Flag as Not Acceptable?
We review flagged content and enforce our Terms of Use, in which content must never be:
- Profane or sexually explicit
- Disrespectful or abusive
- Infringing of copyright
Parentpedia
Flailing
What Experts Say
There's nothing more unsettling than watching your helpless infant thrash his arms and legs about while he's crying. Flailing, which almost always goes hand in hand with crying, is thought to be the result of your baby's immature nervous system. The less technical way to think about it: Your baby is pulling out all the stops. He's saying, "I'm really not happy right now and hopefully you'll figure out what I need, fast!"
Common causes of flailing (with crying): hunger, a wet or dirty diaper, being too hot or too cold, being overtired, being overstimulated, having an upset stomach, or if he's in pain (baby shots are notorious for bringing on episodes of flailing).
Your infant might also flail his arms and legs when he's delighted and happy. "Whether it's a response to a positive or negative emotion, flailing is tied to strong emotions," says Marsha Gerdes, Ph.D., co-director of the neonatal follow-up program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "As your child grows, he'll improve his ability to regulate his emotions, which means you'll notice less of this behavior."
ParentPedia contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of ParentPedia, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.
The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
Thank You!
Thank you for helping us maintain a friendly, high quality community at Family.com. This comment will be reviewed by a community moderator.
