Feeding FAQ: 4-6 months – Other

Why does my 5 month baby sometimes appear to have a fit when feeding?

On several occasions, when feeding my baby (both on the bottle and the breast) he has begun to shake his head up and down, like he is having a fit or a convulsion. He does not blank out, or even stop feeding, and the convulsion only lasts several seconds. On one occasion, he had just finished feeding and his jaw started to shake up and down in the same way his head had on previous occasions. I mentioned the behaviour to my health visitor, who told me to see my doctor. The doctor was, however, dismissive and clearly thought I was neurotic, but had no suggestions as to what it might be. My baby is well and, at the time of the convulsions, he did not have a temperature. The only consistent feature is that, on all occasions, my baby was feeding or had just fed and was tired. I am at a loss as to what to do and wondered if anyone else had come across this problem before.

Babies do have involuntary muscle spasms at times. This can often be seen in young babies who appear to “shiver” across their mouths. But, if you are at all concerned by your baby’s behaviour, then return to your doctor and ask for further investigations to take place. Keep a record of exactly how often these episodes occur, how long each one lasts and at what time of day they take place. If you provide your doctor with as much information as you can, he will be more likely to look into the matter further if he sees a need. If you remain concerned and he is still dismissive, than ask for a second opinion, which you are entitled to, if only to put your mind at rest.