Rapid head shaking in 8 mth old

[PanicMode]

DS3 (DC4) has started rapid head shaking, and I don't remember the others doing this.

Should I be worried, or is it just a developmental thing?! Sometimes he's obviously doing it because he gets a reaction - I start nodding at him when he does it, and he smiles, but sometimes it's as though he's doing it almost involuntarily. He's just got his first four teeth - could it be related?

[lal123]

could be sore ears I suppose - but DD1 used to do this too - I remembering mentioning it to the dr who said it was just a behavioural thing - she stopped doing it eventually.

[AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog]

Do you mean from side to side as if he's saying 'no'?

My DS did that around this stage. I searched on here and it seems that some babies just do it because they've worked out how to do it and it's fun. As you say, sometimes it seems to be almost involuntary but I think they're just playing with their bodies really.

We used to shake our heads back and ask him if he was saying no, and he soon started doing it just to get us copying him.

He's 11.5 months now and hardly ever does it any more except in the context of 'no'. We only really say 'no' about the electric radiator in the bedroom so we don't use it much. We used to tell him 'no, don't touch - stay away', shake our heads and sign 'no', then remove him from the radiator. Now he crawls up to it, shakes his head, and then crawls away without trying to touch it.

[wannabeglam]

My DS did this. I think it's a self-settling thing.

[WaitingforSanta]

My 8 month DD does this a lot. For her I think it's just a fun thing as she usually gets a reaction from someone. Having said that, she quite often stands up at the coffee table doing it on her own but hopefully that's just because it's something new!

[PanicMode]

Thanks everyone - that's really reassuring. Perhaps he's just saying no, or enjoying the reaction he gets!

Merry Christmas!