4MyChild: Help and Hope for Life

March 16, 2007

Early Signs and First Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

There are different types of cerebral palsy and each type has different signs or symptoms.

Early symptoms are at times overlooked or missed at birth but parents or caregivers may be able to detect first signs of cerebral palsy at around 3 months of age. Babies with cerebral palsy are often slow or do not reach developmental milestones like crawling, smiling, walking, rolling over or sitting. This is sometimes referred to as a developmental delay.

Some babies may appear to have abnormal muscle tone. When the baby seems limp or flaccid or a bit floppy, it is called hypotonia. If the baby seems stiff or rigid it may be because of hypertonia. Sometimes a baby with cerebral palsy can start off with hypotonia and later develop hypertonia. Babies with cerebral palsy may also favor one side of their body or another.

Other early sign of cerebral palsy a parent might notice is if baby is not responding to noise or being able to follow objects with their eyes (after 3 months). Lack of facial expression is another clue there may be a problem.

Not lifting his head by 6 months of age or be able to roll over is also a possible first symptom of cerebral palsy in a baby.

Constant drooling, to the point baby gets a rash around his mouth (from acid in saliva) may be a symptom.

Speak to your doctor if at any point you are concerned. The doctor should perform a series of tests and ask you a series of questions about your child’s development.

If your child was premature or may have suffered from a birth injury, and you think your baby may have some of the above symptoms, please contact one of our live CareCenter Specialists or call us at 1-800-4MyChild. We can help.