Is It Normal for a Baby to Shake Their Head and Hands Frequently at Night?

Question

Is it normal for a six-and-a-half-month-old baby to frequently shake their head and hands while sleeping at night?

Answer

This is common in babies under one year old, especially when they are about to fall asleep or have just fallen asleep. They often exhibit head-shaking movements. There can be many reasons for this phenomenon. For example, it may be related to the baby’s discomfort. If the baby has eczema, especially on the face, it can cause itching. Since they can’t scratch, they shake their heads as a solution. Some babies may show physical movements when they are about to fall asleep, such as tossing and turning on the bed, and they can fall asleep soon. Others may shake their heads to quickly fall asleep and this can continue until just after they fall asleep. As the baby grows and their nervous system matures, the head-shaking movements will disappear. Don’t worry too much.