The ‘harmless’ movement your newborn baby makes that could prove deadly

BEING a new parent is hard work – you’re sleep deprived and learning as you go.

Keeping your baby happy and healthy are the main goals, but it’s difficult to be aware of every red flag.

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And some might not make it immediately obvious that your baby is actually very unwell.

A bobbing head might seem cute and simply that your little one is having a look around or responding to something.

But Tiny Hearts Education has issued a warning to all parents that this could mean they need immediate help.

A video posted on the account shows a young baby lying in its parent’s arms, bobbing and rocking its head.

A later clip shows it in a hospital cot with a heaving chest, as its head still bobs.

Explaining to parents, text on the video said: “It may look harmless, but head bobbing like this is never a good sign in an infant.

“Head bobbing is a sign of severe respiratory distress.

“By this stage, bub is working so hard to breathe they will be having trouble getting enough oxygen to the lungs.

“This LO ended up testing positive for RSV.

“The family spent five nights in hospital, three of those in ICU on a CPAP machine sedated.

“If you notice your LO doing this, I want you to get help and fast.”

They also recommended parents should “keep a video on hand of your bub breathing normally” to compare if they are worried.

RSV is a very common virus and almost all children have been infected with it by the time they are two years old.

In older children and adults, RSV symptoms include a cough, cold, runny nose and fever.

Some children under two, especially those born prematurely or with a heart condition, can suffer more serious consequences.

RSV can develop into bronchiolitis, an inflammatory infection of the lower airways which can make it hard to breathe.

The NHS says: “Around one in three children in the UK will develop bronchiolitis during their first year of life. It most commonly affects babies between three and six months of age.

“By the age of  two, almost all infants will have been infected with RSV and up to half will have had bronchiolitis.”

The early symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to those of a common cold but can develop over a few days into a high temperature of 37.8C or above (fever), a dry and persistent cough, difficulty feeding, rapid or noisy breathing (wheezing).

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