Head shaking in 13 M old

[GAL8]

For the last 6 weeks my DD has started shaking her head, but not in an extravagant way, it's quite subtle most of the time. She can be watching TV, or interacting when she does it. It just goes side to side for a few seconds. I've googled it & all I seem to get told by Dr Google is it's likely she has autism... so for the moment ignoring that, I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? She is generally a very happy child, points, waves, claps, knows one or two words (cat & car, lets face it they sound the same coming from her) she did have a stroke at birth but I sent a video I have of her doing it to an epilepsy nurse who said it's nothing seizure related. So I'm not sure if it's a phase, something that could lead to a behavioural issue, an ear infection (no recent temps or too much grouchiness so not really thinking that route) or... who knows! Any advice much appreciated :-)

[dancingmama]

My doc told me that he thinks it's a comfort thing in my DC. We've had problems with head shaking and head banging. Google says autism for both but my DC is super social so he says it's comfort/tantrum related.

[GAL8]

Thank you, I'm just freaking out, it seems to be happening more than ever at the mo & I can't find any posts from anyone experiencing/experienced similar.

[dancingmama]

Don't freak out. My DC does this and head banging. We are already almost certain it's not autism. The doc says comfort head shaking and tantrum head banging are still in the realm of normal behaviors. You just need to be aware that if there are other markers that your child isn't meeting. Then they will take it into consideration. Is there anything else you are worried about?

[GAL8]

I don't think so at this point. She's very happy, sociable, laughs a lot, points, waves, claps etc. Just developed the head shaking in the last few weeks.. sometimes she grunts at you whilst doing it as if disproving something but other times she just does it for no apparent reason. As I say it's not really quick, as if she does it to make herself dizzy or for fun. But I've done the silly thing of asking friends of mine if their children do it & they have said no, or if they did do
It it was only for a week, & it was quite exaggerated as in for fun. Does your LO do it quite a lot throughout the day or at any particular time?

[dancingmama]

The head shaking is almost gone now. It lasted about 3 months. It's mainly head banging now and that's exclusively linked to tantrums, so not every day! It sounds like your LO is doing great, I wouldn't worry. 2 separate doctors have seen my LO and told me not to worry either. Just keep an eye on it and mention it at the next health visitor check.