Newborn arms shaking

Does anyone know what it means when my newborns arms are shaking like this? The room isn’t cold so I don’t think he’s shivering but I don’t know what it is! It’s 18 degrees in the room and he has a vest and long sleeve pyjama suit on. He’s doing it loads with his arms though and it’s stressing me out!

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Hi Ideal room temperature for newborns is between 20-22 degrees. Maybe he is cold.

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Mine grew out of these tremors after a couple of weeks, midwife said it’s completely normal x

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It tends to happen when they’re newborns. My daughter was similar when she was first born. Try swaddling baby. If you’re really concerned, give 111 a call, it’s better to put your mind at ease 🙏🏾

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Fun fact: Newborns actually don’t shiver from cold!

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I feel like maybe baby could be cold? Newborns need things a bit warmer. Midwife told us to have room at 20-24 and use an additional layer too (we used the tomee tippee sleep sack in the lowest tog level) over the top of the vest and onesie) and for the first week the midwife also told us to keep a little cotton hat on baby as well

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hats are not needed inside, the baby uses their head to regulate their temp so please no hats indoors after leaving h hospital. The ideal temp for rooms is also 16-20 degrees C. Better to be cold than overheating as overheating contributes to sids.

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They are just getting used to not being tucked all tightly in your womb ☺️ it will go away!

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I was just going by what the midwives said. I was in hospital for over a week and the entire time they kept putting hat back on the baby and cranking the room temp up to 24

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How old is baby and how are you feeding? This can be a sign of hypoglycaemia. I’d speak to your midwife or call your postnatal ward for advice.

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My LO’s legs keep doing this.

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Just a question as my little girl shakes with her chin for maybe 10 secs at a time and isn’t cold and I’m very confused she normally does it when happy/excited?

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My baby used to do that..I just figured it was because she couldn't control her arms and they were doing their own thing lol. I thought it was normal. She's 2 now and her arms are regular 😂

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I’m not sure but your baby is super cute ☺️

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My baby did this alot when he was newborn & health professionals said it’s normal for newborns to do this. He grew out of it and is now nearly 5 months x

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This was my newborns tell for being hungry!

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You should swaddle her when she sleeps that will prevent this and her waking up

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I would put a sleeping bag on him if it’s bed/nap time and only 18 degrees

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I seem to remember my son doing this. I thought it was almost like him stretching. I never even thought to be worried about it

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Apparently it's just their immature nervous system

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I’ve heard this is normal, the babies nervous system is still developing, don’t let the comments scare you xxx

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Someone suggested recently that when they do this they're just looking for a boundary, which is comforting to them since they were all snuggled up not long ago.

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Thanks so much everyone for the comments. He was only born 3am yesterday, this was our first night home last night. In the end I put a love to dream swaddle suit on top of his sleep suit and that really settled him, I guess because it gave him some boundaries and an extra layer of warmth too. Still figuring this mum life out 🤯 xxx

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Its normal babes🫶🏾 baby is so cute congratulations!

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My little one kept doing this during our hospital stay and the nurses and midwives said it's completely normal xxx

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Totally normal, babies are jerky for a while as their nervous system comes online. They try out new movements and test their limbs too.

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Congratulations!! My little boy used to do this. I asked a paediatrician about it and he said it is just because his nervous system isn’t fully matured yet. It should disappear as your little one gets older and the nervous system develops. Xx

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god no don’t do that. 21 degrees recommended is a 1.5 tog sleeping bag and a babygrow

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in hospital is different for some reason

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My baby did this lots when he was a few weeks old, I think it was him stretching/ feeling for boundaries but everything was fine and he grew out of it at around 4/5 weeks old! Not to do with temp as far as I know!

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I saw someone comment on this app that their little one did this with their chin and was tongue tied.

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Aw I miss the newborn stage. This is so normal. It’s just part of what they do as a newborn and nothing to worry. So precious and all snug 😍💙

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My son did this so I asked the midwife about it and she told me because they are in the womb for so long when they are out they will shake because they’ve got more room to move around xx

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I don’t think it’s from being cold however I do think he needs another layer if this is when he’s sleeping.. at 18 degrees they should be wearing a vest, long sleeve Sleepsuit and a 2.5 tog sleeping bag x

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My little one used to do this 😊. He had quite jerky movements etc until he would about 8 months. When I look back on videos of his when he first starting sitting up he looks very jerky / stiff but isn’t anymore (he’s 18m now). They’ve just got immature nervous systems x

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Its the startle reflex! Totally normal

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we had this checked for her when I was struggling to get her to latch she isn’t tongue tied and actually has a really strong suck 😂 she only does it when excited or happy 🤷🏼‍♀️

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fair enough then haha bless her🥰xx

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I basically stopped doing the hat as soon as I got home cos I was convinced it wasn’t cold enough for it so good to know I didn’t trust the midwives 😅

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Try to swaddle him see if he likes that

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I bet he's cold (not related to the arm shaking). If he was just born, think about how warm you kept him inside of you! He's probably hasn't acclimated yet and so i would turn up the heat and also wrap him up... just what I would do

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Hey mama. It means low blood sugar❤️

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it didn't mean that for my little boy who is now 5 months, the midwives told me it was totally normal and was just him getting used to his new surroundings xx

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You're getting a lot of conflicting answers on this so I would say you'd be best to check with your HV or GP.

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it does not…..its a normal thing that newborns do dont scare her. They would’ve told her at the hospital if he had low blood sugar where did u get this information

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Totally normal. He’ll grow out of it. It’s a thing newborns do.

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My little one did this when they were born and the dr said she had an over exaggerated startle reflex (induced at 37 weeks and quite a traumatic forceps birth so it’s no wonder she was jittery!) - she grew out of it and it’s totally normal for them, but I’d contact your GP if you’re concerned :)

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My baby was doing this at since birth for about a week. a midwife came to my home ( unannounced) on the day I got discharged after a c section ( imagine my mental and physical state!) told us the baby had low sugar levels , even though they were all checked at the hospital and FINE, she worried me for nothing, rechecked at the hospital and totally normal sugar levels and vitals. If in doubt get his sugar levels checked, maybe supplement a little with formula if you are worried your milk hasn’t come in fully yet, that’s what I did 💜

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Hey ladies just an update, little boy is now 1 week old and this jittering has really calmed down, he barely does it anymore. Our midwife and health visitor said it’s just normal as their nervous systems become accustomed to not being scrunched up inside and having space around them. I asked if it’s anything to do with blood sugar and they said no, but as I say it’s pretty much gone now anyway. Thank you all so much for your comments xx

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@becky, I’m soooo happy for you, I’m glad they didn’t scare you with the blood sugar thing like that midwife did to me ! He is absolutely adorable, congratulations xxx

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My son does this now but only when he cries

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