Why does my child’s hands and feet shake when sleeping?

Careful parents will observe that their children's hands and feet often shake randomly when they are sleeping. This situation can be judged to have two reasons. One is usually a normal physiological reaction, because it is too hot or frightened, the lights are brighter, or the outside environment is noisy, which may cause the child's hands and feet to move around. Another phenomenon is caused by calcium deficiency. It can also be considered that it is caused by excessive fatigue during the day, or not paying attention to rest.

1. Generally, this is a normal phenomenon

Why do babies' feet shake when they sleep? Because the baby's nervous system is not fully developed, the cerebral cortex is not mature, the central nervous cells are highly excitable, and they are easily excited by stimulation. Most babies are in a state of light sleep when they sleep.

Changes in light or noise may cause the child's hands and feet to shake involuntarily. Some children may experience irregular shaking of their fingers, eyelids, and toes without any light or sound stimulation. These shaking usually lasts for a very short time and disappears after the child enters deep sleep. Parents don't need to be nervous. The baby is not frightened. This is a normal physiological reaction.

2. Whether calcium deficiency

What is the reason why babies' feet shake when they sleep? Baby's shaking hands and feet when they sleep may also be caused by calcium deficiency. In severe cases, convulsions of hands and feet may occur, and may even be caused by epilepsy or certain genetic metabolic diseases. Mothers can carefully observe whether their babies have other symptoms of calcium deficiency, such as night sweats after falling asleep, night terrors, and bald spots on the back of the head.

For children who are in the growth and development period, if they startle or have limb shaking during sleep two or three times a week or even more frequently, it is recommended to have a trace element test to rule out calcium deficiency.

3. Excessive fatigue during the day

Why do babies' feet shake when they sleep? It is related to daytime fatigue. Because during sleep, when stimulated, individual cell groups in the cerebral cortex will be in an excited state, resulting in dreams. If you are tired from walking during the day, you will dream about walking or stepping one foot into a pit when you just fall asleep, and this will cause the leg to kick through the motor center. Therefore, when sleeping, you should pay attention to reducing various stimuli to your body, such as avoiding cold, avoiding being too tired, avoiding being too excited before going to bed, etc. This will help you sleep better.

4. How to take care of your baby when his hands and feet shake while sleeping

Since it is a normal physiological reaction for a baby to have shaking feet when sleeping, how should we take care of a baby who has shaking hands and feet when sleeping? The mother can gently soothe the baby's body or hands with her hands to make the baby feel safe and calm him down. Mothers can rest assured that newborn startle has no effect on brain development.