Tuesday, March 25th, 2025

A child shaking his/her head is not a trivial matter, if ignored you will have to visit the hospital


You may have noticed that your child’s head keeps moving while talking to someone or while playing. It is normal for a child to move his/her head from one side to the other while answering a question or talking, but it can also be a sign of some neurological or developmental problem.

In this article, we are going to tell you about some reasons due to which the child’s head keeps shaking continuously. Also, know what should be done in this situation and why this happens.

All photos courtesy: freepik

Motor skills are developed

When the baby’s neck muscles are fully developed, he/she tries to hold and move his/her head. This is a normal developmental milestone. Usually, by the end of the first month, the baby moves his/her head from one side to the other. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a baby of about two months can lift his/her head while lying on his/her stomach. Due to the development of muscle control and coordination, the baby’s head can move a little at this time.

to relax oneself

to relax oneself

The baby may shake his/her head to comfort himself. This is a natural way to induce sleep. You may notice this behavior just before the baby falls asleep. Leah Alexander, a board-certified pediatrician in New Jersey, says that the baby’s head shaking may be a sign of discomfort or trying to sleep.

During breastfeeding

During breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, the baby may shake its head to latch on. In such a situation, while feeding a baby less than three months old, the mother should keep her hand behind his/her head so that the baby’s head can get support.

ear infection

ear infection

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, five out of every six children develop an infection in at least one ear by the age of three. It also causes fever, crying and other symptoms of illness. This can also cause the child to shake his/her head repeatedly.

When to see a doctor

When to see a doctor

Apart from this, there are many other medical conditions due to which the baby may start shaking his/her head. If the child is not able to interact with anyone, his/her eye movements are abnormal, he/she shakes his/her head excessively during anxiety, is hurting himself, his/her development is getting delayed, he/she is not responding to any sound, then you must show him/her to a pediatrician once.

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