My baby stiffens when their feet touch the ground — is this normal?
⚡ Short answer: This reflex is seen in most babies.
Anonymous
bir anne · Development
When I place their feet on the ground, their legs go rigid. Is this a normal reflex or a muscle tone problem?
Maiyko AI ADVISOR
The real reply from the in-app AI advisor
This reflex is seen in most babies. When a baby's feet touch a surface, they naturally tend to stiffen their legs — this is called the "positive support reflex" and typically fades around 5–6 months. By itself, this reflex doesn't indicate a muscle tone problem.
What matters is the consistency of this reflex and your baby's overall development. If your baby:
- Keeps their legs rigid all the time and can't relax them,
- Has difficulty moving their legs (like scissors movement),
- Shows significant delays in other milestones like head control, reaching, rolling,
Then consulting a pediatrician or pediatric neurologist would be appropriate. But if the stiffening only happens when the feet touch a surface and is limited to that reflex, there's no need to worry.
⚕️ Health note: This answer is for general information only; it is not medical advice. Every baby is different — for decisions about your baby's health, consult your pediatrician.
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