Why is my 5 month old DD constantly rubbing away at her head / ear / face in her sleep?

[PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt]

My DD is 5 months old. She's been doing this for weeks now - using the back of her hand, she rubs away around her eye / ear / face / head - is this related to teething?

p.s. always on the right hand side.

my ds is almost 9 months and does exacly the same thing! i have no idea why, it doesnt seem to be doing him any harm so we jujst leave him be x

Get her ears checked out. Both my dd's would do this when they had an ear infection, it can be quite painfull for them. A course of antibotics clear it up quickly if it is.

she seems absolutely fine in herself though - wouldn't she be grumpy too?

My ds has been doing it since 3 months. He has had eczema on his face. He still does it now (7.5 mths) but less. I asked the GP and health visitors. They seem to think it is linked to his eczema. But I am not convinced. Even when his eczema was less severe, he still did it, even in his sleep.

To me, it feels like it is a reflex - It started with rubbing his forehead, and then as the months progressed, his hands moved down to his ears, then now his neck.

Dunno. If your dd is fine, it is probably something she will grow out of.

Sounds like a self-soothing mechanism to me (sweet! )