Baby holding her head... My mum has got me panicked!! Tiredness or something to worry about?

[emeraldgirl1]

My 13wo DD is suddenly holding her head on one side, mostly when she is sleepy.

She has been teething and holding her ears which I had checked but which Gp said are not infected. So I assume the ear holding is teething related.

I thought the head holding might be that too or just tiredness as she only does it when tired or dropping off.

But my mum has just panicked me saying she has never seen a baby do that before and aski g if there could be something wrong with her head :(

She has been in a lot of pain recently with what I think is teething (chewing fists etc) but now I am in a blind panic that it is actually that she is having terrible headaches or something...

Sorry, I have terrible health anxiety about myself normally (I blame my mother!!) and now I just can't stop worrying about DD :(

Anyone else have a baby who holds head when tired? She is literally asleep clasping one side of her head as I type.

Its probably teeth, if no ear infection then thats what i would assume.

Have you given calpol?

Ds2 used to rub his head when he was tired, from a very early age. He still does it when he has had a hard day.

Thank you!!

Gave calprofen earlier today but that didn't really help which is partly why am now worrying. Was she in such pain that it didn't really help?!

That said she was very overtired when I gave it so the resulting hysterics may have been that.

My mum is just awful at this unfortunately, rather than reassuring me she has just got me into a state and now I am imagining all kind of awful things.

Sometimes children do pull their ears if there is an infection, but as the gp said there was oohing there, I'm going to go with she was comforting herself.

My son (9 months) tips his head over to one side a lot. I think it's mostly teeth related, although it's also code for 'stop trying to feed me, I'll do it MYSELF.'

He scratches his head and pulls his hair out too when he's frustrated or really tired.

Pulling at ears, nose, face etc. is a recognised sign of tiredness in babies from about 12 weeks.
If GP says she is ok I'm sure she is fine.

Thank you everyone.

Note to self, must not pass health anxiety onto my own DD :(

It's been a pretty stressful day, lots and lots of crying and some very nasty nappy incidents. Also some lovely smiles and cuddles too :)

Just a bit susceptible to hysteria right now!

I'd second (or is third) just tiredness. My ds does exactly the same thing, holds the side of his head, pulls his ear and hair. I believe they are recognised soothing actions.
It'll be a mixture of tired and feeling a little sorry for herself with achey teeth.
Parents and In-Laws do love to panic us, mine did the same. You'd think they'd never had children!