I think as parents we are so cautious about our kids and it can be great but we get scared so easily, especially after hearing about certain conditions that are out there. It could be nothing but it could be an indicator of some spasticity and/or neuromuscular damage, in which case you'll want to start working with her ASAP. Infants displaying hypertonia have tight and stiff muscles that constrict movement. I think as parents we are so cautious about our kids and it can be great but we get scared so easily, especially after hearing about certain conditions that are out there. What you can do to encourage your infant to start standing. However, if the levels are bilirubin are too high for the infant too process, the jaundice becomes excessive, resulting in a yellow pigment to the skin, and in many instances, muscle stiffness. It is also the result of a birth injury. I was originally concerned because my 19 month old son was not as stiff as she is......so I would just talk to her ped. Put a  string of beads around your neck – be sure that they are strong enough not to break when pulled on. There are a group of infants who do not straighten their legs in readiness for taking weight on their feet. A couple of telephone books taped together also make a good step. From about the age of 6-7 months most infants will start to put their feet down, stiffen their legs and take some weight when held vertically with their feet on a firm surface. Now play games that encourage the infant to lean forwards to retrieve, bang, pull, push or  knock over a toy. Now you can play stomping games – stomp the feet alternatively on the floor as if they are marching. If you help her she is not learning to coordinate her trunk and leg muscles to get the action right. You can use your hands to do this or let the infant sit between two boxes that keep the legs in place. Now she is fine. He started to walk at nine months so I think the walking made it less apparent. There could be something going on. The doc would check her legs at her visits and was not at all concerned about having to "force" her legs to move around to check range of motion. Getting up from sitting on a low step is easier than getting up from sitting on the floor and helps to strengthen the leg muscles. Infants who move from sitting into crawling and kneeling positions use their feet for leverage and will often put them down flat on the floor. My 4 month-old (age-adjusted) is doing the exact same thing. You may notice that your child holds his hands in tight fists or that he seems unable to relax certain muscles. She just seems to stiffen up whenever we pick her up, and when we are holding her up to a standing position. Since you say "sometimes" I wouldn't be all that concerned. His pediatrician didn't seem concerned and he's two and a half now with nothing slowing him down!!!!! Here you see Toesies leaning forwards a lot further. Put a hat on your head – or any toy that will rest on top of your head. I like to use my leg so that I can give a little bit of a lift in the beginning. During back arching your baby will also stretch their legs out backwards and be very stiff. From about the age of 6-7 months most infants will start to put their feet down, stiffen their legs and take some weight when held vertically with their feet on a firm surface. Jaundice is somewhat common in newborns as the mother’s body is no longer processing the levels of bilirubin for the baby. Start with the infant sitting on a low step. And stiffening their legs when you stand them up is totally normal. This disorder was not recognized until 1962 when it was described by Drs. This not only helps to strengthen the leg muscles but get the infant used pushing down on the floor with the soles of the feet. Try this barefoot or with shoes on, whichever works best for your infant. Reaching forwards transfers some of the weight over onto the feet and provides the first experience of pressing down on the floor with the feet when in the upright position. Stiff baby syndrome: A genetic disorder also known as hyperexplexia in which babies have an exaggerated startle reflex (reaction). It is normal if she is bending and moving around on her own. Initially you may also need to provide some support at the ankles to keep the feet flat on the floor. They will do it for free. These pictures show how Will at  8 months leaning forwards to grab my hands. Here you see how Will (8 months) first bends his legs, then extends them in readiness for standing when he is picked up. I just changed her diaper, and she didn't want to bend her leg either. Hold toys in your mouth – infants find this very funny and will grab them. I am supporting his thighs to stop them from moving side. Some babies stiffen when they cry. Try these ideas when you are encouraging your infant to stand up using you for support. There is no good explanation for why some infants do this and in most cases they eventually start to take an interest in standing on their feet. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'mamapedia_com-box-4','ezslot_5',176,'0','0']));I was glad to see this "post" - I also just had my 4 month check-up for my little girl and shared the same concern with our pediatrician. This is normal, it is a natural reflex for infants that age. And walking has been delayed. Good Luck & God Bless!! Signs of hypertonia include keeping the hands fisted, keeping the legs extended and crossing the legs or ankles. You can also try letting your infant sit  with the bare feet on different surfaces such a pillow, soft rug, grass or sand to get the infant used to the feel of these. Baby Keeps "Stiffing Up" for a Few Seconds-anyone Know What It Could Be. And stiffening their legs when you stand them up is totally normal. Guide With this condition, the brain of your baby fails to communicate properly with the spinal cord. Important Factors to Remember Let us know how it turns out. She wants to stretch out, especially after being in the same position (i.e. I prefer not to use little boots to support the ankles as these restrict the forward bending movement at the ankle needed for standing up and the support provided by the boots means that the muscles are not stimulated to work to provide ankle support. In addition, those infants who kick both legs in unison, instead of one at a time, may exhibit signs of cerebral palsy. Get it checked out to be on the safe side. If your infant does not like putting the feet down flat on the floor you will need to spend some time desensitizing the feet. Holding his legs in position like this gently stretches the tight muscles at the sides of his hip. (Here he is sitting on a 10 cm high high density foam block.). It sounds like she is close to a well baby visit at 4 months so you can ask the doc then just to give you peace of mind. But again, if she is moving fine on her own but appears stiff only at the times youmention, totally normal. Back arching from this syndrome can happen about 10 times a day, usually after your baby has eaten. Kok and Bruyn as a disease with the onset at birth of hypertonia (stiffness), exaggerated startle response, strong brain-stem reflexes (especially head-retraction reflex) and, in … I've noticed that a lot of babies will resist when you try to bend their limbs to get them dressed or change things. If your child seems stiff or rigid, he may have what's described as high muscle tone (hypertonia), which means that his muscles are chronically contracted. My daughter would sometimes stiffen herself when we picked her up. The doctor checked her and said that I shouldn't be concerned that my girl didn't appear to be a "stiff baby"......she checked her legs/hips, etc. Is this normal? You can see how this action brings his weight forwards over his feet. Some infants seem to really like doing this and prefer to stand rather than sit on a carer’s lap. There is also a bit of physiologic hypertonia in all babies in the first 3 months of life as well. Dear L., Also she would stiffen her legs whenever I would try to bend them myself, like when changing her diaper and trying to get it just right so we didn't end up with back door leaks as we call them. I agree - get her checked. If tightness and stiffness in muscles persist when a baby reaches the 6-9 month period or primitive reflexes persist and normal gross motor developmental milestones are delayed or are not being met, then a concern of cerebral palsy may arise. All the infants whom I have seen doing this have been hypermobile, so there may be some link to hypermobility. Sit in front of your infant and support the feet just above the ankles. I use a 10-15  cm high very firm foam block. Sing a marching song or count in a fun way. My husband swore I must have dropped her and she is afraid of being picked up.