Head tremors infants

[tonazme]

I have a 7 month old and we have noticed head tremors for the last 5 months. Occasionally it seems like his arms may tremor too, but weare so panicked with each occurence that it is hard to tell. They occure mainly when he is having a bottle (or nursing) and falling asleep. Once it happened while he was falling asleep but was not nursing or bottle feeding, just sucking on a pacifier. I spoke to our pediatrition and he thought it was something he would out grow. He did not feel that it was seizure related since it was only his head. He said not to worry about them and there was no need to interrupt them. They have tapered off over the last month or so because he has been eating more solids than bottles and he is not falling asleep while eating. They really freak me out and I can't help but get scared and worried about them. No one I have spoke with has experienced anything like this with their own children nor have I with my previous two. Can anyone give me some advice?

[acuann]

Sorry to hear about your little one. How long do these episodes last - seconds or minutes? Does he take both formula and breastmilk? What type of formula? Do you notice any vision changes with the episodes? Are his eyes usually open or closed? Does he feel cold or warm when having the episodes? Has he been on any medications, including antibiotics over the past five months? Did you have a normal pregnancy and labor?

sorry for so many questions, but will help to clarify.
Best wishes
DOM

DOM, thanks for replying. Ryker was an invetro baby and his embyo was frozen for about 13 months. We did not have to use ixy for the egg to fertilize. He was a normal pregnancy and a scheduled c-section. He had high biliruben and had trouble nursing at first, but bili never exceeded 18.He lost about 1.2lbs the first week. We did suppliment with enfamil for the first 1.5months then he was strictly breast. The tremors started around the third month, but only when he was fed breast milk in a bottle. These episodes happened when he is very tired and falling asleep. He stops sucking and then his head will tremor. His eyes are closed. I removed the bottle immediately and wake him. They last for about 10 seconds. As he has aged, they are less frequent. I stopped breast feeding at six months, but started supplimenting at four months because of supply and demand problems. Now that he is taking solids more and less bottles, they are a seldom occurence. I think because I try not to bottle feed when he is so close to bedtime. As far as being warm, He is like a furnace when he takes a bottle or even rocks to sleep. He was also taking prevaced at two months of age but we only kept him on it for a little more than a month. I'm not sure, but I don't think we had head tremors until after prevaced. He has reached all of his milestones and is a very active normal 7 3/4 month old. He eats good, sleeps well and plays happily. What do you think?

I would love to find out if you have heard any more about this. This exactly what is happening occasionally with my 5 1/2 month old. It started just a couple of weeks ago and it has happened in exactly the same manner as you described. It has occurred probably 6 times. We are also completely freaked out (which is why I'm online trying to find out what it may be).

Alanna

[tonazme]

Alana, Thanks for replying. It is nice (in a way) that someone else is familiar with these symptoms. It sure is scarey when they occur. I have tried to avoid any bottle feedings when Ryker is realy tired and then when I do feed him I keep him stimulated so he doesn't dose off. The episodes do not occur as frequently now I am sure because he is eating more solids. I have evaluated Ryker as best I can to see if there is anything with his behavior, development, body movements that would raise red flags to something not right and I just don't see any. How about you? I have asked my sister-in-law to pose our concerns to a pediatric neurologist that she is aquainted with and I am anxiously waiting to hear. When I do, I will post it. Please keep me updated with your situation too. Our pediatrician said not to worry about them that they are probably a reflux of some kind. I have al ot of faith in my pediatrician, but this still is quite concerning because the episodes are so unnerving to me. Take care.

[acuann]

tonazme,
Since the episodes are becoming much less frequent, and your little one is showing no other unusual signs and symptoms and is making all of his milestones - I really wouldn't worry . Babies often have unusual twitches and ticks and they are normal and nothing to worry about...I know this is hard - my little girl had a lot of birth trauma, and she showed an abnormal eeg with seizure like activity...they had her on antiseizure meds just to be safe (she never had an actual seizure) and I was frantically worried. But after a few weeks she seemed perfectly fine, and her 3 week eeg was completely clear. She is now 2 years old and doing great! I remember when she was very young, a few months old, she would occasionally have a "shaking" sort of sensation, lasting only a few seconds. She stopped this after 5 or 6 months as I remember.

If your little one has reflux symptoms - please look into trying a therapy called NAET. This will get to the bottom of what is causing the reflux, usually a food allergy. NAET will clear this allergy from his system and he will no longer have problems. Prilosec only treats symptoms and doesn't address the cause... www.naet.com for more info on this gentle, noninvasive treatment.

Best wishes
DOM

[tonazme]

DOM, Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. The episodes are much less frequent, maybe 1 per week, if that. I'm sure it is because I am avoiding situations that seem to bring on the episodes. Ryker is 8 months old now and appears to be doing great in all aspects. He does not have trouble with reflux and hasn't since about four months. I'm sure his troubles probably were due to an immature sphyncter. We see the pediatritian next month and will direct any abnormal occurences to him and pray that there is no more. Thanks again.

I've been gone for a while and so have not had the opportunity to check back in. I'm glad that you're son's tremors have lessened. When I spoke to my son's doctor about his episodes, she said not to worry about them. She told me that it's the product of an immature nervous system. Alexander seems to have them only about once a week and always when he is dozing off at the bottle (at least that's the only time I notice them). I have taken her advice (not to worry)...he is developing very well and seems to have no other problems.

I wish you and Ryker the best!
Alanna

Alaana, Thanks for the reply. Ryker is now nine months old and, knock on wood, we have not seen any tremors in quite a long time. It is good to know that others have seen the same symptoms. Our doctor has said not to worry either and we have had not developmental delays thus far, so I think things are going to be just fine. Take care.

My son does the same thing. When he is getting a bottle and asleep he has what look like tiny tiny seizures but only in his head. His head tremors slightly and just as soon as it started it stops. They usually last about 15-45 seconds. Have you tried waking him up in the middle of one? What happened? My son opened his eyes but seemed so sleepy and lithargic following his first episode that I just let it happen.