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Children's health

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Original poster

6 month old shaking head

13 replies

DeeLite · 04/02/2011 22:03

My DS has been shaking his head quite vigorously from time to time over the past two weeks and I've been googling and finding anecdotal links to autism. I've also found lots of people who suggest that babies sometimes do this to calm themselves at this age. I was trying to go with the latter explanation until I saw him doing it while deeply asleep today. I am really worried. Anyone have any experience of this?

OP posts:

aprilcol · 04/02/2011 23:12

Not sure, but my son went through a shaking head phase. I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong, but he doesn't do it as often now that he's 14 months. He seems perfectly normal in every other way!

enimod · 05/02/2011 11:53

ds1 did this when he was teething

CharlieBoo · 05/02/2011 13:09

Yes both of mine have done this....dd more though...I think she just liked the sensation and that she could control her movement.

bigbadbarry · 05/02/2011 13:10

Mine have done this when teething

BeatriceLaBranche · 05/02/2011 13:43

Mine too, when teething.

narmada · 05/02/2011 18:09

I think it's a normal developmental phase - it's a bit like a new sensation to them, so they do it repeatedly. My DD did it at that age and for her it was unconnected to teething or soothing - she presumably just noticed it was a wierd feeling and something she could do so she kept doing it! I seem to remember it went on for a few weeks.

EauRouge · 05/02/2011 18:13

My DD did this, she thought it was hilarious when I shook my head back. She's a normal, healthy 2.4 yo now, no signs of autism. I think a lot of babies do it just because they can.

coldtits · 05/02/2011 18:14

A lot of the things autistic children do are just things that small babies/children do ie examine their hands, throw screaming tantrums, wail instead of speaking.

It's just that autstci children have not progressed beyond this.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 05/02/2011 18:24

DS did it just because he could :)

Original poster

DeeLite · 05/02/2011 22:03

Thank you everyone. That makes me feel lots better.

He did it alot today including when we were out in M&S where I saw people giving him funny looks as he looks a bit odd when he does it. I'm used to people beaming admiringly at my lovely boy so this new kind of attention was unnerving so I'm glad to come home and read these reassuring messages.

I just hope he doesn't continue or I'll feel like I have to try to explain his odd behaviour away when we go to mums and babies groups.

OP posts:

JarethTheGoblinKing · 06/02/2011 02:40

I've been sitting on my hands, but I've gotta say..

Original poster

DeeLite · 06/02/2011 10:09

Thanks for enlightening me. I am a bit of a pedant myself so horrified to find I've been spelling my moniker incorrectly. Hmmm, may have to re-register when I get a minute.

OP posts:

JarethTheGoblinKing · 06/02/2011 13:42

it seemed very important at 2:40 this morning

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