The baby shakes his head. Why does a child shake his head from side to side? Causes of head shaking

Many vigilant mothers begin to panic when they notice behavior in their babies that was previously unusual for them. One such reason for parental frustration is that a small child shakes his head. I would like to immediately reassure moms and dads: this behavior is typical of quite a few children under 3 years old. This common effect begins among babies aged 5-7 months and can last for several months or years.

Why does the child shake his head?

Experts usually name several reasons:

• the baby thus tries to calm down, rhythmic, repetitive movements help him relax, usually this happens before bed or after an outburst of anger;
• the baby sways and shakes his head to distract himself from unpleasant sensations, for example, toothache or earache;
• the child is trying to attract the attention of the parents;
• in very rare cases it is a sign of a developmental disorder, such as autism.

How to help your baby?

First of all, parents should find out why the infant is shaking his head, and then, having eliminated the cause, think about how to avoid repeating this behavior in the baby. If a child shakes his head in his sleep or when falling asleep, you can help him by establishing a certain nightly ritual: a warm, relaxing bath, reading a fairy tale, or listening to quiet, quiet music. Also, when the baby falls asleep, you can stroke his leg or back, this will also help when he shakes his head in his sleep.

The child often shakes his head from lack of attention from his parents, so it is very important to make sure that he gets enough of it. Put all your important things aside and play with your baby, hug your baby more often and tell him how much you love him. If this does not help, then try not to focus your attention on the child’s behavior and do not scold him; perhaps he is simply being mischievous. In this case, protect your baby from injury by making sure that there are no things around him that he could hit. get hurt. For those parents whose child shakes his head before going to sleep, we advise you to periodically check the crib for protruding screws or nails, but under no circumstances cover your baby with pillows and blankets, this only creates a risk of suffocation; thin soft bumpers attached to the sides are sufficient cribs

If your child involuntarily shakes his head, does not respond to your attempts to distract him from this activity, does not want to communicate, does not focus his eyes, then this may be a reason to consult a doctor in order to exclude the possibility of a disorder in his development. Such cases are extremely rare, so do not worry ahead of time, but show more attention and care to your children.

Attentive parents immediately see if a child begins to behave in an unusual way. Head shaking, especially before or during bedtime, is a gesture that worries parents. Many consider this a reason to immediately contact a pediatric neurologist. But is it worth panicking? When should you take your child to the doctor?

Why does a newborn baby shake his head?

A small child shakes his head frequently from about two months to 3 years. There is an opinion that this behavior is nothing more than an age-related phenomenon that will definitely pass.

Doctors say that even if a child shakes his head very often, these gestures should disappear by about three years. Statistics from most pediatricians and neurologists confirm that head shaking is completely harmless.

So it’s better for mothers to remain calm and pay attention to the child’s daily routine and hygiene. True, in rare cases, head shaking can become a sign of illness and developmental delays in the child.

The reasons for head shaking are as follows:

Cause	Description	What to do?
The baby is trying to calm down and relax after overexcitation or a surge of emotions.	Shakes his head rhythmically, repeats head movements	Do relaxing procedures before bed
Distracted from or teething	Rocks, shakes his head from side to side, cries and cannot calm down	Give paracetamol or consult your pediatrician about pain medication
Attracts parents' attention	Rocks, repeats rhythmic head movements, cries not loudly, but for a long time	Pay attention to the child, play or do gymnastics
Developmental disorder, for example, (very rare)	Whines, cries, sways from side to side, shakes his head several times during the night	Show your baby to a doctor to rule out the possibility of developmental delays
Had a bad dream	Shakes his head from side to side, may scream or cry unexpectedly	Calm the child with gentle strokes and give a light back massage.
Sweaty on a hot night	The child shakes his head, as if trying to find a more comfortable position for himself, and may sob	Give something to drink, ventilate the room, change clothes
Rickets begins	Shakes his head in his sleep, sweats while sleeping or eating, his stomach is “swollen”	Take a course of therapy with vitamin D, a course of physiotherapy

How to help a baby who constantly shakes his head?

If head shaking in an infant is not associated with neurological problems, parents can help (or minimize) the risk of head shaking before bed or during sleep.

Here are a few procedures that will help your baby sleep sweetly and soundly:

• Establish a new sleep ritual: Let the baby take a warm bath with “sleepy” herbs: string, oregano or chamomile. Let the baby swim in the bathtub with the help of the parents or with a special circle supporting the baby's neck.
• You can play a lullaby (for example, the lullaby of the famous classic Brahms is great for soothing), listen to an audiobook with a fairy tale, or read the book yourself.
• A little massage really helps you calm down and relax. , who is able to do everything for mothers without resorting to the help of a specialist. Stroke your baby's back, head, arms or legs. You can do it without cream and powder. Usually the baby quickly calms down from the mother’s affectionate touches. You can repeat gentle stroking in your sleep if your baby wakes up from a restless sleep or shaking his head. Tested in practice: stroking perfectly puts babies to sleep.
• If there is a lack of attention from parents, the advice is elementary: you need to put everything aside and devote time to the baby . Play with your child. Even if he is only 2-3 months old, he will see attention from his parents. For a newborn baby, it is enough to show bright geometric shapes, draw the child’s attention to the “mobile” above the crib, and do a little gymnastics with it. And sometimes it’s enough to just take the child in your arms and gently hug him.
• In hot weather, make sure you have a comfortable crib , comfortable bedding and baby clothes. Place a bottle of water nearby and, if the baby starts shaking his head and wakes up, give him a drink. Many mothers take precautions and dress the child too tightly. However, the heat exchange of infants is arranged differently and excessive wrapping only harms the child: excessive heat prevents the baby from relaxing. In hot weather, a vest and rompers made of thin knitwear, or one T-shirt, are enough.

Attention! Just in case, check if there are any protruding objects in the crib: small screws, nails, sticks. It may happen that it was the extra object that caused the baby’s restless sleep. Do not cover your baby with bolsters, pillows or blankets: this creates a suffocation hazard and prevents your baby from sleeping. Bumpers can also make it difficult for fresh air to circulate in the crib.

When does it make sense to see a doctor?

In rare cases, head shaking is a sign of neurological disorders such as autism.

In this case, there are signs that indicate to parents some features in the development of their baby:

1. Does your child have trouble focusing his eyes?
2. Doesn't respond to efforts to get his attention?
3. Refuses to “coo”?

Go see a neurologist . Perhaps the baby needs a course of therapy to improve growth and development.

Sometimes the cause of head shaking before going to bed or in a dream is a disease such as. It is characterized by metabolic disorders of the child, a lack of vitamin D, which affect not only the baby’s sleep, but also disturbances in the process of eating, as well as the development of the child’s musculoskeletal system.

Signs that indicate the onset of rickets:

• Increased sweating while sleeping and eating.
• Restless sleep.
• The baby's head is itchy and itchy.
• Hair falls out on the back of the head.
• Muscle tone is noticeably reduced.
• The child began to sit, stand on a support, walk or crawl much later than his peers.

When prescribing a course of treatment for rickets, the pediatrician must introduce vitamin D into the diet (it is sold in pharmacies in liquid form). Physical therapy, massage, or physiotherapy with an ultraviolet lamp may be required. Sometimes a child is advised to take a course of sunbathing: the sun, as you know, is the best “supplier” of vitamin D.

Let's sum it up

1. According to medical statistics, one in five children aged 2-3 months can shake their heads while falling asleep or while sleeping. Usually, this is due to the child’s banal overexcitement, emotional outbursts, and sometimes the child shakes his head because his teeth are being cut or his ears hurt.
2. If head shaking has become systemic, the child constantly shakes his head and cries loudly in his sleep - it is possible that he needs a short course of therapy aimed at calming. Sometimes it is enough to reconsider the daily routine and pay more attention to sanitary and hygienic standards when preparing the child for bed.
3. As was said, only in rare cases is head shaking a sign of a child’s slight developmental delay or the onset of rickets. If you suspect something is wrong, it is better to immediately show your child to a pediatrician and neurologist.

Shaking the baby's head from side to side often causes concern for parents. They see this as a manifestation of a possible neurological disease and, trying to confirm or refute their suspicions, take the baby for a consultation with a doctor.

On the one hand, this position is correct, because serious illnesses begin with harmless symptoms. However, often the cause of strange behavior is most often physiological aspects that do not pose a danger.

Why does my baby shake or shake his head? Which doctor should I see and is it necessary? In what cases is emergency assistance required?

Why does a small child shake and turn his head from side to side?

Experts note this phenomenon in children aged 2 months to 3 years. There are several reasons why young children shake their heads. Among them there are quite harmless ones that are easy to eliminate.

In other cases, the phenomenon indicates the presence of disorders of the nervous system. Diseases are accompanied by additional symptoms, so the doctor analyzes the child’s behavior and overall well-being.

Head shaking can occur when the baby is teething, colic and headaches bother him. Symptoms of teething (6-8 months) and intestinal colic (mostly before 3 months of life) disappear with age. The sources of headaches can be different; in this case, examination and consultation with a pediatrician is necessary.

Common “harmless” reasons

Little children love to indulge and play. This is precisely the goal they pursue, shaking their heads from side to side. Many people laugh fervently at this.

In some cases, the child wants to attract the attention of the parents. Mom and dad should evaluate their behavior and analyze whether they are communicating enough with the child. Don't think that the baby is just being capricious. Lack of attention and affection negatively affects the health and development of the child.

Sometimes head shaking is due to the fact that the baby cannot calm down. Rhythmic rocking relaxes and helps you fall asleep. There is no need to leave the child alone in the crib; you need to take him in your arms or in a sling, rock him and sing a lullaby. A warm bath and reading fairy tales can also soothe your baby before bedtime. Gradually the habit of shaking your head will pass.

Neurological diseases

If the above steps do not give the desired result, you should consult a pediatrician or neurologist. Particular attention should be paid to shaking your head immediately before going to bed. It may indicate the following diseases:

Experts are confident that signs that appear at 1, 3, 9 months and 1 year are considered indicative. It is at this time that neurological disorders most often manifest themselves.

The baby has rickets

Most often, signs of rickets are observed in children aged 3 months. The normal formation of the skeletal system is disrupted, as a result of which the limbs become bent. Mom and dad should be alerted to the fact that the child does not hold his head up as expected. If parents regularly visit their local pediatrician, this symptom will definitely be identified.

A child with rickets feels constant discomfort in the neck area, and therefore begins to intensively turn his head. Other symptoms of rickets:

• tearfulness;
• restless sleep;
• increased sweating;
• low weight.

Experts believe that the main cause of the disease is a lack of vitamin D and insufficient exposure of the baby to the sun. Early detection of rickets will prevent possible complications. Pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky is confident that breastfeeding completely prevents the occurrence of this disease.

How to help a baby?

You can help a baby who often turns his head only after identifying the true cause of the anxiety. If he does not have a fever, unreasonable crying or loss of consciousness, you can try to independently determine the source of anxiety, for this you need:

If head shaking cannot be eliminated, you should consult a specialist. After diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment.

In what cases should you immediately consult a doctor?

In most cases, the phenomenon goes away without medical intervention. Experts consider head shaking to be a normal age-related characteristic of children under 3 years of age.

E. O. Komarovsky believes that there is no need to contact a neurologist if there are no alarming symptoms. In addition, the decision to refer a specialist for consultation should be made directly by the pediatrician after examining the child.

You should immediately consult a doctor if:

• head shaking occurs frequently over a long period of time;
• The baby began to eat poorly, does not breastfeed, and sleeps poorly.

An ambulance should be called if the following signs appear in the baby while shaking his head:

• vomiting, diarrhea;
• loss of consciousness;
• heat;
• heartbreaking crying.

Is it possible to prevent such situations and how?

If the problem is based on physiological or psychological aspects, parents can prevent its occurrence. To do this you need:

• maintain child body hygiene;
• dress the baby according to the weather;
• give the baby enough attention and play with him;
• inspect the crib for foreign objects that may interfere with sleep;
• hang special toys on the sides of the child’s bed that will occupy the fidget’s attention while the mother is away;
• Visit your pediatrician on time.

Already at the age of 1 month, children can turn their head while lying on their side. The stronger the muscles and bones become, the more movements the baby masters. He cranes his neck as he crawls, shakes his chin with excitement, and even nods, imitating the word “yes.” And suddenly, at the age of 5-6 months, the baby begins to turn his head.

What does it mean if a child shakes his head?

The rotational movement is repeated many times. Some children spin and sway their whole body for 15 minutes at a time. Parents are frightened by strange behavior, but it is quite natural.

Here are 7 reasons why a child shakes his head:

1. masters new motor skills;
2. attracts attention;
3. tired and wants to sleep;
4. happy or excited;
5. feels itchy from teething;
6. explores one’s own feelings;
7. bored.

After observing your baby, you will quickly understand what reason causes him to spin. Meet him halfway - put him to bed, give him a teething ring, or just cuddle him.

It has been noticed that boys like to twist their heads and even hit them against the crib or wall more often than girls. Boys aged 6-7 months especially like such fun.

Should you go to the doctor if your child shakes his head?

There are times when rotational movements should be a cause for concern. Parents should consult a pediatrician if their baby:

• sways more with excitement;
• does not communicate with family members;
• does not respond to the voices of relatives, music, barking dogs, etc.;
• noticeably lags behind in speech and mental development;
• injures himself while moving.

These symptoms may indicate autism, a disorder of brain development. A medical examination is especially important for a child who has been exhibiting unusual behavior for more than 2 years.

Many parents may be concerned about their baby turning their head from side to side during the first year of life. There can be many reasons for this. Now let's try to figure them out:

• The back of my head is sweating
• Rickets
• Gas trucks torment
• Like

In fact, these are not all the reasons. If you are concerned that your child is turning his head from side to side, be sure to report this at a routine visit to the pediatrician or show your baby to a neurologist.

Reasons why a child turns his head

Pay attention to the accompanying symptoms - fever, regurgitation, tucking in the legs, or maybe the baby does this when he's hungry?

It happens that a child turns his head from side to side against the background. In this case, there are symptoms such as increased sweating, mainly in the head area, and the hairs on the back of the head are erased. But the presence of these symptoms does not always unconditionally indicate the development of rickets, because the head may sweat during feeding. It’s not for nothing that pediatricians recommend giving all babies vitamin D as a preventive measure for rickets. Sweating the back of the head brings considerable inconvenience to the child. This is what in some cases causes the child to turn his head in different directions, trying to scratch the back of his head.

Many people associate teething with the fact that the child turns his head in different directions.

Most infants suffer. If a baby is tormented by gas, he blushes, draws in his legs, twists, and turns his head from side to side.

Why should a child turn his head from side to side?

But there may also be completely harmless reasons. If there is no reason for concern when the baby turns his head from side to side, perhaps he likes it, he is having fun, or he is “rocking” himself. Yes, this happens too. Although some doctors are firmly convinced that it is necessary to stop such movements.

Or maybe your baby copies your behavior? He is interested in every new movement, he gets to know his body, and quick turns of his head from side to side cause an interesting feeling of motion sickness.

But still, if you are concerned that your child is turning his head from side to side, contact your pediatrician to find out why and why the baby is doing this.