1 Year Old Twitches and Jerks When Falling Asleep

Updated on June 01, 2008
A.B. asks from Edwardsville, IL
15 answers

My just turned one year old little girl twitches and jerks when she starts falling asleep. She's done this for a few months now. Sometimes it's just a little twitching in her feet, and other times several body parts will jump and twitch! Sometimes she'll even kick a leg way up in the air, an arm will jerk up, or her head will jerk to one side. Once or twice, a big twitch will even wake her up! Once she's asleep, she no longer twitches. I'm assuming this is just her muscles way of relaxing, but would like to get your opinions. Thank you!

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L.B.

answers from St. Louis on

The twitching movements are called myoclonic movements and they are very normal and almost everyone has them from time to time when they are falling asleep or are asleep.

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K.C.

answers from Wichita on

Personally I do this at night sometimes. I also know that my boys (6 & 2) & my husband also do this. We don't do it every night, but I'm quite sure it is normal. If you are concerned, talk to her dr.!

God Bless!

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G.C.

answers from Springfield on

My son is 3 now and he twitches & jerks when he is dreaming. Sometimes he mumbles, talks, laughs and occasionally even sings! Once he stops all this, he settles into a nice, deep sleep. (That's when I can lay him down or move him if need be!)

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J.W.

answers from Wichita on

My 9 month old does the same thing and has for a couple of months now. I was concerened at first, but found we he's super tired and relaxed in my arms is when it happens. I find that when I'm super tired as well, I do it too. Hope this helps!

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B.S.

answers from Joplin on

Video tape it and show it to your pediatrician. Our granddaughter's neurologist actually gave us that advice when she was doing something similar in her sleep.

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K.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Totally normal, happens to my husband almost nightly, more so when he is really tired. My youngest( 2 1/2 does it too) Soemtimes it doesn't wake him, but usually he'll open his eyes for a tiny bit and drift back off to dream land.

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D.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it is worrying you I would talk to your doctor about it. I've jerked and twitched falling to sleep for as long as I remember. When we would have sleepovers my friends would always gripe about me twitching in my sleep. My husband has gotten used to it, now he knows the more i twitch and jerk the more exhausted i am. My daughter has done it to, ever since she was born. I never gave it a second thought because i do it.

I think it is just a normal variant in human behavior. However, any time you are worried about something, talk to your doctor.

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T.R.

answers from Joplin on

i would probably not be too concerned by that but i would definitely bring it up to your pediatrician..ask about the possibility of myoclonic jerking, just to be safe. goodluck!

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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

I know this happens to alot of adults and children and I have heard that it's because they don't want to fall asleep or their mind is racing. Once the mind slows down you can fall asleep. I do it and so do all my kids. Hope this helps.

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A.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I wouldn't worry too much... This actually happens to ME all the time, and my husband makes fun of me for it. I would say your guess is right: it's just her muscles' way of relaxing...

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M.S.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi A.. My 20 month old does the same thing sometimes. Not sure what causes it but I've even caught myself twitching the same way from time to time when it wakes me. So take comfort in knowing your daughter isn't the only one.

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A.B.

answers from St. Louis on

My twin boys (now 4) have jerked and twitched in their sleep since they were about a year old, I never thought anything about it either. The problem continued and began to interfere with sleep. After many tests and doctor visits, we discovered they were actually having seizures at night while sleeping. I'm not suggesting thats what is going on, you just may want to mention it to your pediatrician and monitor it, or video tape it. Since putting our boys on meds, most of the night jerking (seizing) has stopped. Good luck.

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C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

i haven't seen my son do this but i've experienced it, usually when i'm more tired than normal or i've had a very physical day. i think it's just the muscles' way of "letting go" of all that pent up energy, from being used so much. it's almost like when i have a busy/stressful/hectic day, my muscles are tensed up a bit more than normal, in preparation for the next "thing"...so when i lay down it's this wierd jerky twitchy thing going on, en route to relaxation. she's getting to a very active age, i'm sure your daughter is like my son - never sitting still! i bet her body is just in the process of slowing down. i would mention it to her ped. at her next appointment just to cover all your bases.

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G.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I would talk to her Pediatrician and get her in to see a pediatric neurologist. I was surprised to hear that so many children and adults do this. I would check it out and I would not wait. Sincerely, G.

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P.L.

answers from Springfield on

My children use to be very active, and would kick when they were falling asleep; one of them kicked all the time, he kicked the spokes out of his crib! There was nothing wrong with him. That being said, I would talk with my doctor about this. If you are holding her in your arms when she is falling asleep does she just sort of stare off? Some children have seizures and they occur during the early stages of sleep. My grandson has seizures and his started at 6 months of age. This could be a minor seizure of some kind, but most likely it isn't, however I would ask my doctor about it. I would also warn you not to have all of your childs immunization shots at the same time, spread them out. Just have one at a time. That is what caused my grandsons problems. Best of luck to you and your beautiful daughter.

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