Why might a baby start shaking their head?

 In most cases, a baby will begin deliberately moving their head in the first months of life. They can usually turn it toward a sound by 2 months. By the end of the first year, and often much earlier, many babies begin shaking their head.

Head shaking can be a normal developmental milestone relating to reflexes and motor skills. However, some types of head shaking may signal a problem.

In this article, we examine the reasons why a baby may shake their head. We also look at related medical conditions for head shaking and explain when to contact a doctor.

Developmental reasons 

Gaining control of the head is a major developmental milestone.

At about 2 months old, most babies begin turning their head toward sounds. They continue gaining head control and can easily lift and move their head by 4 months. Some parents and caregivers also notice that head shaking begins around this time.

Developmental reasons why a baby might shake their head include:

Experimentation

Babies master new skills by practicing them. For an infant with little control over the world, increasing head control is a major change.

A baby who has recently learned to control their head may turn it from side to side and experiment with moving it into different positions.

Listening to sounds

A baby will commonly move their head toward familiar or interesting sounds, such as a loud crash or a parent’s or caregiver’s voice.

If two or more people are talking, or there are several competing noises in a room, a baby may move their head back and forth, trying to follow the sounds.

In a quieter room, the head movements may stop.

Communication

Babies can understand words well before they can talk. As a result, they may start understanding some of what parents or caregivers say to them at about 6 months. A baby may shake their head to communicate with them.

By a year, many babies shake their head to signal “no” or frustration.

Self-soothing

Some babies find it soothing to shake their head from side to side. They may do this when they are overstimulated, anxious, or trying to fall asleep.

Self-soothing is harmless and may help a baby feel less anxious in new situations.

Source: Medical News Today