Is Your Baby Just Fussy? 7 Early Signs of Sensory Processing Issues

One of the most common things parents notice is a baby who seems either hyper-sensitive (over-responsive) or hypo-sensitive (under-responsive) to the world around them. It’s a tale of two extremes.

The Over-Responsive Baby

Does your little one…?

• Hate being swaddled? While many newborns love the snug feeling, a hypersensitive baby might feel trapped and restricted.
• Startle dramatically at everyday noises like the dishwasher running, a dog barking, or a door closing?
• Cry during bath time? The sensation of water, the temperature change, and the feeling of being undressed can be a sensory overload.
• Despise certain clothing textures? They might seem constantly irritated by seams, tags, or specific fabrics, even if they seem soft to you.
• Dislike being held or cuddled in certain ways? They might arch their back and pull away from what you intend as a comforting embrace.

This is the baby whose nervous system is on high alert. It takes very little input to make them feel overwhelmed and unsafe, which, naturally, leads to crying.

The Under-Responsive Baby

On the flip side, you might have a baby who seems to need more stimulation. This can be harder to spot and is often mistaken for a ‘good’ or ‘easy’ baby. Does your little one…?

• Seem unbothered by loud noises or bright lights that would make other babies react?
• Not cry or react much to a wet diaper or feeling cold?
• Crave intense movement, like fast rocking or being bounced vigorously?

This baby’s nervous system needs a lot of input to register a sensation. They might seem passive, but they are working just as hard to make sense of their world.

Feeding is one of the most fundamental and sensory-rich experiences for a baby. It involves taste, touch, and smell, all while coordinating the complex motor skills of sucking, swallowing, and breathing. When sensory processing is off, feeding can become a major battleground.

You might notice:

• Trouble with Latching: A baby might struggle to get a deep latch or stay latched, not because of a physical issue like a tongue-tie, but because the sensation of the breast or bottle nipple in their mouth is overwhelming or they can’t process the tactile information correctly.
• Gagging or Choking Frequently: While some gagging is normal, especially when starting solids, a baby with oral hypersensitivity might gag on different bottle nipple flows or textures long before then.
• Extreme Distractibility: Is it impossible to feed your baby unless you’re in a silent, dark room? A baby with sensory challenges can’t filter out background noise or visual stimulation, making it incredibly difficult to focus on the task of eating.
• Appearing ‘Lazy’ at the Breast or Bottle: Sometimes, a baby who is under-responsive may not have the oral-motor awareness to create a strong suck. They might tire easily or drift off constantly during feeds, not because they’re full, but because the sensory feedback isn’t strong enough to keep them engaged.

A Gentle Reminder: Feeding issues can have many causes, from reflux to allergies to anatomical issues. It’s crucial to work with your pediatrician and a lactation consultant to rule out other medical causes first.

This is often the sign that brings parents to their breaking point. We’re not talking about the witching hour fussiness; we’re talking about hours-long crying spells where nothing—and I mean nothing—seems to work. The baby is beyond consoling.

A key difference is how these babies respond to typical soothing techniques. While most newborns are calmed by rocking, swaddling, or shushing, a baby with sensory challenges might find these things intensely agitating.

• Rocking feels disorienting instead of calming.
• Swaddling feels restrictive and panic-inducing.
• Shushing is just more noise in an already loud world.
• Patting their back feels jarring instead of rhythmic.

These babies often arch their back, stiffen their limbs, and flail their arms. It’s not a sign of them being ‘angry’ at you; it’s a physiological response to being completely overwhelmed. Their nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode, and they lack the internal ability to calm down. They haven’t yet developed the capacity to ‘self-soothe,’ and the external tools we provide aren’t working because those tools themselves are part of the sensory assault.

Sensory processing is deeply connected to our motor skills. Two of our ‘hidden’ senses, the proprioceptive system (awareness of body position) and the vestibular system (balance and movement), play a huge role here. When they’re not working efficiently, it can manifest in your baby’s muscle tone.

Hypotonia (Low Muscle Tone)

This is often described as feeling ‘floppy.’ When you pick up the baby, they might feel like dead weight, or their limbs hang loosely. Other signs include:

• Significant head lag, even past the newborn stage.
• An intense, passionate hatred for tummy time. They may just lie flat without attempting to push up.
• Difficulty bringing their hands to their mouth or midline.

Hypertonia (High Muscle Tone)

This is the opposite, where a baby feels very stiff and rigid. You might notice:

• Their arms and legs are often held straight and stiff.
• They keep their hands tightly fisted.
• They seem to ‘stand’ on their legs when you hold them, even at a very young age.

These aren’t just quirks; they’re signs that the brain is struggling to communicate effectively with the muscles because of faulty sensory information. It’s essential to discuss any concerns about muscle tone with your pediatrician, as it can be a sign of various developmental issues.

Let’s be real: ‘baby’ and ‘sleep struggles’ are practically synonyms. But for a baby with sensory processing challenges, sleep is a monumental hurdle. Their little brains can’t switch off. They are constantly processing sensory input, even when they’re exhausted.

This can look like:

• Fighting sleep ferociously: They may be overtired but will cry, flail, and resist being put down for hours.
• Needing very specific conditions to sleep: For example, only falling asleep in a moving car or stroller, or with a very loud white noise machine. The moment the stimulation stops, they wake up.
• Waking at the slightest sound: The creak of a floorboard, the hum of the refrigerator kicking on—any tiny change in their sensory environment can jolt them awake.
• Difficulty transitioning between sleep cycles: They might only take 30-minute catnaps all day because they can’t link their sleep cycles together without waking up completely.

It’s as if their ‘sensory filter’ is broken. While other babies can tune out minor disruptions, these little ones are at the mercy of every sight, sound, and sensation, making restorative sleep incredibly elusive for both baby and you.

This sign often becomes more obvious as your baby gets a little older and starts interacting more with their environment, but the groundwork is there from the beginning. It’s all about tactile defensiveness—an intense, negative reaction to certain touch sensations.

In early infancy, this might present as:

• Extreme fussiness during diaper changes, especially with the feeling of a cold wipe.
• Crying when being dressed or undressed, as clothes slide against their skin.
• Hating to be barefoot and keeping their feet curled up to avoid touching surfaces.
• Resisting lotion application or baby massage.

As they approach the 6-month mark and beyond, you might see:

• Aversion to messy eating. They may refuse to touch their food and become distressed if their hands or face get dirty.
• An intense dislike of grass, sand, or carpet on their bare feet.
• Refusing to hold certain toys because of their texture.

This isn’t just picky behavior; it’s a genuine, neurological response that makes these everyday textures feel unpleasant or even painful.

Okay, you’ve read through this list and you’re nodding your head, maybe with a pit in your stomach. First, let me say this again: You are a wonderful parent, and this is not your fault. This is about biology, not parenting style. Recognizing these signs is the first, most powerful step you can take.

Step 1: Become a Detective & Trust Your Gut

You are the expert on your baby. Start keeping a simple log on your phone or in a notebook. When does your baby get most upset? What seems to calm them down? What did they eat? What were they wearing? This data isn’t for self-judgment; it’s powerful information to share with a professional.

Step 2: Talk to Your Pediatrician

This is your most important next step. Schedule an appointment specifically to discuss these concerns—not just tacked on to a well-child visit. Bring your notes. Use phrases like, ‘I have some concerns about my baby’s sensory responses,’ or ‘I’ve noticed these specific behaviors and I’m wondering if it could be related to sensory processing.’ A good pediatrician will listen and take you seriously.

Step 3: Ask for a Referral

Your pediatrician is your gateway to specialists. The primary professional who deals with sensory processing issues is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT). You can ask your doctor for a referral for an OT evaluation. In the U.S., you can also contact your state’s Early Intervention program directly to request a free developmental evaluation for children under 3.

Step 4: Adapt the Environment (Not the Baby)

While you wait for professional guidance, you can make small changes to help your baby feel more secure. This is about reducing sensory demands. Try things like:

• Dimming the lights and using blackout curtains.
• Using a white noise machine to block out sudden sounds.
• Trying different fabrics for clothing and swaddles (some babies prefer the deep pressure of a weighted blanket-style swaddle, with a doctor’s okay).
• Announcing your touch: ‘I’m going to pick you up now,’ in a calm voice before you do.

These small adjustments can help lower the overall sensory ‘noise’ and give your baby’s nervous system a chance to relax.