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Hi, I am looking for some advice on head shaking. I have a toddler who loves to shake his head. He shakes back and forth, from side to side. He only does it now and then but he loves it. He laughs and smiles while he shakes his head, like it's a game. He tries to get me to shake mine with him and if I do he laughs and smiles. My wife is terrified that he is going to give himself shaken baby syndrome. I, personally, have my doubts that a toddler can shake his own head hard enough to do any damage, but for now we have tried to stop his head shaking. Does anyone know if this is dangerous? Thanks.
A quick google search revealed many parents wondering if it was normal behavior for babies. Nobody shared any problems resulting from it. I really think shaken baby syndrome is the result of very traumatic violent shaking, but I'm not a doctor so I can't say for sure.
I am not a doctor but I have never heard of a child shaking his head with enough force to injure himself. Does he enjoy other vestibular stimulation like being in a swing or on a "sit & spin" toy? Ask his pediatrician but as a parent, someone with a master's degree in early childhood development and as an early childhood teacher for 30 years my recommendation is let him shake his head if he enjoys it.
BTW I think that shaken baby syndrome is generally caused by quick, force full snaps of the head & neck front and back, like whiplash from a car accident.
Occasionally children who, due to severe behavioral problems, bang their heads repeatedly on the floor or wall may cause themselves injuries but that is a lot different that playfully shaking his head.
No, self-inflicted head shaking is not shaken baby syndrome. Shaken Baby Syndrome is marked by high acceleration and high negative acceleration (deceleration) caused by an external force shaking the baby's head. It's not possible for a toddler to shake their head fast enough to create the acceleration/deceleration necessary to cause brain damage.
Last edited by twoincomes; 12-15-2013 at 12:17 AM..
This was a common game with all of my children. None of them ended up with shaken baby syndrome. I'm not sure why they enjoyed it so much, but it was definitely one of the high points of their days when they were in the toddler stage.
My 13 month old shakes his head. He does it and squeals and laughs. His ped. Said he's just learning how his body moves and it is normal. He doesn't do it hard enough to cause any damage though.
My 2 year old grandson did this when he was younger. Now that he can do somersaults, that's WAY more fun! His 1 year old sister does it now, and laughs like a lunatic if anyone will join her in the fun. What you're describing sounds totally normal and harmless. If your wife continues to be concerned, teach him to do somersaults and he'll forget all about shaking his head.
Oh shaken baby syndrome... nothing was more special than hours after our baby girl was born we had to watch the video warning us about how this could cause your baby to either die or cause down syndrome.... good times, good times.
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