Before birth, you imagined your child to be peaceful and content, but now you see this disturbing image: The baby is overstretching, throwing its head back and at the same time pulling its little arms back.
You probably got a pretty good fright. I’m glad to reassure you, because if there are no other alarming signs besides the occasional hyperextension, there’s nothing to worry about.
In this article, you will learn about the harmless causes behind your little mouse overstretching and when you should definitely have the matter checked by a doctor.
3 causes you don’t have to worry about
Of course, you’re worried when your baby stretches and cries or seems unhappy.
Here we’ll discuss the causes that shouldn’t cause you concern, and what your baby is trying to tell you with their behavior . You’ll also find tips on how to help your baby in such cases.
1. External influences and sensory overload
Experts explain that babies overstretch due to external influences.
Perhaps it is too bright or too loud for the infant, or it is due to some other form of sensory overload.
There may be too many people in the room or the baby may be exposed to the television , either directly or incidentally.
An uncomfortable sleeping place, uncomfortable clothing or a full diaper can also cause a baby to overstretch and thereby show its dissatisfaction.
With my child, he would stretch himself during bottle feeding to show me he wasn’t hungry (anymore). This behavior also occurred when he didn’t want to be petted or carried.
Overstretching can therefore be a protest against external influences from which your baby wants to free itself.
It’s just a matter of keeping your eyes open and recognizing the disturbances.
What you can do to help your baby
If you have determined that external influences are the cause of your baby overstretching, you can help him or her relax and stop doing so.
Check that the diaper is full, the clothes and sleeping area are comfortable, the lighting is right and the environment is quiet.
For example, it helped my baby that I made an effort to avoid sensory overload. Especially from the sixth month onward, when he became more mobile, I put my baby down every time he stretched out in my arms and gave him full freedom of movement.
2. Three-month colic
You’ve probably heard of the infamous three-month colic. It’s not just a baby’s gas .
Doctors note that infants suffering from three-month colic cry, scream, and become extremely agitated and tense. Some babies also overextend.
Pay attention to whether your little one exhibits these symptoms after feeding or at a certain time of day so you can link them to three-month colic. The good news is that they decrease significantly after the third month of life.
This is not only a huge relief for your baby, but also for you!
What you can do to help your baby
NetDoktor experts recommend ensuring that the baby is breastfed or fed in an upright position when crying. This can prevent them from swallowing a lot of air.
Burping after feeding is also important, so make sure your little one burps regularly.
If your baby is bottle-fed, be careful not to overfeed. If you’re breastfeeding, avoid foods like legumes, onions, and cabbage, which can also cause gas in your baby and worsen colic.
Close physical contact, a calm and relaxed atmosphere, and a regular daily routine can also help. You can also treat your baby to a warm bath and gentle tummy massages.
If these measures are not enough, you can also ask the pharmacy for drops that you can give your child to combat three-month colic.
If none of this helps, take your baby to the doctor to rule out any possible intolerances.
3. Moro-Reflex
When a baby is frightened, it stretches its legs forward, throws its head back, and arches its back. The same thing happens when it is moved into a different position. If you’ve observed this in your baby, it’s the Moro reflex.
Kinesiologist Bärbel Hölscher explains that the Moro reflex develops in babies during pregnancy, fulfils an important and useful function and should disappear from the fourth month of life.
What you can do to help your baby
To avoid hyperextensions associated with the Moro reflex, experts recommend placing the baby horizontally in the crib so that the head does not tilt backwards and the baby is not frightened.
Hold your baby as close to you as possible and only let go when his body touches the mattress.
Stay calm and remember that the Moro reflex is a normal part of your baby’s development and will soon pass.
3 causes that require medical treatment
So far, so good, but you still have a bad feeling about your baby’s hyperextension? If there are other worrying signs besides hyperextension, the following could be the underlying causes.
1. Reflux disease
Reflux in babies occurs when food flows backward from the stomach into the esophagus. According to pediatricians online, this isn’t a disease in itself, but occurs in half of newborns up to three months old and doesn’t cause any symptoms.
If the reflux becomes pathological, the baby not only stretches but also becomes restless, refuses to eat and does not gain weight properly.
Reflux disease occurs in 25% of babies under one year old. In such cases, doctors recommend feeding infants less but more frequently. A doctor may also prescribe special formula, and if all else fails, medication may be used.
2. Sandifer Syndrome
Sandifer syndrome is a movement disorder associated with reflux disease. Doctors have found that it can occur in babies and children under two years of age.
When a baby suffers from this disorder, they hyperextend so that their head, neck, and spine are curved backward, while their limbs remain relaxed. This posture lasts for up to 3 minutes and usually occurs after feeding, up to 10 times a day.
The more severe the Sandifer syndrome, the more additional symptoms may occur: the baby coughs, wheezes, breathes noisily, eats poorly and does not gain weight properly.
To alleviate symptoms, parents are advised to change their baby’s feeding habits and keep their head elevated while sleeping. This should alleviate the discomfort caused by reflux. If these measures are not effective, medication may also be used.
Fortunately, Sandifer syndrome is not a serious disorder and resolves without long-term complications. However, early diagnosis is important to treat and manage the associated symptoms.
3. KISS syndrome is highly controversial
In your search for explanations as to why your baby is overstretching, you may have also become aware of the so-called KISS syndrome.
According to chiropractors, these are posture disorders in babies and toddlers, which also include hyperextension, and which, according to the inventor of this syndrome, must be treated.
Quite apart from the fact that pediatric research has found little evidence of the success of manual medical treatments, the Society for Neuropediatrics states that KISS syndrome is a dubious clinical picture.
The effectiveness of treatments for these alleged disorders has also not been scientifically proven.
The German Society for Manual Medicine also doubts that KISS syndrome even exists.
Similar to dubious information about osteopathic treatments for pregnant women, it is best to contact a doctor you trust and seek advice from them.
It is also a good idea to ask several experts for their opinions and not to be intimidated by controversial information about KISS syndrome on the Internet.
What additional symptoms should you definitely see a doctor about?
If your baby is overstretching and you think it has nothing to do with overstimulation, three-month colic, or the Moro reflex, you should definitely seek medical advice.
Final thoughts
Sometimes your baby will stretch, as if doing the cat pose in yoga. But if they cry or seem obviously unhappy, it’s understandable that you’re unsettled and worried.
I have personally experienced that my baby overstretches, mainly when he doesn’t want to be carried or cuddled by me.
For this article, I have carefully researched other causes that may be behind hyperextension in babies.
Here you have learned that causes such as external influences and overstimulation, the Moro reflex and three-month colic are harmless, and you have received tips on how to remedy them.
This article also covers causes such as reflux disease, Sandifer syndrome and KISS syndrome, as well as alarming signs in babies that need to be clarified and examined by a doctor.
Keep your eyes open and note down your observations if you can’t shake your worries and take your baby to the doctor.
I wish you strength so that you can stay calm and work on solving any difficulties that may arise.
