Why is the baby straining?

If your baby is occasionally tense, restless, or crying, most of the time it can be related to frustration. However, we should also mention other problems so that you can recognize the moment when it is worth consulting a professional.

The maturation of a baby's nervous system follows a regulated process that occurs at a different pace for everyone. It is worth knowing that in addition to the developmental leaps we notice, subtle changes in nervous system and muscle development are also constantly occurring, during which certain minor deviations may occur. These are not always noticeable, and are often completely corrected as the muscles strengthen. However, there are also obvious problems that require consulting a specialist.

What do we see when a baby stretches? 

The movement itself is quite clearly noticeable, as it is often experienced when held in the arms. The baby sags, throws back his head, tenses his back and in most cases cries. He may even seem angry. At first, parents look at their previously cheerful baby in confusion, but then they begin to discover the connections, which mainly connect them with the unexpected frustration of the little one.

When lying on the stomach, a phenomenon called “flying” or the Landau reflex can often be observed. This is a different type of movement than the previously mentioned stretching, but it still causes concern in many people. In this case, the baby stretches himself back, mainly while lying on his stomach, raising his arms and legs regularly, and looking forward. His elbows are bent and his hands are in line with his head.

Tension due to pain leads to loud crying, and the baby is difficult to calm down. Cramping stomach pain or heartburn due to reflux makes the helpless little one extremely upset. In case of stomach pain, in addition to tension, the baby will also pull up his legs, his tummy will be hard, and bowel sounds may be heard. The presence of reflux is obvious to parents, as frequent falls and mis-swallowing after feeding cause serious difficulties.

The Moro reflex is not actually a contraction, but it looks like one. Babies under 3 months of age will usually spread their arms and hold their breath for a moment when they are lying on their backs or when they are picked up, when they feel unsafe. They will show fear in their eyes and often cry.

What are the causes of tension?

These behavioral habits or possible symptoms can be clearly distinguished from each other, so we can easily distinguish completely harmless tension caused by nervousness from other symptoms related to movement or neurological development, and from very rare, albeit urgent cases that require immediate help.

Complications during childbirth, such as temporary hypoxia, can also have an effect on muscle tone and nerves. This is also worth considering in suspicious cases.

Let's see what could be the reasons why your baby is straining!

He doesn't like the situation, he opposes it. 

For example, when a visitor comes to the little one and suddenly picks him up, and he is frightened by the unexpected situation, the strange sound, the face, he reacts by tensing his body. Little ones are very sensitive to movements, sounds and small stimuli that differ from those received from their parents. Therefore, if a stranger picks them up in a different way than usual, perhaps with more momentum, or adopts an unusual body position, then babies often become frustrated. Since their means of expression are their voice and muscles, they try to express their unpleasant feelings by tensing and crying. These are only occasional cases and will disappear during development.

Landau reflex

It may be mistakenly believed that it is a problem when a baby “flies”, but in fact it is an important stage in their development. The position appears around 4 months of age. If we tried it ourselves, we would experience how much effort this position requires from the muscles of the spine. This is also why it is useful because it effectively strengthens the baby’s back muscles. It prepares them for further stages of motor development and in this position they can focus their attention on things further away. They should not be disturbed by the tummy itself, and in fact, they will try to reach for their toys from here, or put the other hand in their mouth while leaning on one hand.

If you still experience this at 6 months of age, consult a specialist! You should definitely seek out a therapist who helps with baby movement development even if your baby doesn't like to lie on his stomach. Lying on his stomach is extremely important for the development of crawling. Failure to crawl can cause serious learning difficulties for the child later on, as the development of the nervous system is closely related to movement.

Source: Children's Room , Baby Gym , Teddy Bear Clinic

Reflux, tummy aches , neurological problems, muscle tone problems, motor development disorders  

If, at the age of 2-6 months, other symptoms are observed in addition to back straining, such as clenched hands, strong crying, legs pulled up to the stomach, a red face, a facial expression reflecting pain, and attempts to calm the baby down for a long time are unsuccessful, then the baby may have abdominal pain or cramps. 

We may notice any unusual posture, movement problems, or a halt in movement development that requires medical attention. For example, when the baby throws his head back when you lift him out of the crib.

Moro reflex 

When a baby's sense of security suddenly decreases, something unexpected happens - for example, a loud noise, or the feeling of falling - he will spread his arms, making a kind of grasping motion, as if he wants to hug you, while not taking a breath for a moment, which often scares his parents. All this happens quickly, and he may cry himself to sleep. However, there is no need to worry, this innate reflex is completely natural, a sign of healthy neurological development, and will gradually disappear by the age of 6 months.

(Source: Everythingbaby )

When should we consult a specialist? 

If you can't figure out why your baby is straining sometimes, you should definitely show it to a professional. However, it's not easy to explain exactly what you've seen. To get the most complete picture of your little one's behavior, it's recommended to record the problem on video, as it's unlikely that your baby will exhibit unusual symptoms during a medical examination.

If you notice anything strange, it is worth visiting your health visitor or pediatrician, who, if necessary, will refer you to an appropriate specialist or developmental specialist. If the otherwise rare backbends do not subside over time, or if you notice any strange movements in your baby's movements, you should definitely seek the advice of a pediatric neurologist. It is also an indicator if motor development stops.

There are extremely good special developmental exercises. For example, the Dévény exercise can often bring spectacular results after just a few sessions. It is important to start physiotherapy and therapy on time, as the baby's motor development takes place at an orderly pace, and any existing obstacles must be eliminated as soon as possible.

If the back strain persists almost constantly and is accompanied by more serious symptoms, such as fever, malaise, increased crying, or other symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately!

What can we do to help?

We can also help our child with harmless stretching movements.

Let's calm him down! If we managed to figure out what brought him out of his comfort zone, then we try to eliminate the uncomfortable situation for him. For example, if an unknown visitor suddenly picked up the child, guided by a thought, and he reacted to this with fright, tensing his body, and crying, then in order to calm him down, it is good for his mother to take him in her arms and rock him, talk to him, and smile at him. 

The Landau reflex occurs in a position that is important for the baby's development, so it is worth using it frequently during the day to lie on your stomach. This way, your baby can look around, focus on distant objects, be curious, then reach for objects, support himself with one hand, and roll over. 

The Moro reflex can cause some problems if it affects the baby often. In such cases, we can help him by laying him less on his back and more on his side. With proper, secure support, he will feel more stable and the discomfort of the reflex will also be greatly reduced. Make sure to lift him out of the crib carefully and slowly, as too rapid movements – which unfortunately are often the case – can cause him fear.

Let's draw the attention of our helpers and family members to this!

There are tips and natural remedies that work well for reflux and stomach pain, and they are worth trying. 

Any other signs of musculoskeletal disorders should be taken seriously and professional advice should be sought.

We can now receive high-level professional help for these problems, but it is important that due to the extremely rapid pace and regulation of a baby's development, we take action as soon as possible and let development begin!