LOOK OUT FOR EARLY SIGNS OF SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY (SMA)

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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

HOW TO SPOT THE EARLY SIGNS OF SMA

Select age range:

Age 0–6 months
Age 6–18 months

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

Poor Head Control

When your baby is lying on their back, their head may rest on one side with little movement, they might struggle to move it from side-to-side, and to lift their head up
When holding your baby, they may struggle to lift their head up or to move it from side-to-side, even for a short period of time
When your baby is lying on their tummy they may have difficulties lifting their head up and moving it from side-to-side
Watch the video to see how your doctor will check for head control

Weak Legs & Arms

When lying on their back, your baby may not move their arms and legs very much, rarely kicking their legs or moving their arms away from their body. They might struggle to lift their arms and legs up, struggle to reach for things, and their legs may be in a ‘frog leg’ position
Your baby’s arms and legs may seem weak and lacking strength, they may appear floppy, particularly their legs, or feel limp when held

Fast Belly Breathing

Your baby’s breathing may be fast, even when they are resting and they do not seem to take deep breaths in or out
Their chest may appear ‘bell-shaped’. When breathing, their belly may move up and down noticeably more than their chest – this can most easily be seen when they are lying on their back and are not wearing clothes on the upper half of their body

Difficulty Feeding/Swallowing

Your baby may struggle to suck or swallow when feeding due to weakness. This can lead to choking and make it harder for them to gain weight
You may notice they are slow when feeding as they struggle to swallow

Baby 0-6 months difficulty feeding and swallowing early sign of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Weak CRY & COUGH

Your baby’s cry might be difficult to hear and seem weak
They may also struggle to cough and clear mucus from their chest; their cough may sound weak and they may cough repeatedly and sound ‘chesty’

Weak Legs & Arms

Your baby’s arms and legs may seem floppy and like they lack strength. This is usually more noticeable in the legs
They may be unable to push up to their elbows and hold this position for long periods when lying on their tummy
Your baby may struggle to reach out and grab or pick up toys; when performing these movements they may seem slow and tire easily
They may struggle to support themselves using their legs when held

Struggles to Sit Unsupported

When placed sitting upright, your baby might struggle to stay still for long and may lean forward or to one side; at first, this lean may be only slight
Your baby may find sitting increasingly difficult and need further help to maintain the position for long periods

Can’t Roll Over

Your baby might rock from side-to-side but struggle to roll fully onto their side; or they may find it difficult to roll onto their tummy when lying on their back
Over time, they may find these movements increasingly difficult

Shaking Hands

Look out for small tremors or shakes in the fingers or hands when your baby holds their arms out. This shaking may be minor and difficult to see clearly

Slow/Lost Physical Development

They may be slow to achieve different developmental milestones such as sitting or standing without support or walking
They may manage to reach these milestones but later become unable to do so

Baby 6-18 months slow or lost physical development early symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Remember, even babies with SMA remain alert, responsive and smiley. They’ll appear happy, not in distress, which makes it less obvious that there might be a problem. But if you feel something’s wrong, don’t hesitate to see your doctor

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Understanding more about YOUR BABY’s progress

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

Age 0–6 months
Age 6–18 months

1 month old

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

2 months old

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

3 months old

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

4 months old

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

6 months old

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

6 months old

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

9 months old

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

12 months old

Can stand alone without help
Begins to take a few steps alone
Can get into the sitting position alone and sits well

18 months old

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 TIMELINE

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References

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