Hypotonia can happen from damage to the brain, spinal cord, nerves, or muscles. The damage can be the result of trauma, environmental factors, or genetic, muscle, or central nervous system disorders.

What is the most common cause of hypotonia in infants?

The most common central cause of hypotonia is cerebral palsy or hypoxic encephalopathy in the young infant. However, this dysfunction may progress in later infancy to hypertonia.

What causes floppy baby?

A variety of neuromuscular disorders and central nervous system (CNS) disorders cause floppy infant syndrome (FIS). CNS disorders are the much more common causes of the syndrome than neuromuscular disorders. On long-term follow up, cerebral palsy and mental retardation turn out to be the 2 most common causes of FIS.