Baby Shaking Head

by Shaun
(hull)

Why does my 5 month old son shake his head from side to side?

I am worried that he is sick or that something is wrong with him. What can be wrong with a baby that shakes his head like this?

You are here: EasyBabyLife Home »Baby Help Forum »Sick Baby Q&A » Baby Shaking Head

Baby Help Line:

Illness If Baby Is Shaking Head?

Many babies start doing a head shaking thing as part of learning to get control of their body. They may be imitating you, or may have discovered they get lots of response from you when they try this trick.

However it may also indicate an ear infection, if you think your baby has had a cold, is running a fever, is less active then usual or may have an infection it is worth checking out. Babies will sometimes shake their head when the inner ear is blocked, and they are trying to get more comfortable.

Some babies also shake their head when they get tired. I remember one little baby that would shake her head until she fell asleep!

So in general, it is probably just an interesting stage, but worth checking for any infection.

Have fun with your little boy, such a lovely age!

Annie Desantis
(Answer approved by our Medical Reference Team)

More Sick Babies That Won't Eat

Baby Suddenly Shaking

Baby With Eyebrow Twitches

Baby's Arm Shaking . Dangerous?

Find answers and comments below.

Find more Sick Baby Q&As and other Baby Tips here:

Comments for
Baby Shaking Head

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 10, 2009

baby shaking head
by: Anonymous

My son does the same since 1 week,He got for weeks the cold been a few times to the doctors with him about his cold.But they don't want to give someting for his cold.Next week he is 6 months old.

Sep 15, 2009

I shake my head to sleep
by: Karabo

Hello, I am 24 years old and I shake my head before I sleep. It helps me sleep better, it's my best part of going to sleep. I have been shaking my head to sleep since I was a baby. I'm a perfectly healthy and academically gifted lady. On nights of bad weather and thunder, I tend to shake it more rigorous. As a child I was taken to doctors and neurologist as my family found it strange and troublesome. I'm not ready to stop shaking my head, but ready to compromise for my partner should I get married. My twin sister also did the same a baby but stopped before the age of 4. It's normal for babies to do this and stop before school going age, rarely does it go into adulthood.

Sep 18, 2009

Please comment more.
by: Mike

hi all. My baby is 6 months old and she shakes her head from time to time. I took the time out to research the internet and I am glad to read comments that this is just a stage of babys growth and that this does not present a real worry should they carry this later in adult life.

Its a relief to hear such comment. I just wanna make sure though that it is really of no medical or health concern. Please comment.

Thanks.

Dec 11, 2009

baby shaking head
by: Anonymous

Hello Everyone,

My baby is 10 months old and I notice that he shake his head from side to side whenever he seems sleepy, but as a mom, I still worry if I misread his sign and that there is more to his head shake. Now, I am very glad to know that this is just a stage of baby growth.

It is great that Shaun post this question and read response from everyone.

Jan 11, 2010

Relieved
by: dana

I am so relieved now that I read your comments. My 7 months old baby is doing the same thing and I was so worried. Now I know it is just normal.

Jan 20, 2010

Baby shaked head and passed out
by: Sid Durham

I am a mother of twin boys who are seven months. Tonight Parker scared the bejesus out of us when he started shaking his head while his eyes were rolling around in his head. I would call his name and he would reach for an yogurt bit, but then passed out in his highchair.

He has never done this before and his brother Miles has never done this either. I immediately thought it was a reaction to his medication for an upper respritory infection, but after checking the side effects we determined that the meds were not the reason.

I am glad that I read everyone's comments, but I will be contacting their doctor tomorrow to make sure everything is ok.

Mar 27, 2010

Head shaking not to worry
by: Meredith

If your baby shakes his / her head and they loose their balance or thier eye roll around or back or they fix their eyes as in a trance this may indicate a more serious problem. Seizures can be due to head trama or epilepsy. Please take your baby to the dr if any of these symptoms are present. A friend of mine discovered their babys skull was not growing to accomodate rapid growth and it was causing their daughter to have these problems. NEVER TAKE A CHANCE and be comforted with internet advice.

Apr 09, 2010

My Son shakes his head before sleeping since 1 month old
by: Dirk

My Son shakes his head before sleeping since 1 month old. I remember he developed rashes on his cheeks and my wife and I were thinking that it is his way of scratching his cheeks on the pillow or blanket by shaking his head to relieve the itchiness on his cheeks. He is now 7 years old and he still shakes his head when he feels sleepy, about to sleep or when he is asleep and slightly waken up by a noise and tries to sleep again.

May 05, 2010

My grandson 7 months old
by: Anonymous

My 7 month old grandson shakes his head almost like he gets a chill like babies do when they pee. Any thoughts?

May 15, 2010

tremble as if she is cold
by: Anonymous

I have twin girls, 8 months old, and one of them I have noticed very rarely will tremble as if she is cold. She may do this 2 times in a day and then I wouldn't notice it again for about a week or so. I am really concerned now and will visit the doctor. Does anyone know if this is normal?

May 19, 2010

9 months shakes head
by: CJ Boyd

My 9 mo old shakes his head like he is watching a tennis match (started a month ago) every time he nurses or rests his head on your arm. I thought it was odd and it bothered more lately as it increased, I finally discovered a bump on back of his neck that seemed to be mostly under skin and probably a bug bite. Sure enough, when i touched he avidly tried to soothe an apparent itch or discomfort by rubbing it on my hand. Pay attention to your gut feelings and inspect your little ones. If you think it is something, have the pediatrician check it out.

Jun 07, 2010

I have been rolling my head since i was a baby.
by: James

Good, I found something about this on the net. I am 41 and still do it, although not as much. Maybe it is like counting sheep. Take care rolling heads.

Jun 18, 2010

Shaking and rolling eyes
by: Anonymous

My son is one year old and he shakes his head and rolles his eyes all the time. Some times he will throw his self back like 5 times in a row with his eyes rolling. I'm not sure if this is normal. When he has these symptoms, he sometimes will yell after it is over, not like it hurts him but just a normal baby yell. Does anyone else's baby do this?

Jun 26, 2010

Baby shaking head real fast
by: ruthy

When my son was 6 months old he used to shake his head side to side real fast while smiling. I thouhg it was something serious. It turns out that they just do that to try and keep themselves awake. As their bodies grow they are going to be taking less naps so they are going to try and stay awake.

Jul 01, 2010

Maybe an ear infection after swimming
by: Anonymous

My nearly 11 month old started doing this yesterday. She seems fine, though I do wonder if it's an ear infection since we've been going swimming so much lately.

Sep 11, 2010

Weird On Head Shaking
by: Anonymous

Was just wondering - my son shakes his head for the last 3 months before sleeping. Hoping he is normal. After reading all comments, it seems normal.

Oct 23, 2010

IDon't punish your child for shaking head
by: Anonymous

I started to shake my head when I was a little baby. I'm 18 years old and still do it, not as much as earlier, but it does help me get to sleep.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is over 13 who still does it. I have never seen a doctor for it. but my mom said that she did it when she was little too.

I remember my grandfather would beat me when I would shake my head. Just remember that beating your child isn't going to make them stop!

It's a way to relax and get to sleep so let your child shake their head. It's ok don't punish them for it.

Dec 02, 2010

my son shaked and is better now
by: Anonymous

hi all

Good to see such question and comments which resembles the case of my son too.

We notice that my son shaked his head from one side to another (on either directions occassionaly). We first noticed this after he fell down from the couch when he was four months old, so we were worried that it might be due to head injury. I heard from some sources that head injury can also cause seizures / epilepsy. So we consulted a doctor. The doctor took several observation, including 24 hours EEG to find out if he had the signs of seizures / epilepsy. They found nothing. The doctor could not do further investigations and since the frequency of his shaking was coming down, the doctor concluded that we should wait and see for another 6 months.

We waited and now my son is nearly a year old. He hardly shakes, but he still does sometimes. He does it when he is excited particularly. So the doctor and we believe that it will disappear as he grows.

The doctor says that it also can be due to growth of his brain and it will be fine when the babies have grown more. Another possibility is that some babies do this as fun or as a habit aand when they go to a baby care center they will stop since they will then start seeing other babies who don't shake their heads.

Dec 08, 2010

My baby was doing that and after I changed the position of thow the swing moves. She is no longer doing that.
by: Anonymous

My baby also was shaking her head side to side. I have a swing that you can change the direction of the swing either going like a normal swing front to back like you would on a play ground or the swing moving from right to left. I changed the direction of the movement of the swing(they have a button where u can change it moving from front to back or side to side usually) and within a week she stopped doing that. Also using the swing less is a good idea. In my opinion I think it is the direction of the swing and using the swing too much....It is a suggestion for anyone having that problem.

Dec 21, 2010

Not alone
by: Anonymous

I did this into adulthood as well. I was in my late 20s when I had a sleep study done and found out that I had sleep apnea. Rocking my head is the only way I can get decent sleep without a CPAP machine. I no longer rock my head and haven't for almost 10 years, but I also use a CPAP machine every night now.

I'm not saying that people who do this into adulthood all have sleep apnea, but it wouldn't hurt to get a sleep study done. They observe for lots of things in those studies and you might be amazed what they find. If they find nothing, well, at least you are sure. I wish I had not waited so long to get mine done.

Finally feeling rested.

Dec 29, 2010

HEAD ROLLING
by: Anonymous

Hi, My 3 yr old son rolls his head from side to side whilst lying on his back, the movement is very quick and even aggressive. We first noticed it as a baby in his car seat and his head would nearly bounce off each side.
Now he says he needs to do it to help go to sleep, I have asked the GP, my chiropractor and friend psychologist to no official answer.
Reading everyones comments help ease my mind just knowing there is nothing "wrong" with him as he has developed normally in every other way!
Thanks
for the comments and the website!

Jan 13, 2011

how do you stop it
by: bill

How do you stop your baby from shaking there head. Not trying to be mean but I don't my little boy growing up and doing this all his life that is weird. Plus he needs to go to sleep when I want him to not try and stay awake

Jan 13, 2011

Thank Goodness we are not alone!!
by: Claire

I was delighted this evening to come across all the comments about head rolling and shaking. My little boy nearly 7 has rolled his head side to side in a frantic fashion when sleepy, to get himself off to sleep, and through out the night, and early morning, since he was a tiny new born. I have never consulted a doctor, as he is happy and healthy in every other way. As a Mum I guess you do worry about all these funny goings on. Lovely to read all the other comments, very helpful.

Feb 26, 2011

Rolling
by: Anonymous

Hi I am 12 years old and I still rock my head side to side ever since i was a baby to get to sleep.I find it helps me to get to sleep and I cant get to sleep very well without rolling.
It keeps putting my neck out of place and giving me head aches.I also find it fun to roll.Im glad to know after reading this that im not the only one.

Feb 28, 2011

woohoo
by: Anonymous

I'm normal Lol
I was checking this out tonight because I'm 28 years old and I've rocked and rolled myself to sleep every night since I was a baby.
My 4 month old son has been doing this for a few weeks now and I just wondered if it was hereditary.
I can stop some nights and go to sleep on my side, but I do enjoy rolling my head from side to side, It feels like it relaxes me into a deep sleep and blocks out any other noise that is going on in the house, especially my partners snoring!

Mar 12, 2011

hey
by: Anonymous

I am 24 years old young woman and i used to shake my head as a child. Not only from right to left before and after sleeping, but also by hitting the back of my head on the chair. I did this often, when I was mad or while listening to music. When I was around 12, my parents started to get worried that it might cause some damage, so they started helping me stop. Slowly I did. Even though I replaced the head thing by a foot thing,lol. Anyways I have always been the best o my class and now I'm studying engineering, so I can tell you it doesn't cause brain damage ;)

Mar 16, 2011

Getting this checked out
by: Scared Mom

My 4 month old daughter started shaking her head ..as if saying no.. involuntarily 4 days ago and I blew it off at first, but it has increased over the last few days to the point I took her to our Nurse Practitioner yesterday. She saw her do it and said she wanted to tell me it's nothing, but is sending us to the Pediatric Neurologist Friday for an EEG to be sure. I am scared half out of my mind..just ready to know she is o.k.. I will post our results.

Mar 22, 2011

Shaking head
by: Honey

Hi,
My baby is 8 months old now. She is shaking her head. When I traveled international (my baby 6 months of age) one of the passenger asked me, why she is shaking her head? I noticed from that time onwards. I reached my home country and all of my friends and relatives asked the same. I was scaring. She is 8 months old now but she is not crawling or sitting without support. Can someone can give me some sugestion?

Apr 02, 2011

Adult still shaking head and embarrased
by: Anonymous

I'm 24 and have been shaking my head from side to side since I was little. My grandfather from my mother's part has done the same thing his entire life (75 years).

Reading some of the above comments makes me think this could really be hereditary or very influential on kids (though I can't say I have spent that much time with my grandfather as a child).

I've always thought of it as an unusually bizarre thing to do and refrain from ever talking about it with anyone, not even with my parents or sister, though they know I still do it. I find it really embarrassing since it's not something I do only to get myself asleep, but at random times during the day, while laying down and listening to music.

I'm also concerned I might never be able to 'cure' this behavior, for I have tried restraining from doing it a couple of days in a row and was shocked to wake myself (or be woken up by my sister) while doing it (subconsciously).

Though shaking my head doesn't affect my mental/physical capabilities, this article about how 'Nodding or Shaking Head May Influence Your Own Thoughts' made me a little concerned (since I'm mostly an introverted person, and have always had problems in respect to self-confidence, courage)

Jun 19, 2011

concerned mom
by: Anonymous

My baby boy has plagiocephaly and is currently undergoing helmet therapy. He has had his helmet for about five months now and we are definitely seeing progress in his head shape.

He recently started shaking his head back and forth and having what appears to be a quick tremor. His body stiffens but only for a few seconds. He does not sit up for very long or crawl, he does not hold his own bottle, he doesn't like to stand with support and he's almost nine months.

He has an appointment with the craniofacial specialist on Tuesday and I'm hoping these are all normal things that occur with babies with plagiocephaly.

Jun 28, 2011

Don't believe shaking is a peeing signal
by: Anonymous

I do not buy that whole thing about peeing and shuddering. I have a one year old who seems to shudder or get a chills like symptom a few times a day. I am very concerned about this, but her Mom always laughs when I mention it. I do not agree, that she is peeing when this happens, because her Dad who is 25 years old does it too!!! Any comments?

Aug 10, 2011

11month old shaking his head side to side
by: Emma

My son shakes his head from side to side. He has been doing this for a few months now. I do think he does it when fighting his sleep because he only does it when he is tired.

My son also has one side of his head different than the other. On one side there's a bone that sticks out like a bump. The other side had it, but it has been gone for months. Is this just his head still developing?

Oct 07, 2011

My baby shakes head when I speak
by: Anonymous

My baby's head shaking is different... He started shaking his head at 1 month and 2 weeks... He shakes his head when we do something he doesn't like, as if he understand what's going on in his environment. For example, when I hold him to make him sleep and I start talking with our house keeper, he will look at me and shake his head. When I stop talking, he will stop shaking. Isn't that very odd?

Oct 10, 2011

Baby head shaking because of congested nose
by: mompro

My baby boy is a 6 months old. When he started doing the side to side shaking, it scared me, but after researching, I am not so scared any more.

Many babies do this to explore what they can do as their milestones. For my baby, the shaking had to do with a congested cold. I pray that he will outgrew this soon.

Oct 10, 2011

Still rolling head back and forth - adult now
by: Anonymous

I've been rolling my head back and forth to get to sleep all my life, 44 years now. It's always just seemed to be a strange personal quirk, and never a sign of anything further at all, but I pretty much cannot fall asleep without doing it except on rare occasions where I'm exhausted or drunk.

There have, however, been many times I've spent the night with others and have been too embarrassed to roll... Those are generally miserable experiences for me, although as I've gotten older I've become more aware of what is happening within my body, and better at compensating. I experience this need for rhythmic movement as a kind of "nervous anxiety" centered in the base of my spine, so thoroughly stretching those muscles with awareness before getting into bed can really help (plus no one really thinks anything about you stretching before bed).

I only just thought to go online and look into it, and was surprised at how many articles claim it will not last beyond young childhood. But to be clear, most articles seem to label it a "disorder", and it sounds like some of the descriptions are more violent than rhythmic, many involve head banging or shaking rather than rhythmic rolling, so there may well be various differing issues and manifestations being grouped together here.

Again, for myself, it's always been simply a matter of gently rolling back and forth for some shorter or longer period of time until the nerves are settled and I'm ready to fall asleep. I may well have done it more energetically when I was very young, as children often do everything with way more energy than needed ;-)

Hope this helps someone else out there. This forum has been interesting to me!

Nov 08, 2011

I thought I was the only one that did it.
by: Anonymous

I'm a 25 year old female and have rocked my head side to side for along as I can remember. I thought I was prob abit strange and the only one who did it.
I used to get told off for doing it, I suppose mainly cos they found it disturbing, and it really tangled up my hair pretty bad. And would take ages to brush out. I threatened if I didn't stop they'd cut my hair of like boy, they never did though. I was treated as if it was naughty. And even my grandparents looked down on it too.
I don't have to rock myself to sleep and my partner has no idea of this, since a child I learned to try hide it and think of ways to prevent my hair getting tangled.
I can go weeks even months but get an enjoyment out of it when I do, find it relaxing and can shut of from the world into my own thoughts.
Now a mother myself my eldest child does it. He's always had to be rocked to sleep, either in Moses basket or if we held him when he was a baby me sat up rocking back and forth trying to sooth him helped him settle, since about 9 months he began head banging. I don't stress over it or make him feel ashamed. Hel start when he gets tired while I read him a story and sing him songs befor he bed. He's now three though, and was hoping he would of grown out of it by now, but I'm not going to tell him to stop. He's healthy and happy and if 15 of head rolling helps him sleep then nothing I do or say will stop that.

Nov 15, 2011

My Baby Does it when trying to sleep :)
by: Anonymous

I've Noticed it when my 4 month old baby is trying to sleep I got so scared at first and just craddled him in my arms his been doing it for a month now on and off not that much thou but just resently my partner when we were getting ready to go out he said our son shook his head and hands while he was sleeping, Epelepsy (however you spell it) Runs on his side of the family so today Im making an appointment for my baby. I hope all is well with him. He never shake like that after thou so I hope its not Epelepsy.

Jan 17, 2012

baby shakes head after waking up
by: Anonymous

My baby is 4 months and shakes his head briefly like he's trembling after being woken in a sudden manner from either a sound or from taking him from place to place while he's in deep sleep.he had fallen on the floor when he was 5 weeks and the dr asked only for an x-ray, but didn't ask for brain MRI.. some of the previous comments comforted me but i think its best to check with the pediatrician.i hope that it won't develop into epilepsy.

Feb 09, 2012

my baby shakes head when she intends to wake up
by: Anonymous

My baby started shaking head at 0ne month whenever she wants to wake up from sleep,i thought is a problem . I took her to doctor but he confirms it is normal.

Feb 18, 2012

HEAD MOVEMENT
by: Anonymous

MY BABIES 5 AND A HALF MONTHS AND HAS JUST STARTED WHAT SEEMS TO BE INVOLUNTARY HEAD MOVEMENT FIRST ONE I SAW HE MOVED HIS CHIN TO THE LEFT THEN ROLLED HIS HEAD TO THE RIGHT OTHER TIMES HE HAS MOVED HIS HEAD TO THE SIDE THEN BACK FOR TWO TO THREE TIMES TOOK HIM TO A AND E ALL THEY COULD FIND WAS THAT HIS EAR CHANNELS WERE A BIT RED?? THERE'S ON JERKING OF THE BODY OR EYE ROLLING ANYONE SEE THIS IN THERE BABY?/

Apr 08, 2012

head shaking
by: Anonymous

I used to shake my head to fall asleep when I was a child. I would put my head between my legs and shake my head from side to side until I was so tired I would go to sleep. I did this until I was about 9 years old. The only reason I stopped doing it was because even at 9 I knew that it was not normal and I told myself I needed to stop doing it so one night I decided I wouldn't do it anymore and started shaking my foot to go to sleep. I still have to shake my foot every night before bed and I am in my mid twenties now.

Jan 28, 2013

back and forth NEW
by: Anonymous

My baby, now 8.5months started dropping her head down and up while sitting at 7 months. She did this often and I was scared that she might have seizures and got EEG done(sleep). Her reports were normal. Doctors asked me to keep a check on her and said this might be BMEI and will go on its own. After few days she stopped doing it but now she again does it at time not very often. So there is nothing to worry and her habit will go on its own. Her growth patterns are all normal, till date. I hope she is just fine!

Feb 04, 2013

3 head shakers in one family NEW
by: Anonymous

My daughter is 22 years old now and studies medicine. She has been shaking her head ever since she was a few months old to the point where no hair would grow on a circle at the back of her head (until she was about 3). She says she needs to do it, it relaxes her and helps her go to sleep. Maybe it has to do with the fact that she is a highly driven, at times rather anxious person? None of my other children did it.

However, my twin granddaughters at 7 months have just started to violently shake their heads, independently from each other, once, twice a day, usually just before they drop off to sleep. I believe it's odd but have come to the conclusion that it's probably harmless, if possible medical reasons have been checked out first.

Feb 19, 2013

head shaking NEW
by: leah

my baby shakes and hits her head with her hand, but mostly on the right side. she even shakes her head in her sleep. she also gets ear infection every month. is there anything i can do cause i might think that its ear infection then it might be something else.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Sick Baby Q&A.