Why does my baby shake his head from side to side?

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Why does my baby shake his head from side to side?

As soon as our babies manage to keep their heads straight, they start to make their moves. They learn the dances quickly and all parents got to do is watching them with delighted faces. Although the moves of our babies and toddlers are fun in the beginning, there will be an unusual movement or two that might concern you.

Some babies shake their heads from side to side and many parents worry why they are doing so. You might even wonder whether your baby is strong enough to move his head that fast. Is there a reason to be concerned if your baby shakes his head for no reason? 

During the first year of the baby’s life, he will reach many important developmental milestones related to reflex and motor skills. Therefore, it is normal for babies to shake their heads from side to side from a very young age. But there can be an instance where this head shaking is a symptom of a neurological disorder. Why does your baby shake his head from side to side? When is it normal and when to be concerned about your baby’s head shaking? Keep scrolling and let us get to know the answers to these questions. 

CONTENT

1.   Why does my baby shake his head from side to side?

2.   Why does my baby shake his head while breastfeeding?

3.   Why does my baby shake his head from side to side while playing?

4.   Your baby is testing his moves!

5.   When to be concerned about the head-shaking of my baby?

1.    Why does my baby shake his head from side to side? 

Parents are hard-wired to respond immediately to anything that might hurt the baby. So it is natural for you to worry if your baby shakes his head too much. Your baby can be young but, it does not mean he is incapable of moving his head by himself. The babies will have the ability to move their heads by the end of the first month of their life. Their muscles are not strong enough until then and, their movements will be jerky in the first few weeks. 

You will notice that the baby moves his head mostly when he is on his sides. These shakes are purely coming out of your baby’s playfulness. As they grow up, they will shake the head to communicate responses like “yes” or “no”. Most of the babies learn to answer by moving their heads by twelve months. 

2.    Why does my baby shake his head while breastfeeding? 

This is one of the first moments that mothers notice their babies shaking their heads. Your baby will shake his head a lot until he learns to latch comfortably. Some babies learn to latch quickly but, some babies need more time and help. The babies already settled with latching will also shake their heads from side to side because of the excitement to eat. 

You should not stop supporting your baby’s neck assuming that he has the muscle strength if he can shake his head from side to side. The baby’s head should be supported while breastfeeding until your baby becomes three months old at least. If you think your baby is shaking his head due to excitement, help your baby relax first so it will be easier for him to properly latch.

Why does my baby shake his head side to side?

3.    Why does my baby shake his head from side to side while playing? 

The babies who are older than one month will shake their heads while playing. They will also move their heads and observe the surroundings while being on their stomach or their backs. If the baby notices something exciting and curious, he will shake his head faster. Your baby is new to this world has started to explore the world. Shaking his head while playing in one of his responses to things he sees, feels, and hears. 

If the baby has older siblings, he will learn their behavior quickly as they grow up. The older kids might shake their heads unknowingly while talking to the baby or while playing and, your baby will imitate them. There is no harm for your baby if he moves his head while playing. 

4.    Your baby is testing his moves! 

The babies are naturally curious, not only about the surroundings but also about themselves. They almost do not have a sense of risks and dangers so, they will bravely experiment with anything that triggers their curiosity. When your baby is around four to five months, he will shake his head from side to side and, this will grow into shaking the whole body. 

I know how scary it is to watch your baby rocking himself furiously. But, this is completely normal behavior among healthy babies. It is actually helping them to develop the muscle strength needed to reach the next developmental milestones like sitting up, standing up by support, and walking. These body rocking sessions of your baby will not last for more than 15 minutes. So take a deep breath and watch your baby have some fun!

Another behavior that worries the parent is the toddlers who hit themselves in the head or bangs themselves. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that banging the head is a common behavior among boys. If your baby is happy and does not hurt himself while banging or hitting himself in the head, then there is no reason to be concerned about it. Once your baby becomes two, all these mischievous movements will disappear gradually. 

5.    When to be concerned about the head-shaking of my baby? 

Shaking the head from side to side is not a symptom of an illness in the baby in most instances. But there can be cases where the shaking of the head will hint at a health problem or a risk. The frequency of head shaking is one of the main factors to be considered here. If your baby is shaking his head while eating and playing for short periods, there is very little chance for it to be a symptom of a health issue. 

But if your baby shakes his head for abnormally long periods regularly, consult your pediatrician immediately. If your baby has any of the following problems along with abnormal head shaking, seek medical attention. 

  • The baby does not interact with you or their siblings
  • You have noticed that the baby does not move his eyes normally
  • Have developed knots or bald spots from head banging
  • Head shaking increases during moments of anxiety
  • It seems like the baby wants to hurt himself
  • The baby has failed to reach other developmental milestones determined by your doctor
  • The baby does not respond to your voice, as well as the other sounds
  • Head shaking or banging continues beyond 2 years of age

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