Seeking Advice - Monrovia,CA

My baby liked to shake his head side to side, I guess thats kinda the same just differetn directions. he is 2 1/2 now and still does. I think babies just like the way if feels.

Hi S.,
Just to let you know my son started nodding up and down to put himself to sleep around that age. He is now approaching 3yrs and still does it occassionally to nod himself to sleep. I was worried too, sometimes he would wake up with scuff marks on his forehead - LOL

Have a great day!
C.~

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Yes! my DD started doing this around the same age. For us it started when I was putting headbands on her and she was trying to take them off, but would do this all the time even after I stopped putting headbands on her. We turned it into a game, we'd mimic her and she'd laugh! We call it the "no" game. A friend of mine has an 11 mo. DS who does the same thing, she nodds her head "yes" when he shakes his head, he also laughs!
If your DS is making eye contact and you can turn it into a game, then I'd say perfectly normal. If he's not making eye contact, you may want to bring it up at his next well baby appt!

Hi S., I can't help but laugh! My son is also 9 months old, he will be 10 months on the 4th, and he does it all the time! He not only nods, he did that about 7 months but he also shakes his head back and forth. I thought for sure he had an ear infection and he already had a cold and the doc said he was ok, just a cold. My son only can hear out of one ear, so I am always taking extra care of the "good" ear. anyways, just enjoy him because they grow fast. My other son is 15 and I have 2 daughters, ages 13 and 2 almost 3 in July! and the time has gone by fast! Enjoy! M.

Hi S. -

I don't blame you for your concern. My initial response is take him to his doctor, or at least call the doctor. However, that does not mean I think there's somethign wrong. You should watch for a lot more than just head nodding, if you're thinking what I think you're thinking. Also, what is he doing while he nods, and how does his face look?

I don't recall when it started, but my daughter used to shake her head right to left, A LOT. It was some time before she turned 1, and we have video of her first b-day with her doing it. She carried on with it for weeks, if not months. What kept me from worrying was the look on her face while she shook her head side to side. She was gleeful. We used to say she was getting high in her own little way. (No, we're not stoners -- but remember spinning around, just to get dizzy?)

He might just be doing it because it's a new feeling, and it's fun. But you can't know unless you get it checked out. Observe and remember as much as you can, so you can tell the doctor.

I hope this is nothing but a little developmental thing. I wish you and your family all the best,
Colleen

Yes, it is normal. We had it a little bit, but my girlfriend actually took her son to the Dr. (around the same age as yours) and they said it was normal.

Hi S.,
I had to smile when I read your question because I can remember my daughters little face when she was an infant and would nod her head. She did it very often and eventually grew out of it. We would just mimick her back and say "yes, your absolutley right", and just make jokes with her. She started that at about 6 months and she is wonderful and sweet. I remember always thinking she seemed to know just what I was thinking...hope this helps a bit and if not at least put a smile on your face. Best Wishes! J. Grossi 35 ( stay at home mom of 4 yr old boy and 2.5 yr old girl)

My son is 9 months old and he started doing that too!
I hear it is perfectly normal. :-)

Hi S.-
My daughter was doing that at abt 8 mos. I was so worried I called the doc and he said not to worry and their neck muscles are still growing stronger. In our case she was just tired from not sleeping well at night and once we got that figured out the bobbing stopped.

He's dancing! My son does it when he hears music or any noise that could be considered to a a "beat."

hi - our daughter is 9 months old and rocks her head a lot, too. all of my resources say this is her way of keeping rhythm or you can think of it as dancing. not to worry, once they can express this in other ways, they will!

Hi S.:
Already noticed you recieved some good responses,but My first reaction, when I saw your request was. I'd never experienced my sons nodding up and down,but they did plenty of nodding side to side! lol I'd say if your 9 month old is nodding yes, that its A (good sign) : ) You not only have a healthy baby,but an agreeable one. : )

Totally Normal. My daughter just shook her head like she was saying "no". Hope this helps!

My son used to do that, and it's totally normal, so don't worry about it. It's a phase of them just exploring their world and experimenting with movement.

My 10 month old has been doing it for about a month now. My first son, now 3, was in the habit for a couple of months at that age too. He is a perfectly normal Pre-K student. I think they just think it's fun.

Hi, S..

I have a 10-month-old daughter who's been shaking her head from side-to-side since she was about 7 1/2 months old. The first time I noticed her doing it, I was alarmed. When her dad noticed her doing it when he came home from work, he shot a glance at me suggesting that he thought it was odd. We both thought, "Oh, great! We have a child with some weird neurological tick."

Turns out, it's normal. They start mimicking things they've seen people do. It sounds like he's nodding, "yes," and that may be allhe'll do for awhile. My daughter still shakes her head, "no," even when we say, "yes."

Just relax and enjoy it. It doesn't necessarily mean something it wrong. I think my daughter's dad and me overreacted. I think as parents, we always assume the worst.

I asked my daughter's pediatrician about it and he was confident it was just her mimicking. For anything we have ever doubted or questioned, we have always turned to her pediatrician to clarify and assure us. Maybe you should check with your childrens' physician to ease your mind.

Hope that helps!

E.

Does he do at random? he may be just discovering that his heads moves up and down. J.