Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that primarily affect movement and posture. It is caused by damage to the developing brain, usually occurring before birth.

Babies who have an extremely low birth weight or are born before 32 weeks of pregnancy are at a higher risk of being born with cerebral palsy. Other factors that may contribute to cerebral palsy include infections during pregnancy, such as chickenpox or rubella, fever during pregnancy, and maternal factors like gestational diabetes or obesity.

Here are some features that parents and caregivers should look out for to help diagnose cerebral palsy early:

1.  Developmental milestones such as lifting their head, rolling over, sitting, crawling, and walking should be observed. If a child is slow to reach these milestones, they may be facing developmental delays that are indicative of cerebral palsy.
   

2.  If there is noticeable dominance in hand preference while performing activities like reaching, crawling, or moving, it can indicate weakness or paralysis of the opposite hand.
   

3.  The presence of abnormal muscle tone can be observed if the child's body parts appear either floppy or stiff.
   

4. Uncontrolled movement in arms or legs, difficulty coordinating body movements, atypical posture, and poor balance are other clinical signs that may be present due to abnormal brain development.
   

5. Difficulties in swallowing or communicating verbally, and uncontrolled drooling, may also be observed in the child.
   

6. In slightly older children, difficulty with fine motor tasks such as writing or using scissors may be observed.

In conclusion, cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, and early intervention can help your child achieve their full potential. Hence, it is important to seek early medical attention

to prevent complications.

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