



In between each spasm, the baby appears to be fine-very typical of infantile spasms. Each spasm is less than 1 second the child exhibits a look of surprise, a brief stare, and elevation/extension of both arms. We see a baby experiencing a cluster of individual spasms. Parents and childcare providers, or anyone wanting to educate a friend or relative about infantile spasms: watch this video, below. Trust your instincts-you know your child best! Loss of developmental milestones previously learned (e.g., rolling over, sitting, crawling, babbling)ĭon't hesitate to talk with your pediatrician if your child is no longer meeting developmental milestones. Soon after the spasms begin, parents may notice a number of changes in their baby: They are most common just after a baby wakes up and rarely occur during sleep. However, infantile spasms can sometimes be hard to notice-perhaps only the eyes roll up or there is a small tummy crunch. During a spasm, the body stiffens suddenly, the back may arch, and the arms, legs, and head may bend forward. While these seizures may last only a second or two, they often happen close together with each spasm occurring every 5-10 seconds in a series. It typically begins between 2-12 months of age and peaks between 4-8 months of age. Infantile spasms, first described with a group of symptoms known as West syndrome, is a form of epilepsy that occurs in 1 in 2,000 children. Early recognition leads to better outcomes waiting to seek treatment can increase your baby's risk of permanent brain injury. Infantile spasms are little seizures with big consequences. But when a baby shows signs and symptoms of a serious neurological condition such as infantile spasms (IS), that joy can quickly turn into concern. Watching your baby's every movement typically brings parents so much joy.
