Twitching in Sleep

Could be restless leg syndrome. The only thing I've found recommended for it is iron supplement. Maybe a little massage as he's falling asleep?

I would try the chiropractic, too.

I have always twitched in my sleep, and my son and husband do it too. I've noticed that it only happens when we're really tired and worn out. I think it's probably normal, but if you're concerned you should call your pediatrician.

People with sleep apnea do this also. They stop breathing, and the brain makes the body move to get them to breathe again. you may check their breathing, to see if this is an issue, or may be nightmares.

At our house, we call it "chasin' rabbits" (after watching our beagle to it all of the time when she sleeps). It is perfectly normal, your son is dreaming. It is not disrupting his sleep, you have to be in the deepest state of sleep to dream ~ REM.

Did it happen when he first fell asleep? If so, I think it's just his muscles relaxing...which is very normal, especially if you're very tired.

Hello there. I am a mother of 4 ages 8,5,3 and 3 weeks. I would watch for the next week and see if it happens again. It could just be muscle spasms,but it could be a seizure. My 8 year has the just like you describe a few times a year. He doesn't need medicine for it but every kid is different. You should let your doctor know. It most likely is nothing but just in case.

Hi K.,
I am a 61 year old grandmother but when my middle son was a few months old, he began twitching in his arms and legs not only at night but throughout the day. I know this is a longshot but when I took him to the doctor, he suspected a possible magnesium deficiency. We had to admit him to the hospital overnight for a 24 hour urine sample. He indeed had a magnesium deficienty and was given a load of magnesium by injection early the next morning. When we saw him that next morning, he was like a different child; very calm. The twitching stopped. A few months later the doctor gave him a prescription for liquid magnesium that we gave him for a month or so and from then on, he was fine. The doctor said he would get the magnesium he needed from his diet. I guess it's worth asking your doctor about. Not a serious thing!

I am very familiar with your situation. I have twin boys that are now 4 years old and I began noticing them both twitching at about a year old also. Many tests and doctor visits later we found out they were actually having seizures. Our neurologist said that seizing is much more active at night and you may notice no other symptom. When we took our boys in for an eeg and they went to sleep, you could see the seizing in their brain activity as they twitched while sleeping. I don't know if this helps, but maybe something to look into. Good luck.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
I am a happily married mother of 4 ages 5, 4, 4, and 3.

If he has never done it before then I would be concerned. My son started that when he was 2 days old. He quit nursing and cried when he was doing it. I took him to my chiropractor and Kevin had a sublixation in his neck causing it. As soon as he was adjusted he started eating again and quit the twitches. It's worth having him checked out, if there is a problem it can really make things difficult when he is growing and as he gets older. Dr Clarke is wonderful with kids, he has 6 of his own and 3 little grandchildren.

I go to
Dr. Clarke
13849 S Mur-Len Rd Ste E
Olathe, KS 66062
###-###-####

Have a great day
S.

I would monitor him again and see if this is a regular thing. Did he do it for a long period of time? I would write down exactly how long it lasts and if his behavior after sleep is altered. Then I would call the pediatrician. If you are nervous anyway call, it couldn't hurt, but I would monitor some more to see if this is a pattern. They will probably want more information and so will you.

Melanie in Swansea, IL

I believe my son does the same thing. I never thought much about it. He is now two. My husband and I refer to his as the whiling dervish, or a tornado.
He is super active boy, and I just thought that maybe it was a way for his muscles to relax or repair at nite.
I don't really have any suggestions. Just thought that maybe another mom with the same thing might comfort ya
good luck
jess

At times I twitch in my sleep, too!! Not all the time, it seems like it goes in spurts. I think it has to do with what stage of sleep I am in, and how tired I am. I think it's kind of funny--sometimes I do twitch so hard that I wake myself up and catch myself doing it!!! I wouldn't worry about it.

My granddaughter's neurologist suggested we video tape her while she was twiching in her sleep, so he could see if she was actually having seizures.
I am NOT suggesting your child may be having seizures ! It doesn't sound like that is happening at all. More likely it is dreaming, or possibly sleep apnea.
My point is this .... the doctor said it was very hard for him to make a diagnosis on just a description of what we saw. Viewing the video tape was much more helpful for him.

I've never seen a child do this, but I know my husband does this for a while when he is falling asleep.

Could it be that you are seeing him when he is dreaming? My son twitches quite a bit and even talks in his sleep for short periods of time randomly throughout the night. Sometimes he laughs or even sings!(I love it!) After a short time of this, he settles back in to a sound sleep.

My husband does it, too. Very normal!

I'd mentioned this to your pediatrician at his 1 yr.old check up.