Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

The most common symptoms of cerebral palsy involve issues with movement, posture, and muscle tone. These can include stiff or floppy muscles, poor coordination, involuntary movements, and delays in reaching physical milestones like sitting or walking.

While every child with CP is different, most will show some combination of abnormal movement patterns, reflexes that persist too long, and muscle control difficulties that make everyday tasks harder.

In babies under 12 months, early signs of cerebral palsy may show up as unusual muscle tone—either too stiff or too floppy—and a delay in physical milestones like rolling over, holding up the head, or pushing up on arms.

Babies may also favor one hand or one side of the body unusually early, often called “hand preference” before it’s developmentally appropriate. Poor head control, fussy feeding, or seeming overly sensitive to handling may also raise red flags.

Most symptoms of cerebral palsy become noticeable between 6 months and 2 years of age. For some children, particularly those with more severe forms, signs may be evident in infancy.

For others with milder symptoms, it may not be clear until they begin to walk or start more physically demanding tasks around age 2–3. Earlier diagnosis is possible when motor delays are combined with unusual movement patterns or muscle tone.

Yes, especially in milder cases. Some children don’t show clear symptoms until they start school and are asked to complete more complex motor tasks like climbing stairs, playing sports, or writing for long periods.

These children may be diagnosed later because their symptoms are subtle and often mistaken for general clumsiness, ADHD, or a developmental delay.

Cerebral palsy is considered a non-progressive condition, meaning the brain injury that causes it doesn’t get worse. However, the symptoms can change as the child grows.

Muscle tightness can increase, joint problems can develop, and motor difficulties may become more pronounced without proper therapy and medical support. Secondary complications can worsen without intervention, even if the underlying brain injury stays the same.

Each type of CP is defined by different movement symptoms:

• Spastic CP causes stiff muscles and jerky movements, often affecting walking or limb use.

• Dyskinetic CP involves involuntary, twisting or writhing movements and fluctuating muscle tone.

• Ataxic CP causes poor balance, shaky movements, and difficulty with coordination.

• Hypotonic CP leads to unusually low muscle tone, causing a “floppy” appearance, delayed motor skills, and trouble with sitting upright or holding posture.

• Mixed CP shows symptoms from more than one type, most commonly spastic and dyskinetic.

Understanding which type a child has helps guide therapy and support strategies.

If your child has persistent stiffness, floppy limbs, one-sided movement, or delays in motor milestones, it’s worth raising the concern with your pediatrician.

Occasional clumsiness or late walking alone doesn’t mean CP, but patterns of abnormal movement especially when they don’t improve with time, should be evaluated. Trust your instincts if something doesn’t seem right.

Start by keeping a record of your concerns: when you first noticed symptoms, what seems different, and how your child is developing compared to peers. Then bring this to your child’s pediatrician.

They can do a developmental screening and refer you to a neurologist or physical therapist if needed. Early diagnosis can make a big difference in treatment and long-term outcomes.