My baby is 6 months old. She recently started shaking her head from side to side. At first it was funny but now I am getting worried. Is this just one of those things babies do??
Thanks everyone for your reassuring emails!
I called her pedi today and he said it is so normal....it is very common and he gets calls about it all the time at her age. He said some babies do it so much that they rub the hair off!
Better to worry about her new hair falling out than anything more serious!!
Hi B.,
I have an 8 1/2 month old that did the same thing at six months. Like you I thought it was funny, but then my husband and I began to worry something was wrong. She stopped doing it, unless she doesn't want something then she let's us know by shaking her head and yelling at us. So I don't think there's anything to worry about.
Best,
S.
My baby did this, too, when he was a bit older. It freaked me out, so I asked the doctor about it. I wondered if it was a sign of autism or something. She said he just liked the dizzy feeling it gave him. He stopped doing it pretty soon after that.
Yes! My son still does this and another baby I know does the same thing. I think he does it to get a reaction out of us. I think it's totally normal :)
Very normal. My daughter did this for quite a while and probably stopped around 12 months?
Don't worry. My 8 month old has been doing it for months. She does it when there is music on or I am dancing or singing to her. I figured she was dancing. She also just does it sometimes out of the blue. I figure she does it when she is happy and excited. I wouldn't worry and I don't worry. I think it is completly normal.
That could be anything from a comforting movement to a neurological problem. See a doctor. Maybe nothing, or maybe it will take a few tests to diagnose to be sure. Dont worry yourself sick. But see a medical doctor.
Wendy
My daughter did the same thing. She had the biggest bald spot on earth because she would rub the hair off of the back of her head doing this! I think they realize that they can make themselves dizzy or something. Just don't acknowledge it in any way, so they don't think it is a game. I wouldn't worry about it. You can try doing other things that make her dizzy to see if she enjoys the feeling, and she just discovered that she can make that happen for herself.
My son started doing the same thing when he was 5 months old (he's now 8 months) and I was worried and asked the doctor but he said not to worry about it. Over time we realized this was something he does when he's tired and it's a self-soothing mechanism. My husband and I now call it "thrashing" and when we see it happening we know sleep is coming soon and get him to his crib fast. I read about babies doing this in the Touchpoints book by Dr. Brazelton and then I for sure wasn't worried. Does your daughter do it when she's tired?
A lot of babies do that. If you are laughing she will continue because she likes to see you laugh. Try ignoring it and see if she stops. Eventually she should. If not, then mention it to her doctor.
My granddaughter just turned 7 months and is doing the head shaking too. She started it about a month ago. Nothing to worry about! She'll move onto something else she likes doing even more, very soon! Enjoy this fun fun age of them exploring what they can do with their bodies!
My 11 month old does the same thing! I think she started doing it around 6 months also. I don't think it is anything to worry about. I think that babies just like the feeling, maybe it makes them a little dizzy and how cool is that feeling, lol! I wouldn't be too concerned. Enjoy your little baby!
My 2nd child and my third( a seven month old) did/do that to keep themselves awake. Maybe thats it????
Good luck, and it hasn't had any negetive effect on the three yr old.
W.
Absolutely normal! She is learning about her own body and how she can control different parts of it. I am mom of four and two of mine did that. They are now 23 and 21 years old. Perfectly normal. Your daughter will grow out of the head thing before too long and be on to something else that concerns you. The only constant of motherhood - you will ALWAYS have something to worry about. :0)
My daughter did the same thing around that age. I thought it was pretty weird too, and we checked her ears. Nothing was wrong, but I was still concerned. Then one day I watched her in her bouncy seat. When she shook her head, the whole thing bounced and wiggled. I realized that she learned a new trick and was now doing it all the time. It was nothing to worry about.
My daughter started to do this at six mos too, I thought it was peculiar at fisrt too but realized, it's a game that she plays w/ almost everyone, she watches for our response, we do it back and she repeats until bored. She's now 8 1/2 mos old and does a full body wiggle, smiling or laughing. I think it's normal. If you are worried, have her pedi check her out.
My son did this too. As everyone else has mentioned, it's perfectly normal. You might notice - as I did - that she tends to do it when she's tired. I always thought that it was just my son's way of fighting off sleep!!
This exact same thing happened to me! I thought my son was having a seizure when he first did it. Now my son is 22 months and still does it, but now it's him dancing. He is totally fine and normal. The only thing to get nervous about is if your daughter looks like she is incoherent or is "blacking out" then that could be little seizures, but I'm telling you it's probably totally normal. If you ever get really worried try and record it on your phone or something and take it to your pediatrician. Good luck
my daughter is 8 months old now but when she was right around that age she would do the whole shaking her head thing... she will grow out of that stage i guess... mine did now she just does it when she gets excited or hears like the chip bag crunching idk its werid but i ask her peditrician and she says its normal. just wait for all the other things u have to look forward to lol... im having issues with mine crawling and getting bumps and bruises... lol good luck and take care!
Hi B., is it like she is saying no? Or like Stevie wonder?, as babies grow they discover they can do certain movements with different parts of there bodies, I would monitor her, and if you need peace of mind, make an appointment and have her ears check, it could be due to an ear inffection, or fluid in her ears. It's probabbly she had learned how to do so she does. J.
Babies do all kinds of interesting things. As long as your doctor has determined there is no physical problem, hearing or vision etc. there is nothing to worry about then. It will pass. Babies only have a few ways to communicate and especially love it when they can create a reaction in the family members they adore. They will repeat any little performance they can that musters your adoration. Love your baby and acknowledge whatever communication you receive. It is a terrible mistake to ignore them! Then they resort to destructive actions if necessary.
