Question

My child is about five months old and I recently noticed that he occasionally has involuntary head nodding. I wonder if this is a normal behavior or if there’s something wrong. I hope to get professional advice.

Answer

Involuntary head nodding in children may be a symptom of nystagmus, which can usually be managed with psychological counseling. However, if the symptoms are severe, last a long time, or if multiple parts of the body alternate between involuntary movements, medication may be necessary. This condition may recur and can last for a long time. These movements by the child may be in search of overall security from the outside, which is typically provided by the parents.