Gina Johnson
It can be alarming to see your newborn twitching in their sleep, but it's a common occurrence and usually a normal part of their development. The medical term for this phenomenon is benign neonatal sleep myoclonus, characterised by quick, repetitive muscle jerks during sleep. These twitches are believed to be linked to sensorimotor development, helping newborns understand their limbs and their functions. While benign neonatal sleep myoclonus is generally harmless, there are rare cases where sleep twitching can indicate a more serious issue, such as infantile spasms or epilepsy, requiring medical attention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical term | Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus |
| Cause | Newborn reflexes such as the moro reflex or tonic neck reflex |
| Part of development | Learning about their limbs and what they can do |
| Dreaming | More common in NREM sleep but can occur in REM sleep |
| Twitching duration | Less than a second |
| Movements per second | Four or five |
| Episode duration | 1 minute to 15 minutes |
| Onset | Within the first month after birth |
| Most severe symptoms | Between 2 and 5 weeks of age |
| Resolution | Symptoms eventually resolve on their own |
| Occurrence | All sleep stages |
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What You'll Learn
Newborn reflexes, such as the moro reflex or tonic neck reflex
Newborns exhibit a range of reflexes, such as the Moro reflex and the tonic neck reflex, which are involuntary muscle responses to specific stimuli. These reflexes are essential for the baby's survival and typically disappear within the first few months as the baby's brain matures and develops voluntary movements.
The Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, is a protective response to sudden movements or loud noises. When startled, the baby's head falls backward, and they extend their arms and legs, with palms facing up and thumbs flexed. They may also cry loudly. When you support their head again, they bring their arms back in and relax. This reflex usually disappears by the time the baby is 2 months old.
The tonic neck reflex, or fencer's posture, occurs when the baby is lying on their back. When you turn the baby's head to one side, the arm on that side straightens with the hand partially open, while the opposite arm bends and flexes, with the fist clenched. This reflex is often associated with the baby's ability to support their head while awake.
Other reflexes seen in newborns include the rooting reflex, which helps the baby find the breast or bottle for feeding, and the hand-to-mouth reflex, which goes along with rooting and sucking. The walking or dance reflex is observed when a baby appears to take steps or dance when held upright with their feet touching a solid surface. Additionally, there are reflexes that persist into adulthood, such as the blink reflex, sneeze reflex, yawn reflex, cough reflex, and gag reflex.
These reflexes are normal and help with the baby's development. However, it is important to monitor your baby's reflexes to ensure they are developing properly. In rare cases, twitching during sleep may be a sign of benign neonatal sleep myoclonus, a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by rapid twitches that can resemble seizures but are typically harmless and resolve on their own.
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Dreaming
Newborns spend about 50% of their sleep in REM sleep, according to estimates by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is much higher than the 20% of REM sleep that adults experience. This is why it is thought that newborns might dream more than adults. However, it is not known for sure whether newborns dream, and if they do, what they dream about.
Neuroscientists believe that for dreaming to occur, children must have acquired the capacity to imagine things. In other words, they must be able to construct visual and spatial images in their mind. Since newborns cannot do this, it is unlikely that they dream in the same way adults do. However, some researchers believe that newborns may dream of sensory experiences from the womb, such as the feeling of being rocked or the sound of their mother's heartbeat. Others believe that a newborn's dream is a jumble of random sensations and images. As they get older, their dreams may become more similar to those of adults, with characters and a plot.
Some babies smile or laugh in their sleep, while others make suckling motions with their mouth, which may indicate that they are dreaming about feeding. Many babies also twitch and make noises in their sleep, but this is considered normal and is known as the Moro or startle reflex, which peaks around one month and then starts to go away after two months.
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Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus
The condition is considered harmless and is not due to serious neurological injuries or abnormalities. Brain waves in benign neonatal sleep myoclonus do not resemble those of seizures, although the muscle twitches may look similar. It is generally reported in otherwise healthy newborns without signs of neurological compromise, and the myoclonic activity stops immediately upon waking. Symptoms of benign neonatal sleep myoclonus mostly occur during quiet sleep, which is more or less equivalent to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in adults. However, some studies have observed symptoms in all sleep stages.
The true incidence of benign neonatal sleep myoclonus is unknown, but it is likely underrecognized. It may have a genetic component, as it has been reported in multiple family members, and there is an increased incidence in infants of mothers with opioid dependency. Although benign neonatal sleep myoclonus usually resolves on its own within the first three months of age, it can sometimes continue beyond this period. By the infant's first birthday, 97% of infants no longer have symptoms.
If you notice that your newborn is exhibiting unusual movements during sleep, it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional to rule out any potential underlying causes and ensure your baby's well-being.
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Positive and negative myoclonus
Myoclonus is a type of uncontrollable movement that includes sudden, brief involuntary twitching, jerking, or spasms of a single muscle or a group of muscles. It is not a disease itself, but a sign of another neurological condition. Myoclonus usually happens due to a disruption of the brain or spinal cord, or after an injury to the peripheral nerves.
Positive myoclonus is caused by a muscular contraction, which results in a sudden muscle contraction or a 'sleep start'. It is generally more common than negative myoclonus. Negative myoclonus, on the other hand, is caused by an interruption of muscular activity, or a sudden cessation of ongoing muscular activity. This can cause postural lapses, and when the trunk or lower limbs are involved, it can cause a person to fall. Both types of myoclonus can co-exist, and they can occur as isolated or random events or show repetitiveness.
In newborns, sleep myoclonus is usually benign neonatal sleep myoclonus, a sleep-related movement disorder that occurs in very young infants. The episodes are short, with each twitch lasting less than a second, and the entire episode lasting from a minute to 15 minutes. The symptoms start within the first month after birth and eventually resolve on their own. Researchers believe that these twitches are linked to sensorimotor development, activating circuits throughout the developing brain and teaching newborns about their limbs.
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Link to sensorimotor development
Newborn twitching during sleep, also known as sleep myoclonus, is generally considered normal. While the exact causes are still being studied, researchers have found a link between sleep twitching and sensorimotor development.
UI researchers believe that infants' twitches during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are linked to sensorimotor development. When a newborn's body twitches during sleep, it is believed to activate circuits throughout the developing brain, teaching them about their limbs and what they can do with them. This is supported by research on animals, which suggests that activating these circuits helps the brain process sensory input and map out the sensorimotor system.
The study of sleep twitching in newborns is a growing area of research, with parents being recruited to share observations of their children's sleep twitches and physical activities while awake. Early observations show intriguing relationships between twitching and the motor skills that babies are developing. For example, neck twitches during sleep may be related to the baby's ability to support their head while awake, and twitching in the wrists and fingers may increase as the baby starts to reach for things.
Furthermore, understanding early motor and sensorimotor development is key to understanding typical development and can also provide insights into neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Researchers have studied brain and muscle activity in babies with benign neonatal sleep myoclonus, finding that while muscle twitches resemble those during a seizure, brain waves do not.
Overall, while the exact mechanisms are still being explored, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests a strong link between newborn sleep twitching and sensorimotor development.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns twitch in their sleep for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is reflexes such as the moro reflex or tonic neck reflex. It could also be because they are dreaming, or because they are going through sensorimotor development, which activates circuits throughout their developing brains, teaching them about their limbs and what they can do with them.
Newborns twitching in their sleep is very common and usually harmless. It is often a normal part of their development. However, if you are concerned, speak to a medical professional.
The medical term for newborn sleep twitching is benign neonatal sleep myoclonus. It is a sleep-related movement condition that happens primarily during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.
Each individual twitch lasts less than a second, with four or five movements occurring per second. An entire episode typically lasts anywhere from a minute to 15 minutes. Rarely, episodes may last for over an hour.
If the twitching stops immediately upon waking, it is likely harmless myoclonic twitches. If the twitching continues when the baby is awake, you may be dealing with a seizure issue such as infantile spasms, benign familial neonatal convulsions, or febrile seizures. Consult a medical professional if you are concerned.
