of the nervous system. As a rule, after its full maturity, episodes of “bouncing” disappear and leave no negative consequences.

The causes of pathological tremor in children over one year old can be various pathologies of both the nervous and other body systems:

• severe hypoxia during pregnancy;
• infectious diseases suffered by the mother;
• threat of miscarriage, rapid or premature birth;
• thyroid diseases;
• birth injuries;
• severe pathologies of the liver and kidneys;
• hereditary and degenerative diseases of the nervous system;
• neuroses and other nervous diseases.

Treatment

Treatment of tremor in children over one year of age is always long-term and complex. It can be prescribed only after a detailed neurological examination. In some cases, drug therapy is not prescribed and treatment is limited to:

• creating a calm and friendly environment in the family;
• carrying out medicinal baths with soothing herbs and infusions;
• frequent walks in the fresh air;
• breathing exercises;
• courses of soothing and relaxing massage;
• balanced diet .

If it is necessary to prescribe drug treatment, specialists take into account the cause of the development of tremor and the underlying disease causing this symptom. To get rid of twitching, beta-blockers, symptomatic or sedatives (including those of herbal origin) can be prescribed.

In rare cases, with lesions of the cerebellum, surgical treatment may be prescribed.

Tremor in a child after vaccination

In some cases, after receiving one or another vaccination, the child may experience increased tremors or tremor in the chin, arms or legs. These symptoms indicate overexcitation of the baby’s nervous system and require consultation with a neurologist to carry out a number of diagnostic procedures and exclude serious neurological pathologies:

• Ultrasound of the brain;
• EEG and Echo-EG of the brain.

If a pathology is detected, the doctor may prescribe a course of medication or physiotherapeutic treatment. Subsequent vaccinations may be delayed until the baby’s nervous system functions are restored.

In a child under 3 months of age, tremors after vaccination may also be physiological, accompanied by crying from pain. In this case, when the child calms down, the manifestations of tremor disappear. No treatment is required.

Tremor in a child after sleep

Tremor in a child after sleep can be physiological and pathological. With physiological tremor after sleep, which is observed in children under 3 (sometimes 4) months of age, the twitching quickly passes without threatening the baby’s health.

If a pathological tremor after sleep is detected, which can be observed in the presence of neurological and other diseases in older children, parents should consult a neurologist and conduct a series of prescribed examinations. After identifying the causes of pathological tremor, the doctor can recommend a course of treatment: relaxing massage, exercise therapy, air baths, baths with sedative herbs, physiotherapeutic procedures or drug treatment.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Parents, especially young ones, when a newborn baby appears in the family, look closely at his every movement. And much of the behavior of their beloved child seems to them to be abnormal, associated with some disease, although, if you look into it, it turns out that everything is within normal limits. Often, inexperienced parents are alarmed by trembling of the chin and hands. Trembling or spontaneous twitching (tremor) of the chin, arms and lower lip, especially when the baby cries, is considered an absolutely normal condition before the age of three months.

Table of contents:

Why does a newborn's chin shake?

Physiological tremor

The main cause of tremor can be considered to be incompletely refined functions of the central nervous system, and a concomitant factor is an incompletely formed hormonal system. The hormone norepinephrine, which is produced by the adrenal glands during stress, is responsible for muscle contraction. Considering the fact that in newborn children the adrenal glands are not fully developed, even with the slightest excitement they release a huge dose of norepinephrine into the blood, which causes tremors of the baby’s chin, lips and hands.

Note! In children, these phenomena are much more pronounced, because their central nervous system is in a more underdeveloped state compared to babies born at normal terms. It should be especially noted that after birth, the final formation of the nervous system lasts much longer than in the mother's womb.

Twitching of the chin and arms, which last a short time, also appears as a result of the baby’s expression of emotions, both negative and positive, that is, with any emotional overstimulation. Even when feeding or bathing, despite the purely pleasant sensations, a similar effect is observed quite often. Newborn babies, exploring the world around them, constantly learn something new, which in itself is small, and its fragile nervous system exhibits a violent reaction in the form of crying and tremors. Any discomfort, pain (for example, with gas in the stomach), hunger, heat, cold, and even a wet diaper or basic fatigue can cause crying and muscle twitching.

In principle, the reasons causing the condition in question can be listed ad infinitum, because the nervous system of a little person is very mobile, active and extremely easily excited. This condition goes away after reaching three months of age; in premature babies, the process of strengthening the nervous system is slightly delayed and requires a little more time. Therefore, if you notice signs of tremor in your baby, you should not panic.

Tremor of the chin in various pathologies

Chin tremor in infants can also occur with various pathologies. The main causes of pathological tremor are disorders of the brain and central nervous system:

• Their appearance can be caused by an infection, in most cases intrauterine.
• The brain also suffers as a result of birth injuries or those resulting from entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord, placental abruption, and other factors.
• Such risk factors include the threat of miscarriage, polyhydramnios, rapid labor and weak labor.
• If the expectant mother suffers a nervous disorder, then norepinephrine produced in her body can enter the blood of the fetus through the umbilical cord and provoke disturbances in the development of its endocrine and nervous systems.

What parents can do

Parents can take a number of measures aimed at reducing the number of twitches and preventing their occurrence:

In any case, you cannot do without visiting a neurologist, and it is especially important to get advice from a specialized doctor when the child is three, six and nine months old. During these periods, children experience the most intensive growth and development of the central and peripheral nervous systems, therefore, during these periods, the appearance of various neurotic pathologies is most likely.

In addition to the above periods, contacting a neurologist is also necessary in cases where certain symptoms occur:

• when the trembling does not go away after the child reaches six months of age; trembling of the chin and hands continuously lasts more than thirty seconds and occurs in a calm environment for no apparent reason;
• simultaneously with twitching of the arms and chin, a tremor of the head is observed, the trembling is characterized as large, literally “pounding”;
• during an attack, cyanosis (cyanosis) and perspiration appear on the baby’s skin;
• tremor appears continuously for several weeks in a row; pregnancy and childbirth occurred with a complicated history, which could lead to damage to the newborn’s brain as a result of oxygen starvation.

Having identified the pathologies that lead to twitching, the doctor prescribes treatment and, as a rule, the child’s condition quickly returns to normal, but only if all the prescriptions and recommendations of the specialist are strictly followed.

In official medicine it is called the word “tremor” - this term refers to all muscle contractions that occur involuntarily. In general, this symptom is considered quite common among infants - it indicates an incompletely formed nervous system and In addition, the baby’s chin can often tremble during strong emotional arousal, for example after crying. Usually this manifestation is accompanied by unconscious twitching of the hands.

Possible reasons

You will not notice a shaking chin in a newborn when the baby is in a calm state. However, if he is in pain, scared, wants to eat or is dissatisfied with something, the tremor is noticeable. The reason for this phenomenon is that the baby's nervous system develops quite gradually. In particular, the nerve centers responsible for the coordination of movements are activated from birth to three to four months. Surely you have noticed that the little ones are somehow “special” - with anguish, excitedly. It looks scary, but the explanation is quite simple: norepinephrine (a hormone produced by the endocrine glands) is not controlled by the center of the brain. When a baby becomes very excited, his entire nervous system reacts. Hence, therefore, if a child’s chin shakes after crying, watch him: if as the baby calms down, the tic stops, you have no reason to worry. However, if hypertonicity is observed, be sure to see your pediatrician.

Predisposition

As a rule, such a problem as a shaky chin in a newborn disappears without a trace by three months. However, why are some children constantly excited, while others react sluggishly to stimuli? Pediatricians say that the type of temperament plays an important role: it turns out that already in infancy you can determine what kind of character a little person is endowed with, and who he will be as an adult: an apathetic phlegmatic person, a sad melancholic person or a hot-tempered choleric person.

Developmental disorders

Do not forget that in some cases a shaky chin in a newborn is considered a symptom that the baby is not developing quickly enough. Associated signs to look out for are restless sleep and twitching of the entire head. For prevention, doctors advise bathing the baby in warm baths with chamomile and valerian, as well as giving him a special massage.

Prerequisites

There are a number of prerequisites for the development of tremor. For example, if a one-month-old baby's chin is shaking, he was most likely born premature. It is no coincidence that pregnant women are advised not to be nervous and to avoid any stress - this can also become a provoking factor, since the mother’s experiences are transmitted to the fetus. Difficult labor associated with hypoxia (for example, if the fetus is wrapped in the umbilical cord) negatively affects brain function, which is also considered one of the reasons for the development of tremor.

Treatment

Of course, it is best to contact someone about tremor. However, if for some reason you do not have this opportunity, use folk remedies. For example, a light massage of the whole body using oil, as well as daily bathing in warm water, helps a lot.

Tremor of the chin (lower part of the face or jaw) can be noticed in a baby when he sleeps, cries, or while breastfeeding. The reasons for this phenomenon can be both physiological and pathological. Most often, tremors occur in premature babies due to the immaturity of the nervous and endocrine systems. The best way to avoid worry and find out why a newborn’s chin is trembling is to consult your pediatrician.

Causes of tremor in children

Almost all babies experience stress after birth. One of these reactions of the infant body is a trembling of the chin. The world around them is not yet familiar to them, and it is very difficult to get used to it. At this age, their nervous system has not yet formed, so it reacts very sharply to all external stimuli.

Modern medicine identifies several main reasons why a child’s chin shakes. So, let's look at them separately:

Physiological. Unlike adults, the nervous system of a newborn child, which is responsible for coordinating his movements, is not yet fully formed. The infant body is not yet able to adequately respond to external stimuli. That’s why it happens that when feeding, crying loudly or taking long walks, the baby’s chin shakes. As the baby grows up, these processes disappear on their own.

The chin can also shake due to the immaturity of the adrenal glands, which in stressful situations produce an excessive amount of norepinephrine, as a result of which the baby develops a symptom of small tremors. Most often, this phenomenon is observed in premature babies who need special care from their parents.

Pathological. As a rule, these reasons are associated with disruptions in the activity of the endocrine or nervous system. Sources of pathological tremor in a child can be:

• prenatal condition of the mother - threat of fetal loss, polyhydramnios, infections;
• problems with childbirth - the fetus is entwined with the umbilical cord, problems with the placenta, bleeding;

As a result of these processes, the fetus develops cerebral hypoxia and other neurological diseases. If the disease is not stopped in time, then in addition to trembling (tremor), the baby may develop more serious health problems.

Trembling of the chin in newborns can be observed both during wakefulness and during sleep. This happens because the child cannot control muscle functions. If this is observed very strongly, then parents should not hesitate, but promptly seek help from a neurologist.

As a rule, the chin begins to shake only for the first 2-3 months after the birth of a newborn. Sometimes this phenomenon can appear on the lower lip and limbs.

The famous doctor Komarovsky claims that parents should have no reason to worry or panic, since over time, the baby will grow up and the trembling of the lower lip will disappear on its own.

Let's look at the symptoms that do not pose a danger to the child's health:

• rhythmic, non-impulsive trembling of the chin, arms, upper or lower lip. (The reason may be: long walks in the cold, discomfort from clothing or hunger);
• if the trembling of the lower jaw is short-term, that is, it lasts no more than 20–30 seconds;
• observed in infants up to 3 months of age.

What to do if your baby's chin is shaking

Typically, physiological tremor of the chin or lower lip is medicated will not require treatment, since it is temporary and there is no danger to the baby’s health. However, we should not forget that this phenomenon is the result of the immaturity of the nervous system, which has not yet adapted to external factors. In order to quickly reduce hypertension and improve the baby’s condition (restful sleep, protect from stress), special procedures are necessary.

What activities can calm a small child and reduce excessive excitement?

Most often, pediatricians prescribe to young patients:

• Water treatments. Bathing in a bath has a positive effect on the baby's body, especially on his nervous system.
• Healing herbs. Decoctions of herbs, lavender, and chamomile are the best sedative. They relax the body as a whole and promote healthy sleep.
• Body and tummy massage. The massage technique involves stroking all areas of the body and limbs.
• Physiotherapy. To strengthen the abdominal muscles, develop muscles and remove gas, you can use fitball exercises, which are preferably done in the evening.
• Calm atmosphere in the family– harmony in the family and love for children will relieve tremors forever!

If chin trembling in an infant is caused by hypoxia or other pathology, then a neurologist will prescribe medication.

If the child develops normally, without deviations, then closer to 2-3 months the tremor will disappear, and in the future, his chin will stop shaking.

Before giving medications to your baby, find out how long the treatment will last, what medications can be addictive, and what symptoms require re-examination. Such precautions will help to quickly make adjustments to the treatment process and promote a speedy recovery for the baby.

Summarize

Tremor in newborns can be caused not only by pathological diseases, but also by physiological processes. If your child is developing normally and his chin is shaking occasionally, don't panic too much. Try to observe the baby’s behavior for 2-3 days, and in case of alarming signals, hurry up to see a specialist neurologist.

A young mother is always worried if her baby has a fever, has a runny nose or often hiccups. Any deviation from the norm makes you nervous. It’s not difficult to fight a runny nose; hiccups can be easily eliminated by lifting the baby in your arms or wrapping him warmly in a blanket. But if a problem of an incomprehensible nature arises, the worries become even stronger. What to do when your newborn's chin is shaking? Is this normal or do I need to see a doctor urgently? What are the causes of tremor and how to eliminate it?

Why a newborn's chin may shake

The phenomenon in which a baby's chin shakes, arms and lower lip tremble when crying is called newborn tremor. This is a natural condition that does not threaten the baby’s health. It is considered a pathology if the trembling does not go away after three months of age. The main reason that causes trembling is the immaturity of the nervous and endocrine systems. Chaotic movements of the arms and legs, twitching of the head and chin gradually disappear when the nerve centers are finally formed. Tremors often occur in premature babies. Their nervous system takes longer to adapt to the environment and external conditions.

In fact, muscle twitching occurs by:

• Neurological factors - the child does not know how to coordinate movements and reacts this way to external stimuli: changing clothes, feeding, bathing, crying. In some cases, short-term tremors occur with colic, bright light, loud noises, extreme hunger, thirst - all this can cause the chin to tremble.
• Hormonal factors - norepinephrine (stress hormone) in newborn children is intensely released into the blood, overstimulating the nervous system.

Added to all this is infantile hypertonicity, with which all babies are born. Physiological tremor leaves no consequences and disappears by 3-4 months.

The baby's head is shaking

If not only your chin but also your head is shaking, this may indicate a serious neurological disorder. In this case, you should consult a doctor. Pathological tremor often manifests itself in twitching of the chin, limbs, eyelids, tongue, and head. The frequency and duration of trembling increases noticeably.

The causes of the pathology may be:

• oxygen starvation (hypoxia) during pregnancy;
• weak labor activity;
• birth injuries;
• premature placental separation;
• polyhydramnios;
• entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord;
• threat of self-abortion;
• infectious diseases;
• stress experienced during pregnancy.

Physiological tremors are activated by overexertion, provoked by fear and do not appear at rest. The attacks are weak and short. The chin shakes, sometimes the limbs, and the lower lip may tremble.

Important! If the tremors do not go away by three months, parents should consult a specialist.

Serious signs of tremor and muscle hypertonicity include severe flexion and trembling of the limbs, when the child cannot be at rest, cries all the time, feels discomfort, refuses to eat and sleep. At this time, he can tilt his head, clenching his fists tightly. If the pathology is not detected in a timely manner, inhibited development of motor skills and severe disorders of the nervous system may develop.

What to do if your baby has tremors

If a mother notices a trembling of her baby's lower lip or chin, she needs to track when this happens and how often. The chin shakes at rest or during feeding, when the newborn cries or when playing. If tremor is accompanied by poor sleep, muscle tremors, twitching of the head and limbs, you need to contact a neurologist.

When the doctor examines the baby, he may prescribe treatment. There is no need to neglect his recommendations and you should start therapy immediately.

A neurologist may prescribe:

• Massage with a relaxing and strengthening effect is allowed from the 6th week. Babies do not always receive a relaxing massage from a stranger. During the procedure, the child may cry loudly and be nervous. If this happens, it cannot be called a relaxing massage. You can make it at home. The touch of your mother's hands will bring more benefits than a course of therapeutic massage done by an experienced nurse. The main thing is that she shows how to do it correctly. These are simple rubbing, kneading, stroking for 20 minutes. All movements are performed smoothly and directed from the bottom to the top.
• Gymnastics. It is important not to perform exercises using the strength of the baby. If he resists, you need to wait until the mood appears. Gymnastics is performed by gently shaking the head, bending and straightening the arms and legs.
• Baths with herbs that have a calming effect. These are peppermint, sage, valerian, lemon balm, motherwort, chamomile.
• Swimming. In this case, the newborn should be avoided diving.

If the use of baths, physical procedures and massage do not produce results, the doctor may prescribe drug treatment in the form of antihypoxic drugs. These are drugs that stimulate the flow of oxygen to brain tissue. Pathological tremor requires constant monitoring by a specialist. In some cases it is treated surgically. The consequences of the disease are extremely severe. If left untreated, it can develop into severe forms of intellectual disability or cerebral palsy.

A mother who notices trembling lips or a trembling chin in her baby should:

• create a calm and comfortable environment for the child;
• feeding, changing clothes, bathing, walking should be done in a quiet peaceful environment, fenced off from stressful situations;
• follow the baby's daily routine;
• perform daily gymnastics and give a light massage to the newborn;
• turn on calm melodic music;
• bathe your baby in herbal infusions, swim with him in the pool or bath;
• feed the baby on demand and ensure close physical contact;
• maintain optimal room temperature;
• if the baby cries, do not shake the rattle over him, but take him in your arms and rock him a little;
• In the first year, regularly visit a pediatric neurologist until the child’s nervous system is completely strengthened.