Does My Baby Have Cerebral Palsy Quiz
Questions: 15 · 10 minutes
1. When a toy is offered near the center of your baby’s body, what usually happens?
My baby reaches with either arm or brings both hands toward it.
One arm is preferred, although the other is also used readily.
My baby consistently avoids or struggles to use the same arm.
My baby cannot move one arm as before or has suddenly stopped using it.
2. Outside sleep and beyond the early newborn period, how often are your baby’s hands tightly fisted?
The hands open regularly during relaxed play and exploration.
A fist appears now and then, but the hand also opens on its own.
One or both hands stay fisted much of the time, sometimes with the thumb held inside.
A hand remains tightly closed, is difficult to open for care, or has suddenly stopped opening.
3. During play and routine care, does your baby repeatedly hold the head or body toward one side?
My baby turns and positions the body in both directions.
One side is mildly preferred, but gentle turning both ways is easy.
The same side is strongly preferred and turning the other way is consistently difficult.
My baby has suddenly become unable to turn or move one side, or the asymmetry appeared abruptly.
4. Across the motor skills your baby has already learned, which pattern best describes recent progress?
Previously learned skills remain available while new abilities gradually appear.
Progress has paused for a while, but established skills remain present.
Progress has been limited for an extended period across several motor activities.
One or more previously established motor skills have been lost.
5. How would you describe your baby’s spontaneous movements while awake and settled?
Movements vary and generally look smooth for my baby’s age.
Brief awkward or jerky movements occur occasionally, especially when excited or tired.
Movements often look unusually jerky, repetitive, or difficult to control.
There are repeated rhythmic jerks that do not stop with gentle repositioning, or episodes include reduced responsiveness.
6. For your baby’s corrected age, how is sitting balance developing?
Balance and trunk control are progressing as expected for their current stage.
My baby needs somewhat more support but continues to make visible progress.
My baby consistently collapses, remains very unsteady, or shows little progress beyond the expected window.
My baby has lost a previously acquired ability to sit or hold the trunk upright.
7. When your baby tries to turn or roll between positions appropriate for their age, what do you observe?
Attempts involve both sides and are becoming more coordinated.
Progress is gradual, with one direction or step taking longer.
There is persistent difficulty initiating the movement or completing it without substantial help.
My baby has stopped making movements or rolling in a way they could previously manage.
8. Before 12 months of age, which description best fits your baby’s hand use?
There is no fixed hand preference; both hands take turns leading.
A preferred hand appears sometimes, but the other hand remains active.
The same hand leads most activities and the other is noticeably less involved.
One hand is persistently unused, tightly held, or has lost an ability it previously had.
9. When your baby is supported upright or lying down, what pattern do the legs show?
The legs take varied positions and can separate naturally.
The legs cross occasionally but uncross easily.
The legs frequently cross tightly or remain straight and difficult to separate.
The legs lock or cross so strongly that positioning or care becomes very difficult or appears painful.
10. During feeding, holding, or rest, how often does your baby strongly arch the back or extend the head?
Strong arching is rare and does not form a persistent pattern.
It happens occasionally when my baby is upset or uncomfortable, then settles.
It happens repeatedly during ordinary care or feeding and is difficult to interrupt.
Arching is forceful or prolonged, or occurs with breathing difficulty, color change, choking, or reduced responsiveness.
11. When you lift and support your baby, how does their body usually feel?
My baby provides an age-appropriate amount of head and body support.
My baby sometimes feels softer or less steady, especially when tired.
My baby often feels unusually floppy or is difficult to support securely.
My baby has become suddenly limp, is hard to wake, or cannot support the body as before.
12. When your baby kicks freely during play or a diaper change, how do the two legs compare?
Both legs move with roughly similar variety and strength.
One leg is occasionally quieter, but the pattern changes and both remain active.
The same leg moves noticeably less during many observations.
One leg is almost never moving, or there has been a sudden new loss of movement.
13. What do you notice while putting your baby’s arms through sleeves or bending the limbs for dressing?
The limbs usually bend and move without persistent resistance.
There is occasional resistance that relaxes with time and gentle movement.
The same limbs frequently feel stiff and are difficult to bend.
The stiffness is severe, painful-looking, suddenly worse, or prevents routine movement.
14. Accounting for corrected age if your baby was premature, how is head control progressing during supported sitting or tummy time?
Control is steadily improving in line with expectations discussed with the clinician.
Progress seems a little slower, but I continue to see new control.
Head control remains clearly difficult with little recent progress.
My baby has lost head control that was previously present or shows a sudden major decline.
15. During age-appropriate supported standing or weight-bearing play, how does your baby use the feet and legs?
Both legs participate, with varied foot positions and increasing control.
Weight-bearing is inconsistent, but both legs take part at times.
My baby persistently avoids one leg, stays on pointed toes, or cannot bear weight as expected.
My baby has suddenly stopped bearing weight or shows marked pain, swelling, or new weakness.