Skip to main content

Here’s how to tell if your baby twitching in their sleep is totally harmless

Have you ever watched your precious baby while they slept? Of course, you have. Have you noticed their mouth twitch, making it look like they smiled in their sleep? Have you sworn it looked like their pudgy little hand was reaching out for you, even for a second? If you watch your baby sleep for long enough, you’ll notice all kinds of movement.

Should any of these moves and twitches alarm you? Are they all just innocent baby quirks? If you’ve tilted your head and wondered if your baby is the only one who jerks around while they sleep, we can help put your worries to rest. Let’s go over what a newborn twitching in their sleep can mean and if you should ever take your concerns to the doctor.

A mother checking on her sleeping baby in a crib.

Sleep myoclonus

Sleep myoclonus is the scientific name for the muscle twitches that we’re talking about. From hiccups to leg twitches to an eye twitch — these are all kinds of myoclonic twitches. A baby sleeps for at least 14 hours a day; that’s a lot of time for that little body to move around.

A study by Carlos Del Rio-Bermudez and Mark Blumberg found that “sensory feedback from self-generated myoclonic twitches also triggers neural oscillations in those structures.” If that sounds a bit too much like science class, let’s take it apart a bit more.

Why is my newborn twitching so much?

A few reasons

  • Developing fine motor skills
  • REM sleep activates sensorimotor development
  • Brain teaching the body what it can do
  • Adjusting to light or sound

There are a few reasons why you notice a little twitch while your baby is sleeping. Not all of them require you to freak out. You have probably woken yourself up to a muscle spasm or leg twitch and gone right back to sleep without giving it another thought. For your baby, it’s a similar situation. A sudden sound or switching on a light can make your baby give an involuntary twitch.

Also, for a baby, those extra movements of the wrists, feet, and face can be a good thing. According to Mark Blumberg, Professor in the Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa, and Gretta Sokoloff, a research scientist, believes that “when the sleeping body twitches, it’s activating circuits throughout the developing brain and teaching newborns about their limbs and what they can do with them.”

Blumberg has also found that there are “intriguing relationships between twitching and the skills that babies are developing.” So if your baby is learning to support that large melon head, while they’re sleeping they may have more twitches around the neck area. That makes absolute sense. Your baby will twitch where they’re possibly learning a new skill in their body.

A sleeping baby with their hand by their face.

Is it normal for newborns to twitch when they sleep?

If you see your baby twitch in their sleep, it is normal. All of us twitch while sleeping. But especially during that first year of your little one’s life, you’ll notice it more often when they sleep.

These spasms “serve as ‘self-stimulation’ proving sensory information to the brain when disconnected from the world,” according to Jan Born, Professor of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology at the University of Tubingen, Germany.

A study done by Sokoloff, Blumberg, and other professionals showed “at all ages that twitching across the body occurs predominately in bursts at intervals of 10 seconds or less.” As long as the twitches are within those parameters while sleeping, everything is fine.

A mother holding her sleeping baby.

When should I worry about baby twitching?

The twitches that happen while your baby is asleep should not be cause for any concern for you. But, if the twitches don’t stop once your tyke is awake – that’s when you should pay attention to them.

While awake, look out for

  • Convulsions
  • Spasms
  • Seizures

Again, these would happen when your baby is awake to cause alarm. But if you notice your baby having more intense twitching while they’re sleeping and it’s bothering you, try waking them up. If the movements don’t stop, then you should make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician.

If you happen to have your phone by you and can record the movement that’s concerning you, that would be great so the doctor has a visual of what happened.

It doesn’t matter if you are a first-time parent and every little thing makes you take note, or have had a few kids and have just now noticed these movements while your baby is asleep — seeing your child spasm in their sleep could make you wonder what’s going on.

If for any reason you feel the twitches are becoming more intense or you just don’t like the frequency or duration of them, never be afraid to be your child’s advocate and call the pediatrician. But if you see the occasional jerk from your tiny human, know that it’s normal and it happens to all babies. Let that tiny tot sleep and let their brain learn how to control their little body. They have a lot of park days ahead of them and they need that coordination.

Editors' Recommendations

Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
7 adorable baby Christmas sweaters perfect for your holiday party
Don't forget about baby with these ugly Christmas sweaters
Parent and baby in Christmas sweaters

Nothing says "holiday party" better than an ugly Christmas sweater, so why not include your baby in all the fun? These adorable and sometimes a bit tacky baby Christmas sweaters will ensure your babe makes a spirited impression on all the other partygoers. With a variety of colors, styles, and popular characters to choose from, one of these festive sweaters will be just right for your little bundle of holiday joy.

Adorably ugly baby Christmas sweaters
These sweet baby Christmas sweaters will keep your baby warm and cozy while earning them a coveted spot beneath the mistletoe. Keep reading to find the perfect Christmas sweater for your bundle of joy. 
Tipsy Elves Christmas Tree

Read more
5 holiday purees for baby to include them in the Christmas feast
Include your little one at the dinner table with holiday purees for baby
Baby eating puree in a highchair at Christmas

Time spent together with friends and family during the holidays is what we are excited about the most all year. The delicious meals are what we look forward to the second most. For parents toting around infants, being able to offer yuletide-themed, homemade baby food gets everyone in the spirit of the season and includes family members of every age.

From sweet, roasted squash to velvety smooth, gravy-topped turkey purees, our list of festive favorites will have your little ones smacking their lips for more. If you're looking to whip up some holiday-inspired baby food recipes, then we have five great options to embody the holiday cheer in all of us. Let’s see what scrumptious dishes we’ve got cooking for your precious babe in toyland.

Read more
Baby’s first Christmas: How to commemorate and celebrate with your new addition
Here are some fun ways to honor your baby's first Christmas
Baby in front of a Christmas tree

Baby's first Christmas is such a special time for the whole family. The holidays are always magical, but there's nothing better than having a baby's laughter in the home. It's a memorable moment for everyone and one you want to make extra special.
There are many ways to mark the occasion of a baby's first Christmas. This is a unique time to start lifelong traditions or simply commemorate the first year with a new addition to your family. If you're looking for a special way to commemorate and celebrate with your new addition this holiday season, we have some ideas that may provide inspiration.

Make a cookie plate
Go to a children's pottery studio or buy a DIY home kit and let your baby finger paint a plate that can become the annual plate to serve Santa's cookies and the reindeer's carrots. You can write the year and your baby's name as well as "Christmas" or "Santa's cookies" on the plate while your baby decorates the rest.

Read more