Ariana Witkin , a board-certified pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, sometimes fist clenching can be a sign of hunger or stress. However, as they eat and become full, their fists will open and hands relax. The palmar reflex usually disappears between 3 and 4 months. Your baby may begin to relax their hands as their nervous system develops.
As for when your little one will start using their hands, this change usually occurs around 5 or 6 months, when babies gain the ability to grasp and release objects. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics actually suggests introducing spoons and sippy cups starting at 6 months. They also recommend letting your baby use their hands to feed themselves. However, if your baby continues to clench their fists longer than expected and also seems rigid and stiff, it could be a sign something more is happening.
And Dr. Approximately 2 out of every 1, babies are born with cerebral palsy each year globally. While fist clenching is normal, at least in most cases, it never hurts to get a second thought or opinion.
Most moms like to know for how long babies can clench their fists. The answer is that newborn babies usually clench their fists for the initial few months after their birth due to palmer grasp reflex. By the age of 3 — 4 months , they gradually begin unclenching their fists. You may see them relaxing their tight fists and opening their hands as their nervous system slowly matures. They may also try and reach for toys with open hands that you tie them in their crib.
And by the age of months , they learn to grasp, hold, and release objects. It is normal for babies to clench their fists but slowly they learn to unclench their fists and grasp and hold other objects. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Create an account. Password recovery. FirstCry Parenting. Some of these reflexes disappear after a few weeks, while others become voluntary and directed movements.
Your little one is still comfortable staying in the same position they adopted in the uterus: keeping their arms and legs close to their body and their hands in a fist. This is due to their nervous system maturation during the last couple of weeks. Even though their finger mobility is still limited and they keep their hands in a fist , your child will start to move their arms in front of them. It will be exciting to see their progress!
A baby will open their clenched fists progressively. Although the evolution of the palmar grasp reflex from an automatic response to a voluntary action will take a few more weeks, your child will start to relax their hands and spend less time with their fists closed. Either way physical exertion, tension, and pain can all express itself directly or indirectly in your hands.
Look to see if there are any recent changes in your lifestyle that could be a contributing factor. If you have increased your physical exertion, make sure you are staying hydrated, as dehydration can cause muscle cramping. Cholesterol medications are known for causing muscle pain and cramping, known as statin-induced muscle pain.
This condition is caused by an increase in creatine kinase in the bloodstream and more commonly affects women. Antidepressant medications are also known to cause joint pain and muscle aches. Epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, and schizophrenia have all been linked with causing clenched fists, however these conditions present during the daytime as well as at night. And although bruxism has been tied to sleep apnea, no link has yet been made between sleep apnea and fist clenching.
While more studies continue to come forward, there are some steps you can take to try to alleviate your symptoms. As with any changes in your health, a little detective work can always go a long way. Try to think back when your fist clenching started if you made any changes in your diet, medications, or other routines.
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