Baby thrashing about in sleep but not waking up

[elfadair]

My almost 6 month year old is a brilliant sleeper but for the last week has started thrashing about in her sleep. She is not actually waking up but is whacking the mattress so hard with her legs the whole cot is shaking. She is waking me up about once an hour all through the night. It's v unsettling for me, but doesn't seem to be bothering her - she wakes up in the morning her usual happy self. I was really scared the first night and spent a long time watching her to make sure she wasn't actually having a fit. She seems to be flinging her legs about and moving her head from side to side (reminding me of the girl in The Exorcist!!).

Does anyone know what may be causing this - I thought maybe teething, growing pains, nightmares, room too cold, some kind of brain development phase? We haven't started weaning yet and there has been no change to her routine/daytime naps. Is it worth a trip to the GP/health visitor, or will they just tell me "it's normal..."

Any thoughts much appreciated.

[Ko]

my baby has always thrashed about and then goes back to sleep. i always think that he must be dreaming about milk as he seems quite excited (sometimes he even chuckles in his sleep!) he definitely moves his head from side to side a lot. i think its just different stages of sleep and dreams.

[Vanessa3]

Our little one is very active in his sleep.. He can babble, cry, thrash about & even crawl in his sleep. Like Ko, I wouldn't worry too much - I think some babies are a little more active in dreamland than others.

[nunners85]

there's a good book in the library by dr richard ferber - how to solve your child's sleep problems. not that your child has a problem, but this book goes through all the difference sleep phases/patterns that babies/toddlers go through as they grow older. chances are she's just growing up a bit.