Toddler Tenses up and Shakes Fists - Help!

This sounds very similar to the way my son looks when we ask him to show us his muscles. We were playing around and showing him how to flex like a body builder and this is his response. I agree with other posts that you should ask him to do it, maybe right after he finishes one time ask him to do it again. If he can repeat it, he probably does not have a problem.

Hi J.,
My kids have both done the same thing and I have seen many other children do this. I think they do it because they like the way it feels. It is a sensation they can control. Just another new thing they have learned to do with their muscles. I didn't worry about it.

How long has it been going on? I would check with a ped. just in case he is having mini seizures or something. Sometimes they are hardly noticeable. Check it out .Be safe. Jc

If you haven't already done it - GET TO THE PEDIATRICIAN'S OFFICE ASAP. It sounds like epilepsy; confirm it or rule it out, but this is one for the doctor to figure out for sure.

You should check with your pediatrician about seizures. They may be very minor, but what you describes sounds like minor seizures.
Good luck!

My granddaughter, who is 18 months old, does all the above from time to time. She has normal social skills, interacts with other children, very expressive and great imaginative play skills. However, she seems to get overly excited or frustrated and does exhibit those behaviors above, especially shaking/trembling fists, trembling head movement, clenching teeth and fists. It doesn't last long and sometimes even laughs afterwards. I truly belive she is just expressing emotions without words and once she is able to put words to her emotions, she will grow out of the behaviors. I may see it twice in one day and then nothing at all for several days or weeks. I wouldn't get too concerned unless your child continues this behavior after he/she is able to verbally express emotions. Encourage him to use words or ask "are you angry?" or "are you excited?" My older brother used to hold his breath, along with his cousin, when he got upset and they would both pass out--part of the terrible twos. If your child continues beyond toddler-time, then having him/her evaluated by a doctor sounds like a good direction to pursue.

These are the same symtoms my daughter had when she was diagonosed with a siezure disorder. You need to take him to the doctor and have an EEG. Don't panic, most siezure disorders are totally treatable with medication and most kids outgrow them but you want to get it diagnosed as soon as possible so it doesn't mess with his development.

T.

Hi J.,
I responded to your first request and it looks like you got great advice from a lot of moms. Most agree that you should take your baby to the dr. You will find out whats going on and take care of it and feel much better about things. I know this is stressful and I am sure you will feel much better after seeing a dr.
Good luck
J.

I would discuss this with his pediatrician - there may be some medical cause.

Sounds like frustration/anger to me-- but hard to tell without seeing it. If you have a digital camera, try recording it to show your pediatrician at your next visit.
The only other thing I can think of is a small (petite mal) seizure--- but I don't really think it is that. (you can look it up on a medical info site if you are concerned).
Some kids are really willful, wanting control over the world, and can get surprisingly angry, either at themselves or at inanimate objects when they are not able to accomplish something they have their mind set on. My youngest is like that.

I'd check this one out with a pediatrician, sounds a bit like seizures. In a seizure, a person would be unresponsive to you, I think--does he hear/see you during these episodes?

Just a thought from someone who used to work with seizure-prone kids.

J.

if it is anything like what my nephew and my own three kids used to do it was more like a game. We used to call it he-man and it is almost like they're trying to see how many muscles they can tense up at once. Does he ever do it on command? With one of my nephews he would do it when you asked him to.
If you are worried that it is something medical-take him to the doctor. If it was a seizure he would probably not just go back to playing like normal. But if you are worried have him checked out- better safe then sorry.

hey J. - our daughter used to do what you've described, around the same age -
we called it "crazy face" and she could/would do it on command - i think it feels good to them to tense all those muscles, it's an exploration of muscle, and the reaction they get from us when they do it is enough reason to do it again!
by all means take him to the doctor (i'd be curious to hear what they say!) but as with our daughter, if they can do it on command/prompt them i'd think it isn't a neurological or seizure-type thing...
cheers!
S.
p.s. now, at age 3 1/2, she'll still do "crazy face" for us but it isn't nearly as dramatic as it was when she was little, so it's also an exploration he'll grow out of it seems...

My son is 14 months and he started doing something similar starting at 11 months. It was a game with him in which he tenses everything up clenching his teeth and fists and with wide eyes and would usually do it on command. It was his "strong man" game. Not sure if this is the same time for your son.

I know this post is old, I have seen this same exact thing and I am worried about it as well. DId you find out what was causing your toddler to do this?

Have you seen a Doctor? I think that your son needs to be seen by a Neurologist. If the doctor has dismissed this really push to see a specialist. This sounds like a health issue to me. Good luck!

When I first quickly read your post - I was thinking he is mad and this will pass. On second reading, the possibility of seizure activity comes to mind. The suggestion below to video it and show it to the doctor is a good one. I would agree if he can do this on command; seizure is not likely. Either way I would get him to the doctor. If he has a seizure disorder it's better to know and start treating than not. I will keep you in my prayers. Hopefully it's alot of worry over nothing.

Hi J.- From what you describe it sounds like one of the many strange things kids do. My girls have gone through periods when the will chronically make weird sounds, smile so hard we think their face will break :) and repeat expressions that either feel good or get a good reaction. I'm not a big doctor person, I usually just go with my intuition and take them in when I have that Momma feeling that something is really wrong. Sounds like you're worried about it so maybe to make you feel better you should visit the doctor. One final thought, you should try to get him to do it for you which it seems would save you some time, money and worry. If he clenches up "on cue" then it's probably just a toddler behavior that will pass. If not, then maybe a doctor visit to be sure everything is OK. Let us know what happens, good luck!