Question

My baby is almost a year old but still can’t talk or walk. I noticed when the baby was a few months old that they were different from other babies; they don’t smile much, they struggle to drink milk, their gaze is very dull, and their head always tilts back. After going to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor said it’s cerebral palsy. What are the early symptoms of infantile cerebral palsy?

Answer

Early symptoms of cerebral palsy include: (1) Newborns often cry less, move less, and have weak cries. They may be excessively quiet. Or they may cry more, be easily irritated, startled, or have repetitive twitching. (2) Difficulty with breastfeeding. Such as weak suckling, difficulty swallowing, and poor mouth closure. (3) Uncoordinated, asymmetric movements with very few purposeful movements. (4) Frequent abnormalities in muscle tone, posture, and movement patterns. (5) Delayed motor development. For example, at 3 to 4 months old, the baby cannot lift their head in the prone position; by 4 months old, they cannot support their weight with their forearms; their hands often remain clenched. They cannot put their hands in their mouth to suck; at 6 to 7 months old, they cannot roll over or sit up for a moment; when held upright, they may stand on the tips of their toes or have their legs Bend (bent) and unable to bear weight. Or both lower limbs may be too straight and crossed.