Because there are several different types of cerebral palsy, with various degrees of severity, the signs and symptoms will vary greatly between individual children. In general, parents should be on the lookout for any delays in reaching milestones in movement or motor control. The list below specifies some common indicators of CP. Please also note that some children without CP may present some of these indicators as well.
Signs of CP in an Infant Younger Than 6 Months of Age
- Head lags when picked up.
- Stiffness in extremities.
- Excessive floppiness in extremities.
- Legs get stiff and cross or scissor whenever child is picked up.
Signs of CP in an Infant Older Than 6 Months of Age
- Doesn’t roll over (in either direction).
- Cannot bring hands together.
- Difficulty bringing hands to mouth.
- Reaching out with only one hand while other hand stays fisted.
Signs of CP in an Infant Older Than 10 Months of Age
- Scooting around on buttocks or hopping on knees, but not crawling on all fours.
- Crawling, but in a lopsided manner, pushing off with one hand/leg and dragging the opposite hand/leg.
If you think your child has or may have cerebral palsy because of something that happened at birth, please fill out the form on the Birth Injury Web official website..