1 yr old arches his back recently...:::concerned::: - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

AJsMommy · 08-08-2008, 02:22 PM

My son just turned one at the end of july. These past few weeks, hes been arching his back when he gets upset. He'll shreak and arch his back and it has almost caused me to drop him one time because of how much he arched his back. Thank Goodness I didnt!.. Last night, in the middle of the night, he woke up screaming and when I went to his crib, he had his back arched. This was the first time he did this. He is COMPLETELY ok otherwise. He doesnt walk yet, but he takes a few steps before falling down..He says words, not only in english but in spanish as well (he understands when we speak to him in both). He claps, points, etc...Should I be worried about this?

doodlebugsmom · 08-08-2008, 09:31 PM

Back arching, really at any age, is a symptom of reflux. I would keep an eye on it, but from what you describe he's definitely in pain. Talk to the doctor about it and figure out what to do for him. We fought reflux for a year, and my son, now 13 1/2 months, seems to have FINALLY outgrown it.

sem627 · 08-09-2008, 07:18 AM

When you say he's upset, do you mean he's not happy about something that he has to do and he doesn't want to do it? LIke are you picking him up from playing to go change his diaper or something? My son does this all the time because he mad. Yesterday he didn't want to take his nap and he arched his back making it very difficult to hold him. He also does it when he doesn't wan to get in the carseat. That's really annoying because I'm trying to make him bend one way to sit and he's bending another way.

You may just be looking at a toddler-hood thing.

AJsMommy · 08-09-2008, 10:44 AM

It is more of what you said, Sem627...Its ususally when he is upset and in the carseat. The only time that it wasnt, was when he did it while sleeping. Hes only done that one.. Maybe it was a bad dream... IDK.. He has a check up next week, Ill bring it up, but it does sound like it is a toddler-hood thing. THANKS!!

Ol'Line Rebel · 08-09-2008, 03:41 PM

I really don't know much about reflux in babies (but I'm the queen of it for myself), but I don't think your 1yo would just suddenly start having it. Not usually, anyway.

Usually reflux happens from the get-go and gets better. That's because the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) in the baby is immature and not fully strengthened. Thus, it can appear to allow reflux in a newborn, and that baby can get better over time as the LES strengthens. I wouldn't expect it to show up a year later.