Babies Throwing Their Legs Up And Down In Sleep – 5 Fascinating Reasons for This Behavior

As a parent, you expect your baby’s sleep to be peaceful, but sometimes they may appear restless during their sleep like babies throwing their legs up and down in sleep. This can be a cause for concern, especially when it seems like they are jerking their legs up and down. Poor sleep can impact your baby’s overall health and well-being, so it’s important to understand what may be causing this behavior.

In this article, we will explore why your baby may be throwing their legs up and down in their sleep. We will also discuss the potential issues this behavior may cause, as well as provide recommendations on how to help your baby sleep better.

Why Do Babies Throw Their Legs In Sleep: RLS And PLMD?

A baby moving their legs in sleep is abnormal. Experts describe this abnormal behavior as two major health-related problems; Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. 

These two health problems initiate involuntary movement in the legs of infants. Infants are not able to describe this sensation that comes with these medical conditions; this is why you need to consult your pediatrician for a proper diagnosis.

1. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) 

This is a condition that causes a strong urge to move the legs. This urge to move may result in other uncomfortable sensations felt inside the legs that are difficult for children to describe.

The uncomfortable sensation and urge to move become worse by rest or lying down. Babies temporarily relieve themselves by walking or moving their legs.

2. Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)

These are periodic episodes of repetitive limb movements that occur during sleep. Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are brief jerks of the foot or leg, typically every 20 to 40 seconds. 

One can identify this disorder through a sleep study known as polysomnography. PLMD is associated with RLS but can occur by itself.

These two medical conditions are associated together but can exist independently. While RLS occurs while your baby is awake, PLMD disturbs your baby’s sleep. 

 Why Does My Baby Have Any Of These?

Experts don’t know the exact cause of PLMD in babies. Sleep studies have not been able to pinpoint the irregularity of one particular unmistakable factor. However, there are speculations on possible factors that influence the disorder. including:

1. Iron Deficiency

It has nothing to do with anemia. Iron is a vital nutrient in controlling motion in the body. It helps with the proper activity of the chemical that helps to control motion- Dopamine.

Dopamine helps the body stimulate control over its motion. Dopamine needs iron to function properly. The absence of iron leads to a low level of dopamine.

The absence or low level of dopamine can have a direct influence on your baby. This is, however, not proven to be the cause of PLMD. It is a possible factor that can bring about PLMD.

2. Low Dopamine

As earlier stated, a low level of dopamine would drastically affect the ability of your baby to control their motion.

3. Genes 

Further study has shown sleeping problems in your baby might be a result of inheritance. The way genetics work is intriguing. It’s interesting if you’re able to engineer an amazing species of organism in the lab.

On the other hand, it’s quite frustrating when you get that you can pass a bad trait down to many generations.

Research shows traces of PLMD being hereditary. Hence, if your baby has this, it might be that it is because you, your spouse, or anyone from your family might have had it too.

4. Chronic disease:  

As rightly described, PLMD is a medical condition that subjects your infant to uncontrollable limb movement.

Studies have suggested that some chronic diseases might have eaten deep to affect your baby’s nerve coordination. Examples include cancer, kidney failure, and diabetes.

5. Other sleep disorders

Other sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome (RLS), narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, or sleep apnea

6. Spinal Cord

Spinal cord conditions (lesions or spinal blocks) or injuries

7. Uremia

Uremia (waste products build up in the blood due to problems with kidney function)

8. Excess use of caffeine

Caffeine can initiate hyperactivity in your baby, hence, preventing them from getting the sleep they deserve.

PLMD VS RLS

While PLMD can co-occur with other sleep disorders, it most frequently occurs with RLS. Between 80 to 90 percent of people with RLS also have PLMD. 

PLMD is often confused with RLS because both conditions involve symptoms affecting the legs, but they’re not the same. 

They are diagnosed and treated differently. 

The symptoms of RLS occur while the person is still awake, while PLMS occurs during sleep. 

The physical sensations are also different: With RLS, the person experiences uncomfortable tingling or crawling sensations in the legs, accompanied by an uncontrollable urge to move them to feel relief. With PLMD, the legs repeatedly jerk or twitch, often unbeknownst to the sufferer.

What Do I Do If My Baby Keeps Slamming Their Legs?

Your baby slamming their legs might be attached to so many reasons best known to your baby. It could be that they are finding it hard to sleep or they are awake and restless in their legs.

It might even be that they are deep asleep. Each situation brings about a different possibility as to why they are in that state. If you are worried that this might be a case of PLMD for your baby, you might have to consult your doctor to make a proper diagnosis.

Although, you can pay attention to details and see for yourself a few signs that might be helpful for the doctor’s examination.

If your baby is having a good sleep amid this slamming, it’s safe to say that they are doing that to soothe themselves. If your baby is not having a good sleep because they stayed up all night slamming their legs, it might be a sign of PLMD and you might have to seek the doctor’s advice. You’ll know whether or not your baby gets enough sleep by how cranky they get in the morning. 

Symptoms Of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (Plmd)

1. Insomnia 

One common sign that gives it away that your baby is suffering from periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is their inability to go to bed at night.

They are unconsciously being brought back awake by the incessant jerking of the leg, which they have no control over.  This brings about forced activity at night.

2. Difficulty falling asleep during the day

While insomnia might be the inability to fall asleep at night, babies suffering from PLMD might be having problems sleeping both times of the day; they find it hard to sleep during the day. This might have a toll on their attitude.

3. Behavioral health issue 

Fatigue has a way of making the human brain react differently to situations. It brings about anger, irritation, and so much more.

If your baby is getting more cranky, and angry, and has other related behavioral issues, they might be suffering from PLMD. It is safe to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

4. Erratic leg movement during sleep 

It’s the most common sign of periodic limb movement disorder; this bears the name of the disorder.

If your baby happens to throw their legs up and down while sleeping, it’s an obvious sign of PLMD. Rare cases are seen where babies do this just to soothe themselves.

5. Restless sleep 

Sleep is to be enjoyed. If your baby is having a hard time staying still in their sleep for a while, it might be a sign of periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)

6. Tossing and turning on the bed 

It’s closely linked to restlessness. Your baby is expected to sleep still or with limited movement during sleep. However, if they happen to move more rapidly and turn more in their sleep, it’s a sign of PLMD.

Note

All these signs are pointers at situations that might be closely linked to periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). They do not state that anytime you see this sign, you should conclude that your baby is suffering from Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD).

There’s a strong need to visit your doctor and make a proper diagnosis to say for sure that your baby is suffering from periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).

Diagnosis Of Restless Leg Syndrome And Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

Restless Leg Syndrome is closely related to Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. However, these two medical conditions are not diagnosed in the same way. Proper diagnosis should only be done by qualified medical practitioners.

Restless Leg Syndrome 

Blood samples of patients who might be having RLS are collected by doctors to check the iron level of the patient’s blood through a test known as Ferritin.

Studies have shown that there’s a direct relationship between low levels of iron in the body and Restless leg syndrome. It’s because of the large role and impact of iron in the proper functioning of dopamine.

Dopamine is responsible for motion control. Restless leg syndrome is characterized by loss of control of the leg’s motion.

Hence, doctors have resolved to test and diagnose Restless Leg Syndrome by testing for the level of iron in the patient’s blood.

This low level of iron is not necessarily to the point of anemia in the patient. 

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

The diagnosis of PLMD is quite different from RLS. The diagnosis of PLMD is done on three levels. These are:

1. Periodic limb movements during sleep exceeding norms for age

Evaluation is done on the rate at which a baby moves their limbs during sleep. It’s okay to move our limbs during sleep.

It only becomes a problem if we exceed the normal range. For instance, it’s not expected to record a limb movement of more than 5 per hour for children.

Hence, this diagnosis is made to record if the limb movement you observed is normal or not.

2. Clinical sleep disturbance and

3. The absence of another primary sleep disorder or underlying cause (including RLS)

Consequences Of RLS And PLMD

The sad reality of these medical conditions is that they can lead to several long-term consequences. These include

• Daytime fatigue, sleepiness, or hyperactivity: inability to sleep in the night or maintain concentration can take its toll on your child’s psychological balance.

• Kids may have attention problems and may not be able to do well at school. Some children may be mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD. Many studies have tried to analyze the relationship between RLS PLMD and ADHD in children. 

• Further studies have shown and suggested that these medical conditions may lead to high blood pressure in adults and children.

How Do You Treat RLS And PLMD

1. Good sleeping habits 

Improving sleeping habits to a healthier pattern with constant wake and sleep cycle might help babies with RLS and PLMD

2. Iron supplementation 

A low level of iron is a major handwork in the emergence of RLS and PLMD. After the level of iron has been evaluated through Ferritin, there’s a need to increase the level of iron in the patient’s blood.

It’s important to consult your healthcare provider as regards executing this. The addition of iron to a meal from time to time might help increase the level of iron in the body and directly influence the functioning of dopamine.

The proper functioning of dopamine gives babies absolute control of their motions.

3. Medication

There are some chronic stages that lifestyle change can’t fix. The use of drugs is more advised here. Drugs like Dopamine agonists are very good. However, these drugs have adverse effects and are only to be used for reserved cases.

Other examples of these drugs are clonidine (Catapres), clonazepam (Klonopin), gabapentin (Neurontin), and zolpidem (Ambien). 

4. Proper monitoring

Every form of treatment requires close attention to progress and the safekeeping of drugs. Maintain good storage of all drugs.

5. Limiting caffeine

Reducing the amount of caffeine given to babies will reduce their activity and can make them sleep easily.

Final Thoughts

It is completely normal for babies to move around in their sleep. Just like adults, they might shift positions to get comfortable or move as a result of dream motions. However, if your baby seems to be moving excessively and it is causing you concern, it might be worth consulting your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a condition that can cause repetitive leg movements during sleep. While it is more commonly seen in adults, it can also affect babies. The disorder is treatable with medication and lifestyle changes, so if your baby is diagnosed with PLMD, be sure to follow your doctor’s recommended treatment plan.