7 month old shaking head from side to side?

[doireallyneedaname]

My 7 month old just did something odd and I’m a bit worried. He’s got his first cold and we think he’s also teething. He was just in the bath and he chewed down on one of his ducks and immediately started screaming like I’ve never heard him scream before, I got him out and held him and he just started shaking his head from side to side slowly like an adult gesturing “no” (but he can’t and doesn’t gesture this yet obviously)

This went on for a minute or so and I could only snap him out of it by giving him a rice cake which distracted him but he didn’t want to eat it. He then continued to cry and now he’s ok having his milk ready for bed.

It scared the shit out of me because it looked like some sort of stitch? Could it have just been his way of dealing with the tooth pain? No fever, I checked.

Get his ears checked for infection. Shaking the head or pulling on ears can be a sign of discomfort inside his ears. If he has a cold, the mucus can back up into his ears and cause a slight infection quite easily.

Calpol is a good shout if he seems uncomfortable before you can get him to gp.

If it is an infection, its unlikely to be serious, they are very common and even kids who get them a lot almost always grow out of them. They're just uncomfortable while they last!

Could he have just bit his tongue?

If he’s still off colour tomorrow, might be worth getting checked for an ear infection

He doesn’t have any teeth through yet so not sure If he could have bit his tongue enough for that. I’ll see how he is tomorrow but although a bit grumpy he’s been playing and fine all day, it’s just bedtime so I’m not sure if it’s his ears..

I’ve always found this happens when they’re teething and have read it’s a comfort thing/to relieve pain don’t worry

And it makes sense you’ll see him do it more at night because teething can get more severe by bedtime

I would say teething aswell. My little one use to shake her head when teething she also had very waxy ears around that time. no infection though.

Definitely get his ears checked for infection. Lots of kids get ear infections with teeth coming through.
And ears are always worse at night in my experience.

Well, it hasn’t happened again today and he is happier so I think I can rule out ear infection!

Thanks all