Infant Tremors

My daughter did this around the same age. I freaked out! I thought something was wrong also but she was developementaly on target. She actually grew out of them in a few months.

I personally have no experience with this, but I have seen two pediatric neurologists for two of my kids at separate times for other things. Dr. Burris and Dr. Callahan are both in the St. Louis area, but I don't know if/what they specialize in within the pediatric neurology field. I'd get it checked out if it will just put your mind at ease. Just let your pediatrician know you were worried. She probably could refer you to a neurologist, too. What if you kept a diary of when it happens and what else is going on with him at the time?

Hi C.
I don't remember how old my son was when I noticed his hands doing that, but it was always when he just woke up or if I had to wake him up, he was pretty young.
He is 5 now and this has resolved. I worried about it at first also, but his pediatrician wasn't worried either, and he's doing great. I think they are disoriented when they wake up or something.

Better to be on the side of caution.
I would get a 2nd opinion.
The could be & probably not
I have no confidence in.
It very well could be what
you were told, but why not
double check?

One of my girls had something similar at the same age. We would notice it when she was sitting in her swing or the exersaucer. My pediatrician said it was development. Then I got worried and started to think it was getting worse so he sent us to a specialist and they did an eeg. They gave her benedryl or something to makeher sleep (I think we had to wake her early in the morning and keep her awake which was stressful). It was a simple procedure where they put electrodes on her head.
Came back perfectly normal and it disappeared shortly after that.
I dont' think it really was getting worse. I think I just started to notice it more and my parents kept noticing it and saying stuff so that got me scared.
So, long story short, the pediatrician wasn't worried, I got pretty edgy, stressed and went to a specialist and come to find out the pediatrician was right!
So, you can wait it out. Or, after we waited forever to take one of my girls (twins, first children) to a specialist for a different issue, I have been so overwrought with guilt for waiting that we go to a specialist pretty quickly. I figure that's what insurance is for.

The same thing was happening to my youngest son except his legs would also be very stiff and shake. People would think that he was shaking because he was cold, but that wasn't the case. Our pediatrician referred us to a pediatric neurologist who ran an EEG to see if it was seizures. The test came back negative. The doctor was thinking that it could possibly be autism because of other things that my son would do. He was developmentally behind with sitting, crawling, etc. He would often bang his head on the floor and sit and turn himself in circles or hit himself (between 10-12 months). The doctor recommended therapy. Our parents as teachers put us in touch with First Steps. Our son was tested and qualified for First Steps and now has a developmental and occupational therapist visit once a week. In just a few weeks he will also receive speech therapy (he is almost 2 now and not even really babbling). I have seen a huge improvement in my son since he started getting the therapy through First Steps.
I hope that me writing this doesn't scare you because it doesn't mean that your son will be developmentally behind or autistic, but I just wanted to let you know that the shaking was the first thing that I questioned with my son. I would just watch for other signs and if you see any let your doctor know. I had no idea that it would lead me in the direction of finding out that my son was developmentally delayed.

It is normal for infants to have tremors, especially in the hands and arms, it is usually a sign of their nervous system not being fully developed! Try not to get too concerned until he reaches 12-18 months, if he is still having tremors it is wise to do an EEG (to rule out seizure activity) and see a pediatric neurologist. My daughter had tremors as an infant that did not go away and was diagnosed with essential tremors at the age of 2, she is now 5 and we struggle with her fine motor skills and she gets frustrated, but it is something we can live with, she is happy, healthy, and smart. Good luck with your baby boy, stay aware of his body and development, but try to enjoy his baby-hood and not stress over the unknown just yet :)!!!

~D.~

My nephew was premature and he his little hands and feet would shake all the time. As he got bigger he did it less and less until it went away completely. Sometimes when they are tired they don't have as much control of their muscles when they are little. As long as he doesn't have anything else abnormal going on, just watch him but he will probably grow out of it as he gains better control of his larger muscles.