To Be Concerned? 9 Mo. Old Knocking Head to Sleep

Like you, I thought this sounded strange...when my son was an infant I sang and rocked him to sleep, and even at almost 3 yrs I still rock him when he's not feeling good. So, I looked it up on-line and this seemed to be the most comprehensive explaination.

Good Luck!

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/08_head_b...

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My brother did this all through his toddler years and now he's an oral surgeon. He's by far the smartest of all of us. Maybe your little man is a genius in the making:) In all seriousness, he came out fine. In fact, I believe that my mom did this as a child as well and she's fine too. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Take care!

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Hi N..

Though many mothers might disagree with me, I think you should rock your baby to sleep or pat him on the butt (while in bed, causing movement) till he falls asleep. I know it's easier for us "Mothers" to have them fall asleep on their own but, if he feels the need to feel movement to fall asleep and it's a matter of only 5 - 10 minutes - then why not help him get there? This will ensure he will go to sleep without having to bang his head around.

My babies (2 1/2 yrs. & 10 months) never did this and I hadn't heard of this before. It could be something completely normal but, I too would be very concerned. I know most babies enjoy movement - this is why they fall asleep in the car, the swing and while rocking them. My son will fight his sleep a bit but, once I lay him down on his belly and start patting him he begins to "sing" and falls right to sleep.

I run a very busy schedule, I work full time, have two little babies and a husband that thinks I'm a housewife when it comes to cooking & cleaning (wish he would think that when it's time to pay the bills) so I know it's hard to take those 5 -10 minutes to put him to sleep BUT, I do enjoy the bonding time. They grow so fast so I don't feel bad having to take that time to help him get to sleep, I feel tired but, I think it helps him feel more secure and closer to Mommy.

Again, a lot of Moms will disagree and say they should fall asleep on their own - I don't mind helping them while they're small. My daughter is 2 1/2 now and she's been falling asleep on her own since she was about 14 or 15 months with no problems. I just think they need a little help when they're smaller and I enjoy the bonding time.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!!!

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I would do some research! There is some stuff online about self soothing, and other things that could be causing it! If you ever have doubts get a second opinion! Always follow your gut!

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Believe it or not, it is probably him just "self-soothing."
Some babies do this... it will pass. Then he will be on to other things.

Sometimes, its a baby's way of "shutting out" external stimuli too. Perhaps, it's his way of "winding down" before sleeping and lulling himself to sleep...in a sort of repetitious way... like repeated gestures that some people do to relax.

When I was young, I used to "rock" my foot/legs back and forth... but it was relaxing for me. Then I fell asleep.

It does not appear to be any ear problems/infections?

If the Doctor is not concerned, I would not worry.
For some babies even, if you try to 'stop' them from doing it, it just gets them in a tizzy and they can't sleep.

All the best,
Susan

I have not had experience with this, but I think the comments about it being his way to self-soothe could be right on. I also think you should make sure he is not overtired, gets enough sleep, and has a simple and short nighttime routine.
He should be taking 2 naps a day (9ish and 1ish) and then have a bedtime around 7ish depending on the lengths of his naps... Here is a link to a post that may help you: http://www.lullabyluna.com/2008/12/happy-new-year.html

Good luck.

C., mother of 3, sleep consultant, blog writer www.lullabyluna.com

Hi Nicloe, I don't know how normal it is, but I'm 52 and i used to do that, I don't know what age I started, but I did it when I was in elementry school, and I don't remember what age I stoped, I remember also like sitting on the couch abd diung the same thing with the back of my head, I turned out OK, maybe I did it to wear myself out so i could fall asleep I don't know but I do know I did for a long time, so I wouldn't be alarmed, if the pediatrician isn't concerned, then it's probably OK. for me is was ahabit, weather I was sitting or laying down I was bumping my head, for me it was on my stomach of course I had a pillow. This is the first case of this I had ever heard us, I thought I was the only one. well take care J.

Hi there-
My son did something similar. He would sit up and rock back and forth hitting his head on his crib. He did this for a LONG time-from 8 months to about 2 yrs. His pediatrician wasn't worried either. Just said it was a form of soothing, and as long as he wasn't hurting himself, it was okay. He still does is occasionally now (he's almost 3) but in a different form. I do think it's just soothing himself. As long as your son is not endangering himself, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Hope this helps!
J.

Hi N.,

My son did that too when he was 10 months old through 15 months. I'd rock him to sleep when he was a baby, and then he grew bigger and heavier and at some point I stopped the rocking. He is over 21 months old and doesn't do that anymore. He is perfectly normal and healthy. Just like so many other moms who've replied, I think your son is doing it just to soothe himself to sleep.....just the way my son did. What we did was put big fat pillows along the width of the crib at both ends, so that my son wouldn't hurt himself in his sleep. He still moves a LOT in his sleep...so those pillows really turned out very useful.
Hope this helps!

One of my daughters did this. She had been adopted from a German orphanage at age 4 and I always assumed that she had been kept in a crib too much, was bored, and rocked herself to sleep since no one had time to rock each child. She did that for many years, and I even saw her do it as an adult -- although certainly not all the time. Obviously, that reason won't work for your son! My daughter was also extremely hyperactive. I don't know if that could be a reason or not. However, I don't think it harmed her in any way.

I am a mother of (3) my oldest is 11 years old. And I also have a large extended family in which I have done quite alot of babysitting over the years. I have never witnessed or heard of a child slamming his head on the mattress in order for him to sleep or on his back turning his head side to side. Most of the time I usually rock them to sleep or take them for a drive while they are in their car seat. The rocking motion helps them fall asleep. Maybe you should try that and monitor him to see if he continues to turn his head side to side.

I think your doctor is right- nothing to worry about. My niece did this a lot when she was a baby to the point where she "wore off" her hair at the place where she banged. She is now a mother herself and suffered absolutely no reprecussions from this behavior- either as a child or since. G.

Hi N.,
From what I've read this is just his way of decompressing. It may seem weird, he just has his unique way of putting himself to sleep.
Best,
S.

I am not sure this will help you at all but I remember my little sister used to do that when she was about that age. She would rock on her knees and hands in her crib and literally bang the top of her head into the headboard. it would go on for at least 20 minutes or so. We strapped on a big flat foam core pillow.
The doctor said it just was a sensory thing, or a way to deal with over stimulation of the day

Today she is 30 years old and totally fine. :) she would hate me if she'd know I told you...lol

Hi N.-

I did that when I was in elementary school. I would bang my head down on my pillow. I honestly don't know why, but it helped me sleep. It's funny, like the other mommy, I thought I was the only one that did that and I've never told anyone that I did that.

Good luck!

My sister-in-law did and still does this to relax and fall asleep--she's 40! If the ped isn't concerned, I wouldn't be either.

its normal and as long as his dr isnt concerned you shouldnt be either. it sounds like hes trying to wear himself out to sleep. (like hes mentally tired just not physically). does he know anyother way to put himself to sleep. my 2yr old daughter pats her chest to goto sleep. i have patted her chest like that since she was 4 months. my twin nephews were head rockers like your son they did this when they were over tired. do you have a bed time routine that you follow every night? i know this helps sooo much with my daughter. i hope this is helpfull to you. good luck!

How did he go to sleep before he was 4 months old? do you hold him or let him cry it out?
M..