6mo baby tosses head from side to side when going to sleep

[tenar]

DD has just started doing this. When we're trying to settle her to sleep, she tosses her head repeatedly from side to side. It seems stressed to me, and it's worrying me.

Has anyone else's baby done this? Did they keep on doing it for long?

We are in rather stressful circumstances at the moment. Travelling overseas, meeting lots of new people and "showing off" the baby to her extended family. DH and I are also pretty stressed, so I guess DD is picking up on that too. My guess is that this head-tossing is a stress reaction. Will it go away when things get calmer for us?

In other respects, DD is coping extremely well with jetlag, travel, and lots of new places and people. She's happy, and smiling at everyone. I'm proud of her. But the head-tossing thing bothers me.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

My DD did this from 4 months and still does it now! She has a lot of hair and it has actually made the back of her hair look like something you would scrub pots with it cause she does it sooo fast. - She isn't distressed when she does it and actually laughs when she is doing it, but she does it anytime she is flat on her back not just when falling asleep....i guess i haven't really answered your question, but i know for me, it doesnt concern me as she is very interactive, happy and curious

[Hansie]

A friends DS turned is head from side to side when self settling. It was just his way of rocking himself to sleep lol. He did it from being about 4 months.

[Junglemum]

My gorgeous 7 month old does this too. She does it if i am holding her or if she is in the cot. I figure he's just shaking things out before sleep. I don't think it is anything to worry about.

[Olive]

My DD did this from 4 months and still does it now! She has a lot of hair and it has actually made the back of her hair look like something you would scrub pots with it cause she does it sooo fast. - She isn't distressed when she does it and actually laughs when she is doing it, but she does it anytime she is flat on her back not just when falling asleep....i guess i haven't really answered your question, but i know for me, it doesnt concern me as she is very interactive, happy and curious

yep DD2 did this too!

[shellbell3]

Em did it for quite awhile too, I was bit worried at first but figured it just her way to settle herself off to sleep.

[Kahlan]

Mine too, every since 7 weeks when she starts to self settle. It does vary a little now since she has adopted to sucking her hands.. yeah tossing of the head, sucking hand and then tossing some more before sleeping.

[Willow]

Two of mine have done this when self settling too. I always know that they're just about to crash out when they do it! Makes for a wicked bald spot on the back of their heads too!! (my babies have all had lots of hair)

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Makes for a wicked bald spot on the back of their heads too!! (my babies have all had lots of hair)

LOL glad my DD isn't the only one! She never got a bald patch (she has LOTS of hair!!) but i could seriously scrub pots with that back area of her hair

[Junglemum]

And when it grows out i like to call it the 'reverse mullet'

[beckoes]

my DD used to do this to, i would be rocking her and her whole body would go....looked a bit like a fit! but she would just do it for a min then fall asleep. only lasted a few months but it became the sign that she was about to drop off!

[gypsy79]

My DS did it too. He's 9 months now and doesn't do it as much anymore, but still sometimes. It never seemed to bother him, he's not crying as he does it. I kind of thought of it as snuggling in and trying to get comfortable.

[MummyNaomi]

DS is 6 months and he does this too - has done it for about 3 months, like the others I also think its a self settling thing - he's almost 'fighting' sleep a bit at this point but like Willow said, its a sign he is just about to go to sleep, as within seconds of this he is usually asleep. He does it when I hold him too, tries to bury his head in my armpit LOL, its a bit weird but completely normal at the same time!!

Its pretty normal, I wouldn't worry
(and yes Bailey has a bald spot as a result as well LOL)

Naomi