Shaking Head, should I worry?

[Vegasgirl]

My 8 month old DD sometimes shakes her head from side to side quite hard when she is overtired and fighting sleep. She does it in sets of about 5 or 6 quick shakes and it is hard to stop her.

I nurse her to sleep (not great I know but it only takes 5 minutes and then I put her down and I don't mind doing it) however on the occasions that she does this she is basically lifting her head off my arm and banging the side of her head back down again. I either try to limit the space she has to shake in or try to distract her by singing or something but she always gets 5 or 6 good shakes in.

I worry she will hurt herself. She falls asleep shortly afterwards and shows no ill effects - should I worry?

Thanks.

[SharkSkinThing]

My 10.5 month DS does this too - has done for ages. V common, apparently, someone told me they do to try and 'dizzy' themselves to sleep!!

x

[sunndydays]

Dd did, and still does, this, but usually with a big smile on her face! I wouldn't worry at all!

[TheCountessOlenska]

Dd does this as well, also she pulls her own hair really hard! Babies are bizarre!

[Vegasgirl]

Thank you, that's good to know, you would think it would hurt but it doesn't seem to.

[TCOB]

My DD did this loads from about 8-9 months and it's only now that I realise she has stopped completely. I was worried at the time but now looking back it seems quite sweet...she is 11 mths now and on to hair pulling and nipple-biting. Oh for the days of head-shaking!

[SharkSkinThing]

Owch, TCOB!!

DS started nipple biting at 10 months...bye bye boobie for us, it was the final vestige of my dignity gone!