Dr said my 1 month old is too strong for his age and concerned?

[NC23]

My son was lifting his head and looking around when he was only a day old. All the nurses in the hospital were amazed by his neck control but nobody ever seemed to worry.

Yesterday I took him in for his 1 month check up and when the doctor put him on his stomach he rolled over to his back. She said that at his age he should NOT be able to do that and if he has too much muscle tone it could be a bad sign. She didn't elaborate though, she just continued about her business. Of course that worried me so I asked her why and I believe she said it could be the sign of a neurological issue.

I've been trying to look it up online but with what little info she gave me I'm not sure what I should be looking for. She also told me his muscles seemed tight. He does have his hands in fists often, but he is still able to lift and straighten his arms above his head and straighten his legs out.

Anybody know anything about this?

 

[SpringCrane]

I don't know much about this, but my son had really good head control from birth and a friend's baby was rolling from birth. Both our boys are developmentally normal and no one ever expressed concern. Oh, and my son had his hands in fists all the time in the early weeks/months... pretty common, I think.

Maybe contact the doctor and ask some follow up questions to ease your concern.

 

[kellyc1987]

Sorry I have no experience with a baby being too strong but as far as I know clenched fists are pretty normal for the first few months, as the previous poster said if you are concerned callthe doctor back and ask for some more information and try not to Google because Google will always scare you no matter what you're looking for.. trust me I scared myself half to death most of my son's first 3 months by googling things

 

[bananas2]

Stalking! My ds is 8 days old and twice he's rolled from belly to back!! He can lift his head also it's a bit jerky in movement but he can lift it!

 

[justplay91]

My son also started out with great head control. By two months, he could hold it up completely for extended periods of time. I wouldn't even have thought to worry about something like that! He's 12 months old now, and seems just fine. Stalking for updates.

 

[TTC First]

I have quite a bit of experience with this....try looking up Hypertonia.

My experience may be a little different, I assume there are many causes for this. I have experience with infants who have high (hyper) muscle tone (tonia) due to exposure to drugs and alcohol before birth. I am sure that the experience raising them would be the same though.

I can relate to the holding the head up and the lo that I work with are able to stand with assistance at about 1 month. Just make sure that you get this looked into and get some answers. The babies that I currently have are doing well and there are no major issues that you need to fear.

 

[BabyCleo]

Both my friend and I who had babies 8 weeks apart have babies who can hold their heads up pretty much from birth. We both weren't told it was an issue!

To be your doctor sounds a little over the top - she really should have explained in more detail why she was worried. My doctor does the same, she says something then dosent bother actually explaining it. They don't think we wont worry? lol.

Id just chalk it up to your baby is doing well and that's that. Not all babies are the same, but some doctors like to think so.

 

[SarahBear]

Hypertonia can be an issue, but simply being strong, isn't the same thing.

 

[jodilee6]

Both my boys have had great head control from birth and have been able to lift their heads and look round when led on their tummies.

DS1 rolled early and DS2 rolls and sleeps on his side at 16 days

Some babies just have better muscle tone/control than others

 

[SurpriseBub]

How awful of your doctor to make a comment like that without explanation. Ugh! I would call or make another appointment for clarification.

I agree with Sarahbear's comment on strength being different to hypertonia. And it sounds like he is doing "useful" things, which, suggests it is intentional. I too know of one newborn who could lift their head around very early. She is a robust teenager now!

 

[_Meep_]

Just wanted to say - and my parents delight in telling this story so I've heard it a million times - that when I was a newborn, a senior doctor was governing a band of students and he lifted me up belly-down on his hand to demonstrate how little neck control newborn babies have.

Apparently, I lifted my head up and peered around at them. By all accounts, the doctor deemed it 'remarkable' lol.

I was a very active child, heavily involved in gymnastics, trampolining, competitive diving, etc. There was absolutely nothing wrong with me. There still isn't, but too much time spent eating Chinese in front of the TV in my pants means my muscle tone is not what it once was. Ergo, I actually wonder if I have muscles some days.

ALL babies hold their hands in fists when they are first born. They don't start to open up until maybe 3 - 4 months old, though don't quote me on that one.

 

[Literati_Love]

That is ridiculous. My DD was strong from day one and could roll front front to back from 3 days old. My doctor was never concerned at all and she is now a year old and extremely healthy. She has simply done all milestones early because she is strong - nothing more!

 

[calm]

So angry your doctor made such a remark and didn't even bother to explain, and you had to ask! I remember how worried I was about everything when mine were that age, I would have flipped at such a comment, silly doctor! I don't have any experience, mine did have early neck control too, well one did certainly, and it sounds from this thread that it can be completely normal. Of course everything has to be checked with babies, but my goodness, didn't she have a better way of saying that?

 

[hayz_baby]

Sarah gear is right and tbh if your doctor is concerned she should have voiced her concern in a constructive way ("it could be this keep an eye for this") or if she was that concerned a referral old have then been appropriate.

All of mind have had excellent head control for day 1. Ds1 was shuffling along the floor from 4 months even with cases and a bar as he had talipes. (Hypertonia is one of the things we look for with his coniditon) and ds1 and 2 were crawling by 6 months. Don't google and go back to the doc for clarification or see another doc

 

[mjemma]

That's very irresponsible of your doctor to make a comment like that and not follow it up. My baby has been able to hold her head up from a few days old and could push up on her arms from about 2 weeks. I've been told it's just because she is big and strong. Try not to worry yourself.

 

[Ecoden]

My DD is the same way. She could roll both ways by 2 months and had head control from the start. My doctors haven't said anything about that being a bad thing. Post when/if they give you a reason for their concern as I'd like to know too! I can say one bad thing is that swaddling hasn't been technically safe for a while because she can roll from back to front but she does so much better in her swaddle so we left her in it.

 

[Bella1185]

You're a new mommy and I'm so sorry you're worried with this! If you feel so inclined to speak with a pediatric specialist to ease your nerves than definitely do - calm mom equals calm baby! That being said - DD has been flipping side to side since 2 weeks old and also held her neck up since birth. Doctors and nurses have always commented on her strength - but not in a negative way? Maybe your doc was a bit OTT? Try not to worry - if all else seems normal I'm sure it's fine!

 

[NotNic]

Both my boys could lift their heads from their first week and could roll on to their sides at that point too. My eldest was rolling properly at 2mths and my second at 3. They are just strong and made no difference to how early they were on the move!!

 

[ElizabethK_]

That's nonsense!!! My DD was the same! Rolled over before 1 month and could always hold her head up! She's fine and healthy now at 5 months old - already kinda crawling and sitting and being a happy little baby!

 

[sil]

My DS1 was able to hold his head up since birth and first rolled over at 3 weeks old.

He is now a perfectly healthy and happy 2 year old with no known health issues.