HELP! Violent head shaking in otherwise fine 5mo - what is it all about?

[oysterpots]

My 5mo son has just started to shake his head really violently from side to side and has been doing this on and off for the past week. He does it then turns to me and laughs, so I don't think there's anything really to worry about. Also I took him to the doctor the other day because he's got a horrible chesty cough (and was born with pneumonia so I'm paranoid about his cough) and mentioned the head shaking. Dr said he thought it was just a new trick DS has learnt.

I'm just not sure... it seems so odd. He's also been pulling at his ears and scratching his neck - a quick internet search says it could be related to ear infections. Does anyone have any experience of this with their LOs? I wish I'd asked the dr to look inside DS's ears too. DS's first two teeth came through just before Christmas and they're slowing growing - could it be to do with this?

probably he likes the sensation. One of mine would bang his head with duplo.
Just make sure he's doing it voluntarily and its not weird seizures. Doesn't sound like it though.
At this age they really discover movement and do all sorts of bizarre things and explore all orifices with their fingers.

My DD does it too..she is a bit older (14 months)..it really freaked me out the first time she did it, she had her eyes open and it looked like she was having a fit - but she was just enjoying looking at things while swinging her head!

DS did this. Not sure if it was related to the venthouse delievry, but he has just grown out of it (he's 3). he would do it in the car seat too, mostly when tired, to get himslef off to sleep.

My first thought on reading this was teeth actually - my baby pulls at her ears sometimes and it seems to be either teeth or tiredness.

I would say new trick too, esp as he then turns to you and laughs - he's probably proud that he can do it and enjoys the effect it has on the way things appear to him, and he is sharing that with you!

Same with the pulling and scratching - if he had any pain or discomfort I think he would be grumbling.

DS2 did this for a few weeks around 5 months but has stopped now (just 7mo). He thought it was funny too. He did it when he was tired and I put him into his cot at night, or if I put him in his bouncy chair or head against something - like he was settling in. He's stopped now and has now swopped to biting everything he can with his 2 new teeth instead.