Why do babies thrash their heads from side to side?

[Jane7]

Or is it just mine. He is often sound asleep but moving around in the moses basket such a lot, he wakes both DH and me. Is it wind, if they are shaking their heads like that, or perhaps they are searching for a nipple. I never know whether to leave him or feed him...Since I'm awake, I feel I might as well get up and give him some boob, but perhaps since his eyes are tightly shut, I should put in the earplugs and try to more sleep.

I think it is a hunger thing.My 3 month old does it alot awake or asleep.Someone on here described it the other day as that stretchy necked head bobbing thing .Me and DP giggle at the way she just opens her mouth and tries to feed even if i'm no where near.It's as though they just hope something will land in their mouth if they they throw their head about enough.I just take it that she's hungry(again) and feed her.

I would leave him until he actually properly wakes up and cries loudly.

My ds did that for several months. It was really quite worrying at first because it looks as if it should hurt.

We were told he did it to put himself to sleep. He hasn't done it for quite a while now. It's a phase which will pass eventually. I wouldn't worry.

My DS does this when he's tired. However when I shake my head from side to side my hair flicks out and it makes him laugh, so now he does it when he's a happy bunny

But seriously Jane7 it's nothing to worry about, I found it alarming at first too

My DD did that when she was tired and needed to sleep until she was about 6 months old. It was part of her going to sleep/resettling routine. Apparently her father used to do it as a baby too.

I would be inclined to just leave him until he wakes up properly and asks for food.

My DD is almost 5mths and has started doing this recently.
Its quite amusing

She does it when shes tired and going off to sleep.

Yes, I've noticed my DD (5.5 mo) does this before falling asleep. It's given her a bald spot!!! Funny little things...

My DS 4 mths also does it when he is tired and as he is going to sleep. It's how I know he is getting sleepy enough to actually go down. The Baby Whisperer book gives it as a sign of tiredness - apparently commonly mistaken for hunger - I did that a lot at the start

yes my dc does this when falling asleep. A bit counter productive as the thrashing keeps startling him awake again . But it is very cute.