Signs of Infant Cerebral Palsy

Parents of children with cerebral palsy will notice developmental delays in their children before the age of three (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). In many cases, the child may be unable to roll over, sit, crawl, smile, or even walk. Doctors aren't quite sure what causes cerebral palsy, though some causes may allude to early childhood illnesses, brain injury or problems within the womb (Mayo Clinic).

Hypotonia

• Hypotonia is an early indicator that your child may have cerebral palsy. The muscles within the body become relaxed, almost as if they have become floppy in motion.

Hypertonia

• Hypertonia is the opposite of hypotonia, and your child's muscles will seem stiff as a board. Children who initially experience hypotonia may sometimes develop hypertonia.

Motor Coordination

• Some children with cerebral palsy may have muscle twitching (almost as if they're spastic), or one side of the body may move easier than the other. Sometimes the hands will form fists, and the child may not want to release her fists.

Feeding

• In infants, feeding may be difficult. They may have a hard time sucking or swallowing, and their tongues may sometimes forcefully push food out of their mouths.

Crying

• While it is normal for an infant to cry, infants with cerebral palsy cannot be calmed. They are extremely fussy, and their cries are unusual and high-pitched.

Other Signs

• Within the first three months of life, some infants with cerebral palsy may also stare off into space, continual blink their eyes, twitch, or even have seizures. You may also begin to notice excessive drooling, that your child's head is too small and not developing normally, or that he is not sufficiently gaining weight.