All babies develop differently, but developmental delays and other symptoms can be signs of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disease which requires urgent medical attention. To ensure your baby’s progress is on track, it’s important to know what to look out for
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Early signs of SMA are typically seen any time before 3 months, or up to 6 months of age. If you feel something isn’t right with your baby, or your baby is displaying any of the following early signs of SMA, trust your instincts and speak to your doctor
Early signs of SMA are typically seen any time before 10 months, and up to 18 months of age. If you feel something isn’t right with your baby, or your baby is displaying any of the following early signs of SMA, trust your instincts and speak to your doctor
Alongside the key signs of SMA, your baby’s movement and development can sometimes suggest that something isn’t quite right. Tracking your baby’s movements, also known as motor (or developmental) milestones, in the first few months of life is very important in helping you to see how well they’re developing
Alongside the key signs of SMA, your baby’s movement and development can sometimes suggest that something isn’t quite right. Tracking your baby’s movements, also known as motor (or developmental) milestones, in the early months of life is very important in helping you to see how well they’re developing
Milestones are a measure of the physical progress your baby makes as they grow. Seeing your baby grow and develop is a fascinating experience – from birth onwards you will have plenty of exciting ‘firsts’ to look forward to
This figure illustrates typical development patterns in the first few months of life, so you can see how your baby is progressing. Every baby is unique, the exact age individual babies show these skills may differ
When lying on their front, baby can briefly lift their head
Can move hands to their face and mouth
Startle reflex – when baby is startled, such as a loud noise, they throw out their arms and spread their fingers
When lying on their front, baby can lift their head and move it side-to-side – may also use arms to push off of the ground
When lying on their back, baby can move and wriggle their arms and legs. As development continues these movements will become smoother
Can briefly hold a toy that is placed in their hands
When lying on their front, baby can lift their head and chest
When lying on their back, baby waves their arms and kicks their legs
Beginning to reach out for toys and deliberately grasps and holds items
When lying on their tummy they can hold their head straight and look around
When lying on their back they rock from side-to-side
Pushes up to elbows when lying on their tummy
They grab and shake toys in their hands
Beginning to sit up without help
Rolls from side-to-side and rolls over front-to-back
Beginning to support their weight on their legs and stand with help
Starts to crawl on their hands and knees
Beginning to sit up without help
Rolls from side-to-side and rolls over front-to-back
Beginning to support their weight on their legs and stand with help
Starts to crawl on their hands and knees
Crawls on their hands and knees
Can pull themselves up to stand whilst holding onto something
Can stand whilst holding on to something
Beginning to take a few steps whilst holding onto furniture for support
Can stand alone without help
Begins to take a few steps alone
Can get into the sitting position alone and sits well
Can walk well alone
Starts to walk upstairs and run
Beginning to feed themselves with a spoon, and drink with a cup
If you notice your baby hasn’t reached any of these milestones within the expected age range, or they are no longer able to achieve milestones that they previously could, speak to your doctor immediately
Download the milestones timeline
MILESTONES TIMELINEReferences
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SMA UK (2023). SMA Type 2 – Looking After your child who has had a Recent Diagnosis. Available at: https://smauk.org.uk/recent-diagnosis-sma-type-2. Date accessed: July 2023.
SMA UK (2023). Symptoms & Effects of 5q Spinal Muscular Atrophy – Type 1. Available at: https://smauk.org.uk/symptoms-smatype1. Date accessed: July 2023.
SMA UK (2023). Symptoms & Effects of 5q Spinal Muscular Atrophy – Type 2. Available at: https://smauk.org.uk/symptoms-smatype2. Date accessed: July 2023.
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